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TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
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AUGUST 28, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Don Nelson, Chairman
David Tracy
Peter Viteretto
Maribeth Becker
ABSENT: Richard Whitehead
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Tree Warden
Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree Warden
Dilene Byrd, Secretary
NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE: Dick Aime
NEIGHBORHOOD TREE LIAISONS: Diane Witowsky, Spring Hill/Hospital Association
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:05 P.M.
2. APPROVE MINUTES OF TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF JULY 24, 2007
Mr. Aime said on Page 1, Item 3, change “Aimee “ to “Aime”
Mr. Aime said on Page 2, Item 5-C, Line 9, change “then” to “than”
Mr. Aime said on Page 2, Item 5-B, Line 3, change “there” to “their”
Mr. Aime said on Page 3, Item 8, Line 1, change “specking out” to “specifying”
Mr. Aime said on Page 4, Item 9, Line 8, change “alternating” to “altering
Mr. Aime said on Page 4, Item 10, Line 3, change “Lee” to “Leigh”
Mr. Tracey said on Page 5, Item 12, Line 1, change “possible locations for
the next tree festival” to “responses to the survey”
**MR. TRACY MOVED TO APPROVE THE ITEM WITH CORRECTIONS
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
3. REPORT- INCIDENTS OF ILLEGAL CUTTING
Mr. Sotnik had no illegal cuttings to report.
4. TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
a. Harbor Shores fall planting: Mr. Sotnik said that the order had been placed with the contractor on August 27, 2007, and that he has spoken to Corrine Weston and Brian Anderson and they are checking to be sure that all the stakes are in place. He said that an e-mail had been generated to everyone in the neighborhood who was on the list stating to be sure their stakes were taken care of.
b. Broad Street planting: Mr. Viteretto said there are no available updates at this time. Chairman Nelson said he would contact Mr. Whitehead to stake Broad Street. Mr. Sotnik said once that has been done he would place the order with Almstead Tree.
c. Guidebook for volunteers: Mr. Alvord said some of the text needs to be added and the guidebook and it should be completed by next month. Mr. Viteretto asked Mr. Alvord to e-mail him the text and he would provide diagrams.
5. INFORMATION COPIES
a. Tree City USA Bulletin No. 14: Mr. Alvord distributed the most recent version of the Tree City USA bulletin.
b. Arbor Day July/August 2007: Mr. Alvord distributed
6. DISCUSSION- RECEPTION FOR VOLUNTEERS
Chairman Nelson said that the reception for the volunteers will be held on September 27, 2007, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM at the Doubletree Hotel. He said that he and Mr. Tracy would be meeting with Terry Almond on August 30, 2007, to negotiate a price. Chairman Nelson said that planning needs to be discussed as to what the programs would be. Mr. Alvord said the event should be geared to expanding people’s interest in the programs and to have them sign up for something specific. He said the general outline that had been discussed at the last Tree Alliance meeting was that there would be a mixer from 5:30 PM to 6:30PM and that the Mayor would then make a short speech. Chairman Nelson suggested the Mayor introduce Mr. Tracey, Terry Almond, and himself. Mr. Alvord said at that point Chairman Nelson would introduce the members of the Tree Advisory Committee. Mr. Alvord said once the introductions have been completed he would then present the city’s tree programs and what has been accomplished so far and where to go from this point. He said at the conclusion of the presentation that a table would be set up with specific activities for people to sign up for. Mr. Sotnik suggested taking before and after pictures of the planting at Harbor Shores, if completed, to display. Mr. Aime said what is given out and what people are signing up for should be very clear and concise. He also suggested that the sign up table be monitored by knowledgeable people such as members of the Tree Advisory Committee. Chairman Nelson invited members of the Tree Adisory Committee to the next Tree Alliance Board meeting on August 29, 2007, for further discussion.
7. UPDATE- TREE REPLACEMENTS ON CALF PASTURE BEACH ROAD
a. Discussion with Charles Cove Condo Association: Mr. Alvord said he had spoken with the Charles Cove Condo Association and that they are very interested in setting up a meeting. He said that he had explained to them that the Tree Advisory Committee is developing a plan to re-establish a street tree canopy on Calf Pasture Beach Road. He said he would follow up with the association to schedule a meeting.
b. Interest in Adopt-A-Spots along Calf Pasture Beach Road: Mr. Alvord said that Dave Shockley had been working on trying to develop new sponsors for the Adopt-A-Spots and Mr. Shockley had given him proposed landscaping plans for every available Adopt-A-Spot in the city developed by a single sponsor. Mr. Alvord said that he had explained to Mr. Shockley that no sponsor can have more than two spots throughout the city because he does not want this to become a commercial program. Chairman Nelson suggested asking the condo association if they would take the spots on Calf Pasture Beach Road.
