Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
November 19, 2009
Attendance:
Regular members present: Anne Bing, Joanne DiCamillo, Gerry Foster, Emily Griswold, Adela Wilmerding
Alternate members present: Pat Moll
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Joan Flynn (alternate)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:03 PM.
Barbara Beal and Kathy Green, of the Duck River Garden Club, were guests for the first order of New Business.
Richard Moll was present as an observer.
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 10/15/09 regular meeting were reviewed.
Adela Wilmerding made a motion, seconded by Gerry Foster to accept the minutes as presented. All present voted in favor.
Budget Report
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $21,325.00 as of November 5, 2009. Tree removals and trimming were performed by Tennent Tree Service on Sill Lane, Knutson Road, Four Mile River Road and Mile Creek Road.
NEW BUSINESS
John Rhodes – Director of Facilities - Regional District 18, John Scheib – Project Manager for Bianco, Giolitto & Weston Architects, and David Sousa – Landscape Architect and Urban Planner for Clough, Harbour & Associates: Presentation of revised plan for high school entrance driveway which includes request for tree removal
John Rhodes introduced John Scheib, of Bianco, Giolitto & Weston Architects, who presented the revised plan for the high school entrance driveway. The access has been enlarged to provide a safe turning radius for the school buses. Presently, the buses have to cross over into the opposite lane when they turn into the entrance road from the south. The road will be shifted 5 feet to the north and the width of the road will be reduced to 22 feet from 24 feet. An 8 foot wide concrete sidewalk will be added to the south side to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles and will be level with the road to preserve the existing water flow. It will be separated from the road by a 3’ strip
of grass. A utility pole on Lyme Street will need to be relocated about 12 feet south of its present location to allow for the increased size of the access. The chain link fence next to the firehouse will remain.
Barbara Beal and Kathy Green, of the Duck River Garden Club, expressed concern about moving the utility pole south of its present location and the impact it would have on the memorial and the garden club plantings in front of the firehouse. Mrs. DiCamillo commented that, when approaching from the north, the view of the garden and plaque is already blocked by the chain link fence. Mrs. Beal asked if the pole could be moved east to a new location to provide an improved sightline.
John Rhodes explained that all the utility poles need to be in a straight line because of the way the electricity is routed to the Firehouse and Mr. Hendrick’s property. District 18 investigated the cost of burying the electrical lines. CL&P estimated it would be $1 million to bury the lines in front of the Firehouse and the entrance drive. Mr. Rhodes suggested the possibility of removing a section of the chain link fence and installing a platform of pavers in front of the garden which could enhance its visibility when the pole is moved. A pedestrian crosswalk is also planned for that corner.
Mrs. DiCamillo suggested that Mr. Rhodes organize a meeting with Jeff Flower, representatives from the Duck River Garden Club, and the Fire Department Chief to discuss a solution and the possibility of removing the fence section. Mr. Rhodes agreed. Mrs. Beal will get in touch with Mrs. DiCamillo about the results of the meeting. Mrs. DiCamillo pointed out that the high school entrance drive is located on town property according to the deed recorded at town hall.
All of the trees on the north side of the driveway were discussed. John Rhodes stated that the white pines (bordering Mr. Hendricks’s property) are overgrown and the plan is to cut them down and replace them with native trees and under story plantings. A large silver maple will remain, as well as, the deciduous trees on Mr. Hendricks’s property. Mr. Rhodes asked the commission members for suggestions.
Several shrubs were mentioned as considerations including shadblow, inkberry, witch hazel, fothergilla, native juniper, American holly and viburnum. Although the pines are on town property, the cost for removal is included in the budget for the District 18 high school renovation project. Several of the Tree Commission members agreed that the white pines are overgrown and should be removed. Pat Moll stated that two of the pines are in good condition and should remain. The Tree Warden, Tom Degnan, met with Mr. Rhodes and evaluated the trees. He approves of the removal of the pines, an Ailanthus and a mulberry tree and feels a new landscape plan will be an improvement to the area.
Mr. Rhodes stated at the meeting that he would like to remove the pines as soon as possible because he feels they pose a hazard. Several of the tree limbs have broken off in past storms and were removed.
Mrs. DiCamillo expressed concern about removing the trees before the road work begins in 2011. She asked if Mr. Hendricks was consulted and is in agreement with the proposed plan. Mrs. DiCamillo stated that she notifies and consults with adjoining property owners about any of the Commission’s projects; therefore, Mr. Rhodes should talk with Mr. Hendricks and gain his approval before the final plan is presented.
