Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
October 15, 2009
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Gerry Foster, Emily Griswold, Adela Wilmerding
Alternate members present: Joan Flynn
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Anne Bing (regular), Pat Moll (alternate)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM.
Joan Flynn was authorized to vote in place of Anne Bing.
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 8/20/09 regular meeting were reviewed.
Adela Wilmerding made a motion, seconded by Joan Flynn 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 $25,679.12 as of October 15, 2009. In addition, the Tree Commission has a $6,500 carryover from the previous fiscal year to be used for a Tree Inventory.
NEW BUSINESS
62 Lyme Street – request for street tree removal
Local arborist Jason Wilcox contacted Mrs. DiCamillo on behalf of Denise Collins, 62 Lyme Street, with a request to remove a large sugar maple, a town tree, in front of her house. Mr. Wilcox and Mrs. Collins agreed that removing the maple would give the two horse chestnuts, growing behind the fence, more room. They also felt that the horse chestnuts are more valuable trees. Mrs. DiCamillo contacted the Tree Warden, Tom Degnan, who is responsible for authorizing the tree’s removal. He evaluated the tree and found it to be healthy with no structural problems. He also stated that the tree provides shade and aesthetic value to Lyme Street. He would not recommend cutting it down but would like input from the Tree Commission.
Mrs. DiCamillo emailed the Tree Commission members and asked them to look at the tree before the meeting.
Mrs. DiCamillo stated that Mrs. Collins phoned her directly with an additional concern that grass does not grow under the tree. The area becomes muddy during the summer.
After considerable discussion, Joan Flynn made a motion, seconded by Emily Griswold, to support the Tree Warden’s decision to leave the tree in place.
Joan Flynn, Adela Wilmerding, Emily Griswold and Joanne DiCamillo voted in favor. Gerry Foster abstained. Motion passed.
The maple tree directly south of the 62 Lyme Street tree is in decline and will be evaluated in the spring to decide if it should be pruned or removed.
OLD BUSINESS
Adela Wilmerding asked if the stakes should be removed from the 2 trees planted in the fall of 2008.
Mrs. DiCamillo replied that the stakes can be removed but the trunks should be wrapped to provide protection from deer damage. Joan Flynn will provide wrapping material.
MEMBER REPORTS
Town Tree Inventory
Gerry Foster spoke to Margo Burns of CRERPA about the Tree Inventory and the town’s GIS system. Margo invited Gerry and other interested members of the Tree Commission to come to the CRERPA office and look at the GIS system in use there. She did not think the towns GIS system would need to be updated. Gerry Foster spoke with Ruth Roach and found that Old Lyme has aerial maps of the town. Ruth Roach’s information technology time is limited to 12 hours a week.
Martha Hansen is willing to accompany Gerry Foster to CRERPA to see the GIS system, and see how it could be used in a Tree Inventory either with Kenerson Group’s software or Excel. Dana Whitney, an arborist, would be able to perform the Tree Inventory using either system.
OTHER BUSINESS
Roger Wright – request for arborist referral
Mrs. DiCamillo provided a list of arborists in response to a request from Mr. Wright.
Nicole Brinley – 45 Sill Lane – elm tree donation
Nicole Brinley, a new resident at 45 Sill Lane, contacted town hall and offered to donate a 6” diameter elm tree to the town. The tree was planted by the former owner in an undesirable location. The offer was discussed by the members. Mrs. DiCamillo will follow-up with Ms. Brinley.
CT Urban Forest Council Conference
Gerry Foster will be attending the CT Urban Forest Council Conference.
Tree Commission Annual Report
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that she has submitted the Tree Commission’s Report for publication in the next Annual Town Report. She photographed some of the plantings at Town Hall and may submit them to be used in the report.
Mail
Care of Trees submitted a proposal to fertilize the 2 elm trees growing in front of Town Hall. The trees were fertilized last year at a cost of $106. The members discussed the trees and decided that fertilizing does not appear to be beneficial. The leaves continue to turn yellow pre-maturely and begin to drop in late summer. The elms will continue to be treated every year to prevent Dutch Elm Disease.
Historical Information
Mrs. DiCamillo passed around some copies of information on trees in Old Lyme found by Cathy Frank. There is a list of trees planted in Old Lyme in 1969, a list of the town elm trees from 1955 which stated that over 1,000 elm trees were in town, with 167 elms on Sill Lane. There was also a letter from First Selectman Merle Bugbee to Mrs. Wells Barney, inviting her to an Arbor Day celebration on April 30, 1972.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Adela Wilmerding moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:52 PM. Joan Flynn seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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