[NOTE: These minutes are made available to the public prior to Shade Tree Commission acceptance.]

Minutes of Shade Tree Commission Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Richard Prentice.

Present were: John Winiarski, Phil Cashman, Bruce Graver, Richard Prentice, Mark Alpert and John Lepper, Tree Warden.

ITEM 1 - Removals

  1. 782 Nott St. - Oak - 5/0 to remove
  2. Charles Wright School - Maple - 5/0 to remove
  3. Webb School - five (5) Locust front of building - 5/0 to remove
    one (1) Crabapple - 5/0 to remove
    All trees on south border - 5/0 to remove
  4. Stillman Bldg - Lindens at front walk - 4/1 to remove
    Linden - north side - 4 votes to prune, 1 abstention
    Spruce Tree - 5/0 to prune
    Maple on Francis St. - 5/0 to remove
    Maple on corner of Francis/Hartford Avenue - 5/0 not to remove
    Crabapple between parking lot and tennis court - 3 votes to remove, 2 abstentions
  5. 39 Bittersweet Hill - Cherry Tree - 5/0 to remove
  6. 19 Avalon Place - Maple - 5/0 to remove
  7. 137 Forest Drive - Oak - 4 not to remove, 1 abstention
  8. 227 Griswold Rd. - two (2) Maple - 5/0 to remove
  9. Tree Warden reported he approved take down of multi-stem cherry as requested by Town Arborist
  10. ConnDot removed three (3) diseased elms on Silas Deane Highway near Route 5/15 on ramp

ITEM 2 - Minutes

Minutes of the November 5, 2003 meeting were approved as presented

ITEM 3 - Communications

  1. Letter sent in response to James S. Griswold's complaint to Town Manager relative to Town's lack of attention to diseased trees in front of his property.
  2. Letter to Scott Nierendorf, 151 Griswold Road, ordering removal of unauthorized trees planted in street right of way.
  3. Tree Warden reported receiving several calls concerning trees flagged at Stillman Building. Residents had also been calling Town Manager and Engineering.
  4. Commission Alpert reported Charles Wright PTO may consider a request to move a large evergreen tree at the school.

ITEM 4 - Old Business

  1. Spring Planting Plans - Commissioner Alpert proposed adding one more Red Bud Tree to Charles Wright Planting plans. The Commission unanimously approved the request.

    Mrs. Lestacco, Meggat Park, requested trees be planted to replace one lost in storm. The site will be evaluated for Commission consideration

    Tree Warden urged Commissioners to work up list of potential planting sites.

    Village Improvement Association, Inc. plans to sponsor an Arbor Day program and purchase a tree.

    Tree Warden and Town Arborist picked up a Veitch Fir for Town Hall Christmas Tree at Handscrabble Farms, North Salem, NY. Also toured farm and would recommend them as source for future plant material.

ITEM 5 - New Business

  1. Tree Warden reviewed plans with the Commission for the re-landscaping of the Webb Building. It appears that when project is complete there will be a net gain of trees on the site. Tree Warden testified at TP&Z hearing on December 2, 2003 concerning the plan.
  2. Stillman Building re-landscaping was discussed. Plan not yet available. Landscape architect is studying old photos of building so as to replicate original plan. Commissioner Prentice attended a project planning meeting with other Town officials to discuss preliminary aspects of project.
  3. Tree Warden reported meeting with representative of Asplundh Tree Expert Co. They will be doing line clearing for CL&P on selected circuits throughout Town during December and January. Three Town owned properties involved include: Mill Woods Park, Webb Building and Progress Drive.

Having no further business to conduct, the Commission meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John C. Lepper, CTW
Tree Warden/Secretary Pro-Tem