Minutes (amended) of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
February 17, 2011
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Emily Griswold, Gerry Foster, Anne Bing
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Joan Flynn (Alternate)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:08 PM.
Mrs. DiCamillo announced that Sheila Wertheimer was appointed by the Selectmen to the Tree Commission.
One vacancy remains, members are encouraged to recruit another member.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 1/20/11 regular meeting were reviewed
MOTION:
Gerry Foster moved to accept the minutes as presented. Anne Bing seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Budget Report- no update
NEW BUSINESS
Tree Trimming – Old Shore Road
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that trees need to be trimmed on Old Shore Road.
OLD BUSINESS
Spring Tree Planting
Mrs. DiCamillo consulted Tom Degnan about tree planting. Mr. Degnan recommended planting a hornbeam tree in front of town hall to replace the Norway maple that was removed. A hornbeam was planted last spring in front of 6 Lyme Street. There may be adequate space to plant two trees; Mrs. DiCamillo will consult with the Tree Warden.
Two large maples have been removed in the past few years in front of 68 Sill Lane. Mrs. DiCamillo has requested two dogwood trees planted to replace them. There was a request from Mrs. Tolderlund of 61 Sill Lane to plant a shade tree in front of her property. Tom Degnan recommended planting a red maple (Acer rubrum) in that location.
Anne Bing suggested a spot for planting a new tree on McCurdy Road, on the northwest side of the Duck River, before Johnnycake Hill Road. The area is damp, so a willow, swamp maple or tupelo could be planted there.
Gerry Foster remarked that a tree could be planted in front of her property near the bridge on Tantummaheag Road where a tree was removed last year. She suggested planting a dogwood.
Emily Griswold found a number of areas around town where trees could be planted:
- Near the police station, a tree could be planted in the front of the building on the east side, to balance the cherry tree.
- At the Cross Lane parking lot there are plenty of bare areas.
- There is a large open area near 74 Mile Creek Road.
- There is a large open area near 34 Wychwood Road and the corner of Flat Rock Hill Road.
- On Whippoorwill Road, near Jadon Drive, there is an open area with plenty of room to plant trees.
- On the south end of Buttonball Road on the west side, before the corner of Route 156.
- On Cross Lane, near Champlain Road, there is a large open space where trees were removed.
Smith Neck Road, the new Bus Barn area, and the Senior Center were also mentioned as possible sites for new trees. Mrs. DiCamillo asked all of the members to drive by, inspect and evaluate these potential areas before the March meeting when the discussion will continue.
Stump Grinding
Mr. Degnan agreed that stumps should be ground on Griswold Avenue, the corner of Long Acre Lane and Sill Lane. He added a stump on Hartford Avenue to the list. Mrs. DiCamillo will get cost estimates for the stump grinding.
MEMBER REPORTS
Gerry Foster – FEMA inventory contact
There has been no further contact from the Dudas regarding the Tree Inventory.
Gerry Foster contacted CT FEMA Director, Doug Glowicki, for advice regarding the FEMA Tree Inventory. He stated that I-Tree software is available and could be customized for use with the town’s GIS system. He did not recommend anyone to perform the inventory. Mr. Glowicki does not know Dana Whitney, the arborist from Clinton who has done a Tree Inventory in Middletown.
OTHER BUSINESS
Election of Chairman
MOTION: Gerry Foster moved, seconded by Anne Bing, to elect Joanne DiCamillo as Chairman of the Tree Commission for 2011. All present voted in favor.
Great Cedars Walk with Judy Preston of the Tidewater Institute
Mrs. DiCamillo spoke with Judy Preston of the Tidewater Institute about leading the Tree Commission members on a walk sometime in March to view the Great Cedars Swamp, an old-growth Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) swamp in Old Saybrook. The Great Cedars are on Connecticut College’s list of notable trees in Connecticut (http://oak.conncoll.edu:8080/notabletrees ).
The members present at the meeting indicated that they would be interested in the walk.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Emily Griswold moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:00PM. Gerry Foster seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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