8. REPORT- RESULTS OF URBAN FORESTRY GRANT APPLICATIONS
Mr. Alvord said that he had received a response back from Chris Donnely and that one of the two grants that were applied for were approved. He said the one that was approved was for the planting and that would go towards the bike trail and to start re-establishing some of the landscaping at Matthews Park. Chairman Nelson asked what the amount of the grant was. Mr. Alvord said that they had applied for $8,000 and received $6,000. Mr. Viteretto asked who would be working on the details of the project. Mr. Alvord said it would be Mike Yeosock. Chairman Nelson asked about the status of the asphalt on the bike trail. Mr. Alvord said that paving had not begun yet.
9. REPORT- WALMART GIFT OF LIBERTY TREE MEMORIAL
Chairman Nelson said that Walmart is giving the City of Norwalk a Liberty elm tree memorial. He said that Walmart has been working with the Elm Research Institute nationwide to find locations to plant elm trees. Chairman Nelson said that a plan needs to be worked out for a place to plant the tree, as well as a presentation, and tie it in with the boy scouts. Mr. Tracy asked if this would be fully paid for. Chairman Nelson said it would be with the exception of the actual planting. Mr. Alvord said he would like to have Almstead Tree prepare the hole.
10. REPORT-TREES AT EXIT FROM CRANBURY PARK
Mr. Sotnik said two trees at the exit of Cranbury Park have been posted for removal due to traffic safety issues.
11. REPORT-TREE REMOVAL/PLANTING- WALGREENS’S WEST AVENUE
Mr. Sotnik said that the contractor that is performing the work on the Walgreens
project on West Avenue has requested removing a 22” sycamore tree which has
decay in the trunk area. He said they had made this request because the tree
will be up against the foundation of the proposed building. He said that they
have also proposed replanting twenty-five trees at various locations around
the site.
12. REPORT- TREES ALONG BONNIE DOONE LANE
Mr. Alvord reported that the State had removed all the trees on the south side on Bonny Doone Lane along the property of 144 Silvermine Avenue. He said that they had not given any warning that this would be done. Mr. Alvord said that he does not believe that the trees were on state property and that he would be verifying that. He said that he would be requesting that the state replant the trees that they had removed. Chairman Nelson asked how many tree had been cut down. Mr. Alvord said about twenty-four trees.
13. REPORT- TREES AT SOUTH NORWALK RAILROAD STATION –EASTBOUND SIDE
Mr. Alvord reported that there would be renovations done at the South Norwalk Railroad Station and that there had been some challenges on the outside. He said there are four Bradford pears on the eastbound side that were planted too close to the foundation and are causing the sidewalk to lift and causing damage to the building. He said that the proposed plan is to remove those and that the Parking Authority would come up with a landscaping plan for that location. Mr. Viteretto asked if the trees would be replaced. Mr. Alvord said he would not encourage re-planting trees in that area because of the space issue. He said that there is an architect that is working on putting together the refurbishment plan which would include a landscaping plan.
14. DISCUSSION- NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITES
Ms. Becker said that Mike Moccaie of Parks & Recreation attended the last meeting and spoke in regards to Cranbury Park. She said they had also met with a representative from SWRPA to ensure that Norwalk was included in the regional planning. She also had expressed her concerns of the demolition on 124 East Avenue. Mr. Alvord explained that the developer had come in with the initial plan, which was to cut down the beech tree and repave the property. Mr. Alvord said he had told them that the parking area can be refigured without moving the driveway to save the tree which is also on the notable tree list.
15. DISCUSSION- NTA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Tracy introduced Mr. Aime as the new Norwalk Tree Alliance liaison to the Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee.
16. NEW BUSINESS
No discussion
17. ADJOURNMENT
**CHAIRMAN NELSON MOVED TO ADOJOURN
**MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
The Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM
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