Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
April 17, 2008
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Pat Moll, Anne Bing, Emily Griswold, Adela Wilmerding
Alternate members: none
Members absent: Joan Flynn (alternate), Gerry Foster (alternate), Tom Degnan (ex-officio)
A quorum being present, Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:10 PM
REPORTS
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 03/20/08 meeting were reviewed. Pat Moll moved to accept the minutes as presented. Adela Wilmerding seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Treasurer’s Report
Joanne DiCamillo reported that the balance remaining in the General Fund was $17,297.43 as of 3/31/2008. Clerk’s payroll expenses were $75. The payment of $1,560 by the Public Works Dept. to Tennett Tree Service for tree removals was deducted on 3/29/2008 from the 2007 budget carryover. There was an incorrect clerk’s payroll charge of $90 in February, and a charge of $31.75 for Office Express. The payroll charge was credited back to our account after Joanne spoke with Michele Hayes-Finn. She will follow-up with the Office Express charge.
OLD BUSINESS
Tree Stump Removals
The stumps have been removed from the Buttonball Road triangle, and Ferry Road/Lieutenant River Lane corner. Jason Wilcox will remove the Village Shops and Mile Creek Road stumps soon.
Tree Planting
The members agreed that fall is best time to plant the red maples on Ferry Road/ Lieutenant River Lane, the Wenck property on Mile Creek Road and the triangle on Buttonball/Old Shore Roads.
NEW BUSINESS
Old Lyme Conservation Trust – selective clearing
Joanne DiCamillo reported that she spoke to Anna Silberberg, president of the Old Lyme Conservation Trust, about the selective clearing that was done by the Trust on town property near the entrance to the Hoffman Preserve on Sill Lane. Ms. Silberberg stated that the understory trees were selectively cleared to allow the larger trees to grow and that it is a standard procedure for the Trust to clear around hiking trails. She was not aware of the need for a permit to cut trees on the town right-of-ways. At a recent UCONN conference, Joanne reported that Rick Darke, a well-known woodland ecologist and author of “The American Woodland Garden”, discouraged the clearing of young saplings because the overpopulation of deer and other wildlife are decimating small seedlings, making it hard for them to grow and
replace older trees in the forest. Joanne recommended that Ms. Silberberg review this information with her Board members and suggested that the Trust consider clearing the invasives and vines from their property on Mill Pond Lane.
Pat Moll stated that the Tree Commission had sent letters to all the Land Use commissions a few years ago about the need to get tree permits and notify the Tree Warden before cutting trees on town property. The Tree Commission will consider clearing on town property on a case by case basis, rather than create a policy. Joanne consulted with Tom Degnan who supports Rick Darke’s theory about understory trees, but feels the commission should also consider the goals of the Old Lyme Conservation Trust.
MEMBER REPORTS
Planting plans
Joanne DiCamillo asked for a motion to put the Ferry Road & Route 156 planting discussion last on the agenda. Anne Bing so moved, Adela Wilmerding seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
1. Old Shore Road & Buttonball Roads – Adela Wilmerding
Adela Wilmerding confirmed that the planting of one red maple would be delayed until fall and three Amelanchier canadensis (serviceberry) in spring 2009.
OTHER BUSINESS
Congregational church – tree removal- memorial garden
Joanne DiCamillo reported Sarah McCracken called her to say that a Norway maple was removed at the Congregational Church. The tree was rotted in the center and was a hazard. The Tree Commission does not have jurisdiction on private property, but appreciates being notified. Joanne recommended to Ms. McCracken that a shade tree be planted to replace the maple.
Town Hall – nursery plants
Joanne DiCamillo reported that Landscape Specialties relocated the nursery plants on March 30 & 31, at a cost of $1,000. This included clearing and preparing the site, bringing in topsoil and compost to enrich the soil and pruning dead tree limbs. Stephen Wing, the landscape architect, charged approximately $1,000 to redo the design plan on the north side of Town Hall incorporating these plants. The Japanese maple behind the Town Hall is doing well. The parking lot will be paved soon, which will make watering the nursery plants easier. Joanne has been watering the plants since they were moved at the end of March, and will continue until May 3. She asked for volunteers to help with watering. A schedule was created. Joanne will contact Gerry Foster and Joan Flynn to see if they can confirm their dates:
· May 4-17 - Emily Griswold
· May 18-31-
· June 1-14 - Anne Bing
· June 15-28 – Adela Wilmerding
· June 29-July 12 - Pat Moll
· July 13 – July 26 - Gerry Foster
Any members who cannot water during their assigned weeks should contact Joanne DiCamillo. The August watering schedule will be decided later.
Town Hall – transplanted azaleas pruning
Pat Moll and Joanne DiCamillo pruned the azaleas on Wednesday, April 9. Joanne had a discussion with Al Zack, the construction company manager, and John Forbis, Chairman of the Town Hall Expansion Committee, about the ongoing problem of workmen parking their trucks on top of the birch trees’ roots. She also noticed that a leader of the river birch had been cut off near the top. A member of the town crew was digging a trench with a backhoe disturbing the roots of the Norway maple in front of town hall. The protective fence around the tree was moved and lying on the ground.
It was reported in the Lyme Tymes that the town of Old Lyme had received a $200,000 state grant to help pay for renovations inside the town hall. The role of the Tree Commission was also mentioned in the article.
MESKWAKA Tree Project – contact
Joanne DiCamillo announced that the MESKWAKA Tree Project is scheduled this year for June 19, 20, & 21, for any one who is interested.
Planting Plan -Ferry Road & Route 156 – Emily Griswold
Joanne DiCamillo reported that after the area was cleared on Wednesday, April 16 she realized that more plants would be needed than was originally anticipated. She had asked Jason Wilcox to give her 3 days notice before clearing so that the town crew could install a silt fence on the bank of the Lieutenant River, but he cleared the area without notifying her. The silt fence will be installed on Friday, April 18. Jason removed a lot of invasives, including honeysuckle bush and multiflora rose. Mr. Kerop, a neighbor, commented on how nice the area looked, much like it had many years ago. Mrs. Sedgewick, the closest neighbor, was not happy about the extent of the clearing, feeling that it left her property more exposed than she had anticipated. The commission members are confident that after some planting is done the
Sedgewick property will be screened and will regain some privacy. Joanne will call Steve Sparaco of River End Landscape to get a price on planting the area.
Adela Wilmerding reported that $602 worth of native plants had been ordered for the area from The Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District. The plants are: American cranberry bush, highbush blueberry, elderberry, fothergilla, inkberry, spicebush, winterberry (male & female), witchazel, swamp milkweed, lady fern, and switch grass. The plants will arrive May 1.
A discussion took place about possibly installing fence panels against the existing chain link fence between the cleared area and the Sedgewick’s property to help block the view, and installing a split rail fence with grass to block access to the river bank. Rosa virginiana, viburnum, inkberry and bayberry were suggested as salt-tolerant plants for the river bank.
REMINDER
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 4 PM at the Lymes’ Senior Center.
ADJOURNMENT
Emily Griswold moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 PM. Adela Wilmerding seconded the motion. SO VOTED.
Submitted by:
Martha Hansen, Clerk
| 
