Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
May 21, 2009
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Anne Bing, Adela Wilmerding, Emily Griswold
Alternate members present: Joan Flynn
Members absent: Pat Moll (alternate), Tom Degnan (ex-officio)
Gerry Foster arrived at 4:30
Guest: Dana Whitney
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:07 PM.
Tree Inventory – Dana Whitney
Dana Whitney, arborist, has done a tree inventory for Greenwich, CT using ArcView TreeWorks software, and for Middletown, CT and Wesleyan University using a tree inventory spreadsheet in Excel. ArcView TreeWorks is compatible with the town’s GIS system and the inventory information could be added, as an overlay, to the town’s GIS maps. The town would need to hire someone who owns the PDA/mobile laptop equipment and TreeWorks software, or purchase the software and equipment and hire an arborist to do the inventory. There is a possibility that the equipment could be rented. Mr. Whitney does not own TreeWorks software.
Mr. Whitney has used Excel with a tree inventory template to do tree inventories for Middletown, CT and Wesleyan University. He enters the information (species, size, condition, location, utility info) into an Excel spreadsheet on his laptop. The information can be used to generate reports identifying the number of trees of a certain species, the number of hazardous trees, etc. The completed inventory would be copied to a disk and given to the Tree Commission. It could also be emailed to members.
Mr. Whitney charges $45 per hour, and uses his own laptop and Excel 2007 software with a tree inventory template. He casually estimated that Old Lyme’s town tree inventory could be completed in about 2 weeks.
The Tree Commission would determine where the tree inventory should begin and which areas should be done first. Town trees are located on the right-of-ways on town roads, in the parks, on the greens etc. This does not include state highways or private roads.
The Tree Commission would use the tree inventory to:
- determine the location of hazardous trees
- identify trees that need to be trimmed or removed
- identify species
- determine locations for planting
- determine species to be planted
- identify notable trees
- keep a record of all work done on town trees
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 4/16/09 regular meeting were reviewed. Anne Bing moved to accept the minutes as presented. Adela Wilmerding seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
The minutes of the 4/28/09 Special Meeting were reviewed, Adela Wilmerding moved to accept the minutes as presented. Anne Bing seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Budget Report
Mrs. DiCamillo handed out an itemized account statement for the period July 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009 which showed that the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $18,913.82 as of April 30, 2009. Most of the expenditures for 2009 have been deducted from the $12,000 carryover from the previous fiscal year. The Tree Commission’s budget request of $27,260 was approved by the Board of Finance.
OLD BUSINESS
Town Hall- elm tree behind town hall – treatment
The tree will be treated this year by Care of Trees with a growth regulator at a cost of $288. The Dutch Trig treatment will be done next year.
Young trees – mulching, maintenance
Members have finished mulching their trees. Mrs. DiCamillo asked the members to check the mulch around their trees periodically through the summer for weeds.
Cross Lane Baseball field – trimming & removals
Mrs. DiCamillo announced that today was the deadline for Wilcox to complete the tree trimming and removals at Cross Lane. She spoke with Jason Wilcox this morning and learned the work had not been done. The May 21 deadline was chosen because she felt the work should be completed before Memorial Day weekend and the area will be busy with baseball games. Mrs. DiCamillo will meet with Mr. Wilcox tomorrow for a discussion and to point out some issues with the trimming work he recently completed on Sill Lane.
NEW BUSINESS - none
MEMBER REPORTS
FEMA Tree Inventory- Gerry Foster
Gerry Foster will email Doug Glowicki of CT’s Homeland Security Dept. to confirm the date of the FEMA Tree Inventory.
OTHER BUSINESS
Town Hall – new landscaping – maintenance
Joanne DiCamillo reported that the Town Crew will try to mulch the new plantings before Memorial Day. Mrs. DiCamillo met with Ed Adanti and he suggested that Ciro Landscaping purchase and install the soaker hoses and timers because Public Works has a very busy schedule in the next few weeks. The Town Crew will mulch after the soaker hoses are installed and will water the perimeter plants, as needed, this summer.
New Plantings – health evaluation
Joanne DiCamillo and First Selectman Griswold walked the Town hall site checking the health of tall the new plantings. Mrs. DiCamillo noted the dead plants, the not-so-healthy plants and the Japanese knotweed that appears to be sprouting in the garden beds. Stephen Wing, landscape architect, also visited the site and made a list of issues for the landscaper to address.
Ferry Road plantings – update
Joanne DiCamillo visited the Ferry Road site at the end of April and was delighted to find that all of the shrubs: azaleas, Virginia roses, fothergillas, cranberry viburnums, spireas, elderberry, witch hazel, blueberry bushes, ilex and spice bush survived the winter and appear healthy with new growth. The swamp irises, grasses, Joe Pye Weed plants, cone flowers, Rudbeckia and Asclepias have all come back. Most of the cardinal flower perennials did not survive.
Ciro Landscapers picked up and planted 3 more ‘Pink Mist’ Azaleas for the Commission. More perennials will be purchased from Judge’s Farm Wholesale Nursery for the bank along Ferry Road. Mrs. DiCamillo and her husband transplanted the witch hazel in March to a new location on the river bank. Moving this shrub will provide the roses with full sun in the afternoon. The Phragmites growing on the river bank is a problem.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Adela Wilmerding moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 PM. Anne Bing seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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