Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
July 20, 2017
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ATTENDANCE
Members present: Joanne DiCamillo (regular), Anne Bing (regular)
Members absent: Gerry Foster (regular), Emily Griswold (regular) Joan Flynn (alternate)
Ex-officio members absent: Tom Degnan, Tree Warden
Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m. A quorum was not present.
The commission has openings for two members.
CLERK’S REPORT
Approval of the April 2017 meeting minutes was postponed until the next meeting due to lack of a quorum.
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BUDGET REPORT
Balance:~Mrs. DiCamillo reported that there was $ 4,998.38 in the total Tree Commission budget, as of 6/30/2017, with $2,910 remaining in Contracted Services.
Expenditures were: $750 to Planters Choice Nursery for two trees (hornbeam and maple); $600 to Bartlett Tree Services to install the two trees on Lyme Street and Ferry Road; $100 to spray oak, beech, and maples trees for gypsy moth caterpillars at Town Woods Park.
NEW BUSINESS
Trees reported to Town Hall
The resident at the corner of Neck and Huntley Roads reported two rotted trees; the tree warden approved removal.
The resident at 22 Buttonball Road reported a tree leaning toward the house. The tree warden will inspect it.
The resident at 181 Mile Creek Road asked for an update on Eversource’s tree removals. The tree warden responded that Eversource will be in town at the end of July and in August to complete trimming and tree removals.
The resident at 13 Beckwith Lane reported a tree limb that took down power lines and requested a tree evaluation.
The resident at 151 Mile Creek Road reported a dying tree. The tree warden will visit the site.
The resident at 39 Center Beach Avenue reported a tree losing branches and requested an inspection.
The resident at 10 Apple Tree Drive reported an old pine tree that is losing limbs and requested an evaluation.
Town Hall - Eversource is moving a utility pole adjacent to the north exit driveway as part of a project to install fiber optic in the building. An Eversource official met with Mrs. Reemsnyder to obtain permission to trim the tree located on the north side of the front sign.
Mrs. DiCamillo met on May 15 with Eversource, Tennett Tree Service and the tree warden to discuss a new project, starting in July, which involves trimming and removing hundreds of trees on 23.27 miles in town. Four Mile River Road, Flat Rock Hill Road, Hatchett’s Hill Road, Whippoorwill Road and several roads in the beach communities are among the targeted areas. Work should end in December.
Approximately 86 trees on Mile Creek, Buttonball and Whipporwill Roads are being trimmed or removed. Work began in the spring.
OLD BUSINESS
Chairman’s report: Mrs. DiCamillo reported that a hornbeam was planted on Ferry Road and a maple was planted on Lyme Street. The homeowners had requested new trees to replace the ones that were taken down a few years ago.
Chairman’s report: Mrs. DiCamillo met with representatives from the Duck River Garden Club on June 8 at the Police Station to discuss the landscaping in the front of the building. The garden club would like to remove two overgrown Alberta spruce and add some new plants to the garden surrounding the flag pole. Mrs. DiCamillo advised the members to wait until fall to remove the trees. Meanwhile, they can begin work on designing a new landscape plan to install after the trees are removed. Although several of the shrubs in the front and on the side of the building were pruned last year by a local landscaper, they are in need corrective pruning as several dead branches are remaining on them, e.g. rhododendron, chamaecyparis, and rose bushes. The garden club will take care of the pruning in the front. Mrs.
DiCamillo will speak with Bonnie Reemsnyder about pruning work on the side shrubs and the removal of the invasive plants which have seeded into the side bed.
Chairman’s report: Mrs. DiCamillo met with Diane Blackwell on April 28 at the Lymes’ Senior Center to discuss the Phase #3 landscape plan. Mrs. DiCamillo suggested a new landscape plan including low maintenance, salt and drought tolerant, flowering shrubs and grasses as alternatives for the original plan of planting junipers. The original plan was modified and will include dwarf spiraea and Elijah Blue fescue.
Town Woods Park, newly planted trees gypsy moth treatment and maintenance schedule: Mrs. DiCamillo checked the area on May 25. She pulled weeds in the mulch around all of the trees and emailed P&R Director Don Bugbee to ask the landscaper to mow wide paths and circles around each of them. Gypsy moth caterpillars were eating the leaves on the oak tree. She contacted Bartlett Tree Service and asked them to spray the trees to kill the caterpillars. Mrs. DiCamillo met Emily Griswold onsite a few weeks later. She pruned dead wood from the trees while Emily Griswold set up the hoses and gator bags around them. Emily watered during June. Duck River Garden Club committee members will water during July and August. Emily met with them to explain the process.
Hains Park Boathouse project: The boathouse and landscaping is completed. Mrs. DiCamillo has heard from a number of people who are pleased that the large shade trees were preserved.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS - none
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Emerald Ash Borer and Gypsy Moth Update: Mrs. DiCamillo reported that a fungus, caused by a rainy spring and early summer, has killed a sizable amount of the gypsy moth caterpillars.
REMINDER
Next scheduled meeting will be held August 17, 2017 at 4:00 P.M. in Old Lyme Town Hall
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:43 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Martha Hansen, Clerk
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