Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
January 15, 2015
Attendance:
Members present: Joanne DiCamillo (regular), Anne Bing (regular), Emily Griswold (regular), Gerry Foster (regular)
Members absent: Joan Flynn (alternate)
Ex-officio members absent: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m.
The commission has openings for two members.
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report – The minutes of the 11/20/14 meeting were reviewed.
Motion: Anne Bing made a motion, seconded by Emily Griswold to approve the minutes as presented.
Anne Bing, Joanne DiCamillo, and Emily Griswold voted in favor. Gerry Foster abstained. She did not attend the November meeting. Motion passed.
BUDGET REPORT
Balance & Activity
Cathy Frank printed a copy of the budget expenditures for Nov. 2014 to Jan. 2015. Mrs. DiCamillo reviewed them with the members. The total balance was not available.
OLD BUSINESS
Lyme Street, Ferry Road, McCurdy Road- tree trimming
Bartlett Tree Company was selected to do the work.
John Parker, of Yankee Tree Services, trimmed three trees on Lyme Street: one tree in front of the Old Lyme Children's Learning Center, a linden tree in front of E.F. Watermelon and a maple tree at the corner of Lyme Street and McCurdy Road.
Lyme Street, Ferry Road, McCurdy Road- tree removals
Mrs. DiCamillo is obtaining prices for the removal of three declining trees.
Town Hall, Senior Center, Cross Lane Fire Station, Police Station landscape
Mrs. DiCamillo and Mrs. Flynn contacted five landscape companies to discuss maintenance.
The maintenance will follow the fiscal year; beginning on July 1, 2015 and ending on June 30, 2016. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder has included the maintenance of the sites in her budget request.
Mrs. DiCamillo contacted the Duck River Garden Club regarding the police station planting beds. There is a committee that maintains the planting beds during the growing season. The shrubs on the west side of the building near the parking area are overgrown. The police have expressed concern about dampness in the building. Mrs. DiCamillo will look at the area.
Emily Griswold reported that the leucothoe and yews have been clipped into a tight hedge at the Cross Lane Fire Station. There was discussion about the possibility of removing a few of the shrubs. With the approval of Mrs. Reemsnyder, the members decided to work on a new plan during this year for that site, and have it ready for the 2016-2017 budget year.
The number of landscape sites will be reduced to two, the town hall and senior center. Mrs. DiCamillo will work on writing the bid specs, send them to Mrs. Reemsnyder and will meet at both sites with the contractors.
She will meet with Mrs. Reemsnyder to discuss irrigation at town hall and the reported problems with the soaker hoses.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion: Gerry Foster made a motion, seconded by Anne Bing, to add an item to new business. All present voted in favor. Motion passed.
Hains Park Tree
Ellie Czarnowsky wrote a letter to the commission. She noticed an unusual looking tree on the north side of the boat house. It may be a persimmon and should be considered when the revised boat house plans are reviewed. Anne Bing will visit the area to find the exact location of the tree.
Town Hall tree trimming
All of the young trees behind town hall need pruning for form and strength. The old slippery elm has dead branches overhanging the parking area. A few of the lower branches of the young trees along Lyme Street are growing beyond the curb.
Lyme Regis historic beech tree
Lyme Regis resident, Sheila Wacker, gave Mrs. DiCamillo some information about a European weeping beech tree still standing on the site of the original Old Lyme Inn (formerly the Pierpont House). On July 4, 1876, to mark the United State’s centennial anniversary, the Reverend Samuel Pierpont planted the weeping beech along with six dogwood trees. Mrs. DiCamillo shared the info with the Historic District Commission at their January meeting.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS – none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
REMINDER
The next scheduled meeting is Thursday February 19, 2015, 4:00 p.m. in the Town Hall conference room.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: Gerry Foster moved, seconded by Emily Griswold, to adjourn the meeting at 4:57 p.m. All present voted in favor. Motion passed.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen, Clerk
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