Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
October 16, 2014
Attendance:
Members present: Joanne DiCamillo (regular), Anne Bing (regular), Gerry Foster (regular), Emily Griswold (regular), Joan Flynn (alternate)
Members absent: Ex-officio members absent: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.
The commission has openings for two members.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report – The minutes of the 8/21/14 meeting were reviewed.
Motion: Gerry Foster made a motion, seconded by Anne Bing to approve the minutes as presented.
All present voted in favor, motion passed.
BUDGET REPORT
Balance
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that as of 10-9-14 the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $14,810.
OLD BUSINESS
Proposed Lyme Street, Ferry Road, McCurdy Road tree trimming
Ed Adanti, Superintendent of Public Works, spoke with Mrs. DiCamillo about raising the canopy of 55 trees to 20 ft. above Lyme Street, Ferry Road and McCurdy Road. He obtained an estimate of $4,110 from Bartlett Tree Company for the work. The bid did not include structural pruning and trimming or lifting above the sidewalks.
Tree Commission members looked at the trees and felt that 20’ was too high. Joanne DiCamillo, Joan Flynn, and Tom Degnan walked the three streets and evaluated the individual trees. They agreed that many of them need trimming. Additionally, the tree warden noted trees with structural decay and marked them for removal. He contacted Mr. Adanti with new project specs that included: lifting the canopies 15' ft. above the roads and 7' above the sidewalks, trimming to provide balance on each side, removal of dead and decayed limbs. He asked Mr. Adanti to identify trees that are hazardous and to provide a written report to the town.
Jon Parker, Yankee Tree Service, was contacted to submit a bid. Mr. Parker looked at the trees and identified 98 trees that need work, including lifting canopies over the roads and sidewalks, removal of dead limbs, structural pruning. He marked three trees for removal.
Mr. Parker estimated the project timeline of 5-6 days utilizing 3-4 men, at a cost $7,800. The removal of three trees (two on McCurdy Road and one on Ferry Road) would be an additional $2,050.
Several other trees along Lyme Street were identified for trimming by the tree warden and Mrs. DiCamillo during the walk – the weeping cherry tree in front of the Children’s Learning Center, the linden tree in front of E.F. Watermelon, and a maple tree, south of the Congregational Church, at the intersection with McCurdy Road. Mrs. DiCamillo contacted John Parker for a separate quote to trim those trees and for an evaluation of an ash tree, located at the corner of Lyme Street and Academy Lane. Barbara Crowley, owner of the Chocolate Shell, contacted Town Hall in Sept. to report dead limbs in the tree. Tom Degnan, Joanne DiCamillo and Joan Flynn looked at the tree on their walk. Mr. Degnan agrees with Mr. Adanti that it should be removed. The Tree Commission discussed the two bids and decided that Bartlett should be
asked to submit a new bid using the revised specifications. Gerry Foster suggested contacting a third company for an additional quote. The chairman will contact Tom Degnan with these suggestions.
NEW BUSINESS
9 Matson Ridge Road-request for approval to remove trees on town right-of-way– Mrs. DiCamillo received a phone call from Ted Blake, 9 Matson Ridge Road, who would like to remove trees along the road. He has marked the trees. Mrs. DiCamillo met with him. He explained the reason for removing them is to provide more sunlight in his front yard. She notified the tree warden.
9 McCurdy Road-application to trim/ remove trees–Joanna Bray filed an application for a permit to trim/remove roadside trees. Mrs. DiCamillo looked at the area and saw one tree by the road. She called Ms. Bray and left a message asking her to clarify the plans but has not had a response. The tree warden will visit the property.
Academy Lane & Lyme Street-ash tree – see above.
8 Oceola Trail – a homeowner contacted town hall to report a tree which is starting to split.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS – none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Discussion-pruning, removal of shrubs and trees in the Town Hall landscape
Gerry Foster asked to be excused from the discussion because Old Lyme Landscape works for her.
The chairman read the Tree Ordinance which outlines the duties of the tree warden and the Tree Commission. The Tree Commission is responsible, along with the tree warden, for establishing goals, and recommending methods of planting (including replacement) and maintenance, for trees and shrubs on town property. The Tree Commission takes into account both public safety and the aesthetics of the plantings. The work may be done by licensed arborists, private citizens, and professional landscapers recommended by the Tree Commission. Public Works may perform this work only when authorized by the tree warden or the First Selectman.
First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder left a voice mail for Mrs. DiCamillo on Friday, Oct. 3, explaining that Mr. Adanti had hired a landscaper to do some pruning work at town hall. There was a question about two chamaecyparis that were overgrown. Ms. Reemsnyder wanted Mrs. DiCamillo’s opinion before the shrubs were removed. Mrs. DiCamillo responded later that afternoon that she would be in town hall on Monday morning, 9 a.m., for the Historic District Commission meeting. She would stop by after it. Mrs. Reemsnyder was not available to talk with her that morning. Mrs. DiCamillo saw Mr. Adanti working in the front of the building and asked him about the shrubs. He told her the town crew was preparing to take them out. She noticed several other shrubs were pruned to the ground and many of the new plantings were missing.
When questioned, Mr. Adanti stated they were dead. He also stated they were causing the building to rot. Mrs. DiCamillo questioned if the irrigation system (soaker hoses) was used to water the plantings during the drought this summer. The system was installed around the entire perimeter of town hall following the renovation/construction of the building at a cost exceeding $2,000.
Mr. Adanti replied that the hoses were rotted and had not been used. Mrs. DiCamillo asked why they weren’t repaired.
Additionally, Mrs. DiCamillo, Dr. Flynn and Mr. Degnan looked at the beds and shrubs when they met at town hall for their walk along Lyme Street two weeks before. There were definite signs of stress from the drought but they did not see any dead plants. They did, however, notice how the beds were neglected; not maintained, overgrown with weeds, seedlings sprouting, and invasive plants and vines covering the ground in some areas. The chairman followed up with an email to the Selectman’s office inquiring about the watering of the plants.
Joan Flynn asked why issues are being handled in this manner. She felt the Tree Commission was being ignored. A discussion followed among the members. They expressed frustration with the situation.
Mrs. DiCamillo agreed and commented that the guidelines of the ordinance are clearly stated. They were discussed with the First Selectwoman at our January meeting together with concerns about the lack of communication between the departments. Several solutions were discussed and approved but, to Mrs. DiCamillo’s knowledge, were not implemented.
Following the guidelines of the ordinance, Mr. Adanti should have contacted the commission before hiring a contractor and planning pruning work at town hall. The total cost of the new landscaping was more than $42,000. The commission members worked together with the landscape architect to create a plan that would enhance the building and provide a beautiful setting. It was not intended to be a disposable landscape.
The members’ role in re-landscaping the newly expanded Town Hall was recognized in 2009 with a Certificate of Achievement and a silver tray award by The Federated Garden Clubs of CT.
Mrs. DiCamillo intends to contact the tree warden to discuss the situation and will keep the commission members informed.
REMINDER
The next scheduled meeting is Thursday, November 20, 2014, 4 P.M. in the Town Hall conference room.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Anne Bing moved, seconded by Gerry Foster, to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 P.M. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen, Clerk
| 
