Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
February 19, 2009
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Anne Bing, Pat Moll, Adela Wilmerding, Emily Griswold
Alternate members: Gerry Foster
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Joan Flynn (alternate)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:12PM.
Joanne DiCamillo asked for a motion to add two items to the Agenda under Other Business.
Adela Wilmerding moved, Pat Moll seconded, to add two items to the Agenda under Other Business. The motion was unanimously approved.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 1/15/09 meeting were reviewed. Joanne DiCamillo stated that under New Business, Briar Hill Drive – Request for Trimming, “Briar Hill” should be changed to “Bill Hill” in each reference. Anne Bing moved to accept the minutes as amended. Adela Wilmerding seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Budget Report
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that the balance in the Tree Commission’s General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) as of 1/21/09 was $18,896.57.
The carryover balance from FY 2007/2008 is $0.
The balance reported last month, $17,940.50, was the balance under the “Contracted Services” line item.
OLD BUSINESS
Sill Lane Removals/Trimming
There is still some firewood left from the tree trimming on Sill Lane.
3 Bill Hill Road – request for screening
Mrs. DiCamillo spoke with the Tree Warden about a request received from Mr. Dahl He asked the commission to consider screening around a neighbor’s “unsightly” utility box. Mr. Degnan stated that the commission’s mission is to plant trees. It is not the commission’s responsibility to plant screening to hide a new structure. Furthermore, it’s unknown whether the box is sited on an easement owned by the homeowner/utility company or on the town right-of-way. He suggested that Mr. Dahl check with the Planning or Zoning commissions to learn if an approval was given for the installation.
NEW BUSINESS
14 Lieutenant River Lane – resident permit application for tree removals.
A permit application request to remove hedge and trees along the property line to create safe exit from the driveway was received from Harcourt and Michelle Davis. Mr. Degnan spoke with the homeowners.
7 Matson Ridge – resident report of dead/diseased oak tree
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that John Christiano called Town Hall to report a dead/diseased oak tree across the street from 7 Matson Ridge.
MEMBER REPORTS
Tree Inventory- Gerry Foster, Anne Bing, Joanne DiCamillo
Gerry Foster reported that Guilford used a GPS handheld unit to perform their Tree Inventory.
Towns need a combined inventory of roads, bridges, culverts, and trees as part of their Emergency Management Plan for FEMA. The process begins with recording all the town roads, then the bridges and culverts, then the trees. If there is storm damage, FEMA will not authorize Federal funds unless there is an inventory.
Ms. Foster distributed a Tree Inventory information sheet created by Bob Ricard of the UCONN Extension Center, Urban and Community Forestry Department. The University of Massachusetts also has very good information about tree inventories. Ms. Foster was told that the Tree Warden is usually in charge of Tree Inventory projects.
Joanne DiCamillo spoke with Dana Whitney, an arborist from Clinton, who was recommended by Tom Degnan. He did a tree inventory for Greenwich and a Storm Damage Assessment for Middletown. For Greenwich, he used a handheld Panasonic (laptop) device onsite. It is owned by the town and programmed to download information into the town’s GIS system. Greenwich and Old Lyme both use ArcView GIS software. Mr. Whitney did not use a hand held device for The Storm Damage Assessment for Middletown. He collected the information and wrote it down onsite and transferred it into the Middletown system. Copies of a list of web sites with useful information were given to the members. Mrs. DiCamillo recommended the UMASS and Cornell sites.
Mr. Whitney stated that FEMA gives towns (only) 72 hours to report storm damage, so, in the event of a catastrophic storm, it’s crucial to have the information ready and easily accessible. Greenwich used software provided by The Kenerson Group. The town of Worcester, MA used Stratum software for their Street Tree Inventory.
Tom Degnan stated that selecting the tree inventory software should be the primary goal of the commission. He feels that the town should not invest in a hand held device. It should be supplied by whoever is doing the inventory.