Mr. Rhodes stated that he needed to finalize the landscape plan by December 1 because it will be included in the presentation to the State of CT. February 1, 2010 is the funding deadline. Mrs. DiCamillo requested that Mr. Hendricks write a letter to the Tree Commission stating his position.
She stated that all tree removals are authorized by the Tree Warden. She will get in touch with him about the request to remove all of the trees so far in advance of the project.
The Commission will review the final landscape plan at their meeting on January 21, 2010. Mr. Rhodes will invite Mr. Hendricks to attend the meeting.
Mrs. DiCamillo inquired about the total number of trees that will be removed on the high school campus during the building project. David Sousa, Landscape Architect from Clough, Harbour & Associates, explained that as few trees as possible will be removed. The construction has been planned to be low impact on the surrounding environment and will take place mainly on the grassy areas. Some trees will be removed in the back of the building to make way for an access road next to the pond. The ledge in front of the school will not be touched, and the trees above the new track will remain. Mrs. DiCamillo requested that Mr. Sousa include the installation of orange fencing in the bid specifications as a protection for the town trees. She suggested using the fencing around all of the trees on the campus that will be
impacted by construction to prevent damage to them.
Connie Engelking –Devitt Road
Concerns about recent tree trimming on Devitt and Caulkins Roads
Connie Engelking contacted Town Hall and expressed concern about the recent tree trimming done by the town crew in the Devitt and Caulkins Roads area. The trimming was not done according to professional standards. Mrs. DiCamillo received two other complaints. She spoke with Tom Degnan who told her that Ed Adanti authorized the trimming by the town crew because of concern about site lines and snow removal along the roads.
Mrs. DiCamillo suggested that, in the future, the town crew could remove dead trees and vines, and all trimming should continue to be done by licensed arborists, as in the past. She also recommended that members of the town crew attend training sessions on tree pruning and trimming.
Mr. Degnan stated that he will schedule a meeting with Ed Adanti and First Selectman Griswold to discuss the matter.
OLD BUSINESS
Nicole Brinley - 45 Sill Lane - elm tree donation
Mrs. DiCamillo contacted Nicole Brinley, about her offer to donate a 6” diameter elm tree to the town. The tree, a disease-resistant elm, was planted by the former owner in an undesirable location. There was a discussion about where the tree should be planted and the members agreed that an arborist should evaluate the tree before a decision is made to move it. Mrs. DiCamillo will contact Jason Wilcox and ask him to look at the tree.
OTHER BUSINESS
Awards
At the Federated Garden Clubs of CT Annual Awards Meeting, Joanne DiCamillo received a Certificate of Individual Achievement for her work as founding chair of the Old Lyme Tree Commission and an Award of Excellence in Horticulture for being instrumental in the re-landscaping of Town Hall. Mrs. DiCamillo, a former president of the Duck River Garden Club and an Advanced Master Gardener was nominated by the garden club’s Horticulture co-chairman, Pat Moll. The award, a silver plate, will be displayed in Town Hall next year.
Mike Kiernan – request for arborist referral for tree I.D.-O.L. Conservation Trust property
Mike Kiernan, a consultant to the Old Lyme Conservation Trust, was asked to identify the trees on Conservation Trust property. He contacted Mrs. DiCamillo for a list of arborists who could help him.
MEMBER REPORTS
Town Tree Inventory
Gerry Foster, Ruth Roach and Martha Hansen met with Margo Burns at CREPA to discuss the Tree Inventory, GPS, and the Old Lyme’s GIS system. Margo demonstrated how a tree inventory is used in a GIS system, and how a handheld GPS unit works. No additional software is needed in order to perform a tree inventory. The Town of Old Lyme already has a GIS system, and ArcView. Ruth Roach stated that upgrades to the town’s GIS system and website are needed and that she will be attending a Board of Finance meeting to request the necessary funds. Mrs. Roach stated that there are a number of departments in Old Lyme that could benefit from the GIS system including Public Works, Emergency Management and Land Use.
Joanne DiCamillo reported that she spoke with Charlie Delinks, a member of the Harbor Management Commission and computer systems consultant for the town. Mr. Delinks stated that the Harbor Management Commission is interested in purchasing a GPS unit to help identify where all of the town moorings are located. Mrs. DiCamillo would like to see a long range tree management plan developed from the results of the inventory. In addition, the inventory will comply with FEMA storm damage reimbursement requirements. She invited Mr. Delinks and Mrs. Roach to attend the December Tree Commission meeting. Mr. Delinks will contact Harbor Management Commission representatives about the meeting and invite them.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Adela Wilmerding moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 PM. Anne Bing seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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