Minutes of a meeting of
The Old Lyme Tree Commission
March 18, 2010
Attendance:
Regular members present: Joanne DiCamillo, Emily Griswold
Alternate members present: Pat Moll
Members absent: Tom Degnan (ex-officio), Joan Flynn (alternate), Anne Bing (regular), Gerry Foster (regular)
Chairman Joanne DiCamillo called the meeting to order at 4:08 PM.
Clerk’s Report
The minutes of the 1/21/10 regular meeting were reviewed.
Emily Griswold made a motion, seconded by Pat Moll to accept the minutes as presented. All present voted in favor.
Budget Report
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that the balance in the General Fund (Tree Commission and Public Works) was $19512.18 as of March 3, 2010.
OLD BUSINESS
High School Entrance Landscape Plan
Mrs. DiCamillo received a copy of the revised High School Landscape Plan from landscape architect David Sousa. Tom Degnan, Tree Warden, also received a copy and will review it this week.
The revisions noted were:
- Removal of the ailanthus growing in the cluster of maples north of the intersection of Lyme Street and the High School entrance road.
- Prior to earthwork operation, the contractor is required to transplant to a temporary location five arborvitae screening the tennis courts, and replant them after the earth grading is finished.
- Notes that require the contractor to comply with the requirements of the landscape design.
- Three witchazel shrubs changed to one American Holly and two inkberry
- Install a paved apron on the north side corner of the entrance road and Mr. Hendricks’ driveway.
Mrs. DiCamillo and Cathy Green of the Duck River Garden Club looked at the Memorial Garden area and agreed that it would look best surrounded by a strip of grass, in place of the proposed pavers. Barbara Beal, president of the club, will look at the area at the end of March.
Tree Inventory Update
Mrs. DiCamillo contacted the Tree Warden, Tom Degnan, who did not have an update on the Tree Inventory.
The Board of Finance has tabled the request from the Information Technology department for funds to train a member of the Land Use department to update information in the GIS system.
NEW BUSINESS
Ilex – Town Green
Janet Sturges, Church Corner Committee, contacted the Chairman to ask if the ilex on the town green could be removed. The shrubs were damaged by heavy equipment during the Church Corner project. The three members present evaluated the shrubs prior to the meeting and agreed that they should be removed.
Mrs. DiCamillo will notify Mrs. Sturges.
Mrs. DiCamillo and Mrs. Sturges discussed the boxwoods growing on the town green. Since the previous owners planted them, Mrs. DiCamillo suggested that the Cox’s may want to transplant and keep them. Members agreed.
6 Lyme Street – request for tree planting
Stanford Brainerd called Mrs. DiCamillo with a request for tree planting in front of his house at 6 Lyme Street. There is room for a large shade tree near the driveway, and a smaller ornamental tree near the corner. The trees should be salt resistant, and able to tolerate drought and a variety of soil conditions.
After consulting several books on trees, and a thorough discussion, the members agreed that an ash tree would be a suitable shade tree; and a flowering cherry would be a good ornamental tree choice. It will bloom after the magnolias nearby. Both species are salt and drought tolerant. Mrs. DiCamillo will contact Mr. Brainerd to discuss the commission’s recommendations. She will ask Mr. Degnan for suggestions about purchasing and planting the trees.
68 Sill Lane – request for tree planting
Mrs. DiCamillo asked the members to approve the planting of a shade tree on town right-of-way in front of her property at 68 Sill Lane. A new tree will replace a sugar maple that was removed last year and a second maple with a decayed trunk that needs to be taken down. After a discussion, it was decided that a black tupelo tree would be a good choice. .
The Tree Commission will purchase and plant three trees.
Sandra Tolderlund, 61 Sill Lane, asked Mrs. DiCamillo for street tree suggestions for the front of her property. A large maple was removed a few years ago from the area and she would like to replace it. Members are asked to drive by and consider what trees may be a good choice for the area.
Saunders Hollow Road – roadside trimming
Mrs. DiCamillo will contact Ed Adanti about roadside trimming on Saunders Hollow Road.
Pat Moll made a motion, seconded by Emily Griswold, to add Town Hall Landscaping to the agenda under Other Business. Motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
Town Hall Landscaping
There have been complaints about shrubs being planted too close to the building, weeds in the beds and borders, and the lack of mulch around the plants. The Chairman noted that the landscape architect, Stephen Wing, signed off on the project, including the shrubs, in the fall of 2008. Last spring the plan was to install soaker hoses with timers and to mulch the beds and trees. After they were installed, Public Works did not put down the mulch.
All of the areas containing shrubs and trees will need weeding and mulch this year. In the Chairman’s view, it is not the commission’s responsibility to figure out how to accomplish this task. There is a budget for the indoor/outdoor maintenance of Town Hall. The Tree Commission is willing to take charge of the maintenance of the shrubs and trees but not for keeping the site weed free.
75 Lyme Street – Wilcox Tree Service tree trimming
The dead wood in the crown of the sugar maple has been removed, and corrective pruning has been done on the lower trunk. Wilcox Tree Service submitted a bill for $600 for the work, which was approved at the January meeting.
Care of Trees – Dutch Trig treatment proposal for elm trees
Mrs. DiCamillo is waiting to hear back from Care of Trees about the Dutch Trig treatment proposal.
MEMBER REPORTS
Mrs. DiCamillo reported that she stocked the Town Hall lobby carousel with tree brochures.
REMINDER
Next Meeting
Next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 4 PM at the Town Hall.
ADJOURNMENT
Emily Griswold moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:50 PM. Pat Moll seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted
Martha Hansen
Clerk
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