Mrs. DiCamillo invited Mr. Degnan to attend the next meeting, March 19, to talk with the members about doing a Tree Inventory and spoke with Dana Whitney about the possibility of attending the April meeting.
Mrs. DiCamillo invited Sarah McCracken to the March meeting to explain the tree protection specifications that will be implemented during the upcoming Church Corner project.
OTHER BUSINESS
Bids
Joanne DiCamillo prepared and mailed bids for two jobs: 1. tree trimming at Town Hall 2. pruning 24 young trees in town. The bid invitations were sent to Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc., Lomas Tree Service, Wilcox Tree Experts, and Yankee Tree Services.
Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc. and Wilcox Tree Experts met Mrs. DiCamillo at Town Hall on February 10 for an onsite inspection where the work is requested. Lomas Tree Service and Yankee Tree Service did not respond to the bid invitation.
Town Hall Trimming
Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc. submitted a bid for $1700 to trim the trees at Town Hall.
Wilcox Tree Experts submitted a bid for $1400 to trim the trees at Town Hall.
Pruning (24) young trees throughout town
Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc. submitted a bid for $1200 to prune the 24 trees.
Wilcox Tree Experts submitted a bid for $450 to prune the 24 trees.
The bids were discussed and evaluated. The low bidder was selected for both jobs.
Pat Moll moved, Adela Wilmerding seconded, to accept the $1400 bid from Wilcox Tree Experts to trim the trees at Town Hall. The motion was unanimously approved.
Adela Wilmerding moved, Emily Griswold seconded, to accept the $450 bid from Wilcox Tree Experts to prune the 24 trees throughout town. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mrs. DiCamillo will notify Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc. and Wilcox Tree Experts about the bid results.
Removals
Mile Creek Road – Joanne DiCamillo reported that the tree work was done the week of February 6, 2009 by Tennett Tree Service. One large maple and one elm were removed, near the corner where Whipporwill Road intersects Mile Creek Road. Six maples were also trimmed.
Park & Rec Request for Trimming
Cross Lane baseball field – Chairman’s site walk evaluation with Tree Warden
Mr. Degnan tagged two trees for removal and suggested removing some of the invasive vines and sassafras saplings growing through the fence. A large oak tree growing next to the dugout needs dead wood removed and the crown trimmed. The Tree Warden asked for a written report of the oak tree’s health. He suggested that an herbicide be painted on the stumps of the saplings so they won’t re-sprout. Pat Moll asked if there were wetlands nearby and feels the herbicide should be identified.
Joanne DiCamillo stated that she has prepared the bid. She notified the Chairman of the Park and Rec commission that she will delay mailing it to all prospective bidders until sometime in mid-late March or April when the ground is more firm. The area is too soft to move trucks around in at this time.
Care of Trees – fertilizing proposal – Town Hall elm trees
Care of Trees sent a proposal for fertilizing and preventive Dutch elm disease treatment for two Town Hall elm trees. The price is $109.
Added item (1):
Wilcox Tree Experts sent a proposal for treating six elm trees in town at a cost of $900.
The matter was tabled until the March meeting, pending more information.
Town Hall – request for member’s help to prune azaleas
Joanne DiCamillo thanked Anne Bing, Adela Wilmerding and Pat Moll for volunteering to help her prune the Town Hall azaleas. The pruning will be done in March.
DEP Trees and Tree Care Workshop – 2/26/09
Five members of the Tree Commission will attend the workshop on February 26 at the DEP facility in Old Lyme.
Tree Ordinance
The Chairman handed out copies of the Town Tree Ordinance to Wilcox Tree Experts and Bombaci Tree Experts, Inc. when they met on Feb.10.
Added item (2):
Mrs. DiCamillo read a copy of a letter written by Pat Moll to the Board of Selectmen requesting that her membership status on the commission be changed from a Regular member to an Alternate member because she is out of town for several months each year. Gerry Foster, who is an Alternate member, agreed to change her membership to Regular with approval of the Selectmen.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Adela Wilmerding moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 PM, Emily Griswold seconded the motion.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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