Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
March 21, 2013
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Anne Bing, Gerry Foster
Regular members absent: Emily Griswold
Alternate members absent: Joan Flynn
Ex-officio members absent: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:05 P.M.
The commission has openings for two members.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report – The minutes of the 1/17/13 meeting were reviewed.
MOTION: Gerry Foster moved, seconded by Anne Bing, to accept the January minutes as presented.
All present voted in favor, motion carried.
BUDGET REPORT
Balance Mrs. DiCamillo reported that as of 3/21/2013 the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $9,150.35.
NEW BUSINESS
Winter Blizzard Nemo – tree damage report
Our town trees sustained a huge amount damage from the storm. Trees fell on utility wires and across roads causing power outages and road closings in many areas of town. Tree removal and clean-up is ongoing.
CL&P - tree trimming & tree removals
Some large pines by the old Peck Tavern on Sill Lane were removed by CL&P. A large black locust tree on Sill Lane, leaning dangerously close to the wires, was also removed by CL&P.
North Green – tree removal & stump grinding
A number of trees on the North Green have been removed and the stumps ground.
Sill Lane – snow damage new dogwood
One of the dogwoods planted two years ago on Sill Lane was badly damaged by Storm Nemo and will need to be replaced.
MOTION: Anne Bing moved, seconded by Gerry Foster, to replace the dogwood either this spring or fall. All in present voted in favor, motion carried.
Lyme Street – removal of ornamental pear tree
One of the flowering pear trees on Lyme Street has been removed. It may have been damaged in the blizzard or by snow plows.
Tree Planting
The commission is working on a plan for tree planting this year.
OLD BUSINESS
Lymes’ Senior Center – tree removal & pruning project
Mrs. DiCamillo, in consultation with the Tree Warden, prepared a new plan for the Senior Center. She met with First Selectwoman Reemsnyder who approved of the plan and presented it to the Senior Center Board.
The recommendations include: Pruning and crown lifting of the deciduous maples bordering the entrance drive. The maple trees on the playing field side of the property, badly damaged and scarred by machinery and weed whackers, should have a wide layer of mulch applied around the trunks, beyond the drip line, to protect their trunks from further damage. The Board’s concern about damage to the fence from the spruce trees growing in front of it should be resolved by removing several of the trees and pruning the remaining trees above the top of the fence. All bittersweet vines should be cut down to the ground and, if possible, dug out. Tree stumps should be removed and grass seed planted. A wide layer of mulch should be applied around the remaining trees, once again out to the drip line, to protect the trunks from
mowers. Mrs. DiCamillo proposed planting two spirea in the front of these spruces. Flowers and foliage will be aesthetically pleasing and soften the bareness of the trunks. At the Tree Warden’s recommendation, the pine trees growing on the outside of the fence should be pruned to keep the branches tight and short. This will help to prevent them from growing too tall and from losing their bottom branches.
Mrs. DiCamillo met with Iselin Tree Service onsite to explain the proposed work and to get an estimate.
The bid was $2300. Ms. Reemsnyder submitted the cost to the Board of Finance as a capital improvement special project. The project was approved and the work started today. Mrs. DiCamillo met onsite this morning
with Mr. Iselin to give him a copy of the plan with the instructions. She noticed there were several trees damaged over the winter from snow/ice storms and asked him to repair the damage with pruning.
The Senior Center Board has also requested to have the euonymus shrubs trimmed that are growing around the side porch. Mrs. DiCamillo recommended replacing them with a spirea cultivar. Unlike euonymus, spirea is a non-invasive plant, deer resistant, grows about three feet high, has a pink flower in July and beautiful fall color. It would only need pruning every 3 years.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS – none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Tree Commission budget decisions
Mrs. DiCamillo submitted the 2013-2014 budget and is waiting to hear if it has been approved.
Correspondence: Diane Birdsall, 35 Sill Lane, wrote a letter to the Tree Commission regarding two trees belonging to neighbor. She feels that the trees are a threat to her home and to electric wires. She would like to have them inspected by the Tree Warden, declared hazardous, and removed. Mrs. DiCamillo will forward the letter to Tom Degnan with a note asking him to respond directly to Ms. Birdsall. The Tree Warden does not have jurisdiction over trees growing on private property.
Tree Commission info transfer
Tree Commission files will be scanned by Martha Hansen and passed to Cathy Frank who will add them to the town’s digital files.
Firehouse plantings
One of the new inkberries planted adjacent to the firehouse last year appears to be damaged from snow, ice or salt. The leaves have died and the branches are bare.
REMINDER - Next Meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 4 P.M. at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Gerry Foster moved, seconded by Anne Bing, to adjourn the meeting at 5:06 P.M. Motion unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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