Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
September 20, 2012
Attendance:
Members present: Joanne DiCamillo (regular), Anne Bing (regular), Gerry Foster (regular), Joan Flynn (alternate) Ex-officio members absent: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden Members absent: Emily Griswold (regular)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:05 P.M.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report – The minutes of the 7/19/12 meeting were reviewed.
MOTION: Joan Flynn moved, seconded by Gerry Foster, to accept the July minutes as presented. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
BUDGET REPORT - Balance
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that as of 9/4/2012, the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $11,560. There was a $2,200 expenditure from Iselin Tree Experts for removal and stump grinding of a dead elm in front of Town Hall, a leaning birch on Coult Lane, and tree removal and stump grinding on Tantummaheag Road. Mrs. DiCamillo and Tree Warden Tom Degnan have identified a number of trees that need to be removed this fall on Mile Creek Road, Devitt Road and the North Green.
NEW BUSINESS Woodcrest Estates – request for tree removal
Mrs. DiCamillo spoke with First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder regarding several dead/declining trees on a cul-de-sac in Woodcrest Estates, pending the road’s acceptance as a town road. Tom Degnan looked at the trees and recommended that the developer remove the trees, grind the stumps and clean up the area prior to the Town taking ownership of the site.
North Green – tree removals
There are three trees on the North (Sill Lane) Green that need to be removed – a concolor fir, and two larches.
OLD BUSINESS
Lymes’ Senior Center – request for tree trimming
Mrs. DiCamillo met with Tom Degnan in August in response to a request for trimming/removal of the conifers along the fence and several deciduous trees along the entrance to the parking area. Many of them are growing through the fence and there is some concern that they may eventually damage it. They discussed a suggestion by a Senior Center board member to remove the trees and replace them with low maintenance plantings, grasses etc. It’s not clear who will be responsible for funding and maintaining the plantings since Old Lyme and Lyme share the expenses of the Center. Considering the fact that the existing trees have been neglected for a long time, they developed a plan to remove several of the conifers, to remove the vines that are covering others and recommend that the
remaining trees be pruned above the top of the fence. Someone has badly pruned the trees growing by the gate and in the gardens by the overhang near the front door. The Tree Warden recommends that (only) a licensed, professional arborist trim the trees in order to retain their conical form and to be certain the work is done properly. Mrs. DiCamillo will meet with a member of the Lymes’ Senior Center Board and First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder to discuss the plan. The trees growing on the playing field side of the fence should also be pruned. Many of the trees around the Senior Center have been damaged by mowers and weed wackers which could impact their long term survival.
Tree Commission Annual Report
Mrs. DiCamillo prepared the Annual Report and submitted it. The report focused on tropical storm Irene, and pointed out that Old Lyme had less tree damage than many of the other shoreline towns because of the pro-active approach taken by the Tree Warden, the Commission and Public Works in identifying and subsequently removing dead/declining trees before they become a problem.
Town Hall Foundation plantings – members’ maintenance
Members of the Tree Commission met in August to lightly prune and weed the plantings.
Care of Trees – invoice
We still have not received an adjusted invoice. Mrs. DiCamillo called the home office for the second time to request an invoice and to discuss the situation again. The town is being billed for treating the elm tree in front of Town Hall in June when it had dead branches. Care of Trees claims to evaluate all trees before treating them and should have noted the branches before treating it. The tree eventually died and was removed.
Lyme St. fire station – screening new transformer – ilex inkberry
Mrs. DiCamillo is meeting tomorrow morning with John Roche of Regional District 18 to stake out the area near the transformer. Three Ilex “shamrock” were recommended for the screening because they will eventually grow to 5’ tall.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS – none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Communications: Letter from Sill Lane resident Pat Kus
The Commission received a letter inquiring about the two dead dogwoods at the intersection of Sill Lane and Route 1 after the July meeting when the issue was discussed. A decision was made at that time to remove the trees. New trees will not be planted because the site is very small and exposed to the elements, not suitable to support healthy trees. The information was communicated to Mrs. Kus by the Selectman’s office.
REMINDER - Next Meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 4 P.M. at the Town Hall.
The commission does not meet in August.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Gerry Foster moved, seconded by Anne Bing, to adjourn the meeting at 4:35 P.M. Motion unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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