OLD LYME TREE COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015
HAINS PARK AT ROGERS LAKE
10:00 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM.
Present: Regular members, Anne Bing, Emily Griswold, Joanne DiCamillo, Chair
Alternate member: Joan Flynn
Ex officio: Thomas Degnan, Tree Warden
Absent: Regular member, Gerry Foster
Mrs. DiCamillo asked for a motion to have alternate member Joan Flynn vote in place of regular member Gerry Foster in her absence.
Motion: Anne Bing, Second: Emily Griswold. All voted in favor. Motion approved.
BUSINESS
BHHPIC request to take down two large red maple trees to accommodate a proposed 40x 80 basketball court
Mr. Degnan noted that he spoke with Don Bugbee prior to this meeting and told him that no trees may be removed in the park before posting by the tree warden per state statutes. Mrs. DiCamillo stated that the tree commission is responsible for preserving, protecting and the maintenance of all trees on town property, including town parks, per the Old Lyme Tree Ordinance.
The tree warden reviewed the site plan and discussed the existing topography and the proposed changes of the area where the new court will be located. He stated that removal of the maple, located in the corner of the park where Boston Post Road meets Town Woods Road, was something new. Mrs. DiCamillo commented that the plan continues to change, as the second tree removal was not requested or included in the letter from Mr. Dunn dated 9-9-15 and was not mentioned by Don Bugbee and Paul Gianquinto at the tree commission meeting on 10-15-15.
As stated in the past, the commission members are not in favor of removing the trees. They agreed that the maple on the west side of the entrance driveway to the boathouse is a beautiful specimen, in good health and an asset to the park, providing much needed shade to that area of the park. There were comments about the existing basketball court, under-utilized with little or no activity, with the exception of the crew team who occasionally use it to play informally. All of the basketball league games are held at Cross Lane courts.
After further discussion of the site plan and options, prior to making a decision, the tree commission members would like Mr. Degnan to meet onsite with the BHHPIC to do a site review and to discuss options for keeping the trees and protecting them. Mr. Degnan will request a meeting and notify the members when it will take place.
Select tree species and planting location on Lyme Street
Mrs. DiCamillo reviewed the discussion at the Oct. meeting to plant a tree on Lyme Street. Mrs. DiCamillo and Mr. Degnan felt the area where a Norway maple was taken down recently is unsuitable because of roots that remain in the soil. They decided that a new maple tree could be planted on the north side of the entrance walk to town hall next to the road. Mr. Degnan identified a suitable spot. Mrs. DiCamillo suggested members gather at town hall at the end of this meeting to see it.
Review and discuss the quote to weed, mulch and fertilize 24 town trees
A quote for the work was obtained by Mrs. DiCamillo from Hortus. The quote includes all materials with an estimated 4-5 yards of mulch.
The members noted that we used bagged mulch, equivalent of 1-2 yards, when the commission mulched all of the trees. Mrs. DiCamillo asked for a motion to ask Hortus Landscape to do the work, with price based on a reduced amount of mulch. Mrs. DiCamillo will contact the owner.
Motion: Emily Griswold, Second: Anne Bing, All voted in favor. Motion approved.
Anne Bing, Emily Griswold, Joan Flynn and Joanne DiCamillo exited Hains Park at 11:34 and assembled a few minutes later at town hall. All members agreed with Mr. Degnan’s choice of the planting location. Mrs. DiCamillo will contact nurseries and contractors for pricing and to determine if it’s possible to plant during the next few weeks.
Motion to adjourn the meeting: Joan Flynn, Second: Emily Griswold, All voted in favor. 11:49 AM
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne C. DiCamillo, Chair
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