Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
August 15, 2013
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Anne Bing, Emily Griswold
Alternate members present: Joan Flynn
Regular members absent: Gerry Foster
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.
Joan Flynn was authorized to vote in place of Gerry Foster.
MOTION: Mrs. DiCamillo asked for a motion to add an item to the agenda. Emily Griswold moved, seconded by Anne Bing to add an item to the agenda under Communication. All present voted in favor, motion carried.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report – The minutes of the 5/16/13 meeting were reviewed.
Members Tree Mulching: Mrs. DiCamillo requested the following sentence from the discussion in May to be added: Gerry Foster suggested that a contractor take over the job of weeding and mulching the trees this spring.
MOTION: Emily Griswold moved, seconded by Joan Flynn, to accept the May minutes with the addition.
All present voted in favor, motion carried.
BUDGET REPORT
Balance
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget beginning 7/1 was $17,050. The expenditures for July ($750), under the Tree Contracted Services line item, were authorized by the Superintendent of Public Works. The balance as of 8/7/2013 was $16,300.
NEW BUSINESS
Library Lane & Elm Street removal of spruce trees
Tom Degnan, Tree Warden, has posted three trees for removal on Library Lane. One of the trees is dying.
There are several trees on Elm Street that are also under discussion.
DEEP/UCONN Aug. 20 invasive plants workshop
An invasive plants workshop will be held on August 20, 2013 in Milford. A new law signed by Governor Malloy targeting running bamboo will be discussed. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder will attend the meeting to find out how the law will be implemented and if people will be required to remove it from their property.
Identifying dying trees
A request by the Tree Warden for help from the members with identifying and reporting hazardous trees was announced.
OLD BUSINESS
Tree Mulching
Several of the trees have been weeded by the members, but have not been mulched.
High School Entrance Road- Trees and shrubs sustained damage from the winter storms. Several have been replaced by District 18 with substitutions that are not identical to those in the original plan.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS - none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Communication
35 Sill Lane: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden, met with Dianne Birdsall last March to discuss the trees that concerned her. He determined the trees are on her neighbor’s property and not on town property. Mr. Degnan recommendations were as follows: Ask a licensed arborist to evaluate the trees, send the results in a registered letter to the neighbor.
Recently, the house was sold with the trees still standing. Mrs. Birdsall, once again, wrote a letter to First Selectwoman Reemsnyder expressing her concerns about the trees. Mrs. DiCamillo updated Mrs. Reemsnyder
with the Tree Warden’s evaluation and recommendations emphasizing the trees are not a town issue.
39 Sill Lane: Mrs. Boyd, the new owner, wrote a letter to the Tree Commission in July reporting a large tree growing in the front of their home on Sill Lane. The tree is dying back on the top and may need to be trimmed/removed. Mrs. DiCamillo contacted the Tree Warden. He will evaluate the tree and speak with the homeowner.
62 Four Mile River Road: The owner, Paul Johnson, wrote a letter to the commission reporting a tree in front of his house. Mrs. DiCamillo will look at the tree, contact Mr. Johnson and Tom Degnan.
REMINDER - Next Meeting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next scheduled meeting is Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 4 P.M. at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Joan Flynn moved, seconded by Anne Bing, to adjourn the meeting at 4:40 P.M. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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