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

MINUTES OF SHADE TREE
COMMISSION MEETING
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBR 5, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Chairman, Bruce Graver.

Present: Phil Cashman, John Winiarski, Bruce Graver, Mark Alpert and Tree Warden John Lepper. One Commission position remains vacant. Council Liaison Matthew Forrest was not in attendance.

ITEM 1 - Public Comments - None

ITEM 2 - Minutes -

1. Upon a motion made by Mr. Alpert, seconded by Mr. Winiarski, the minutes of the September 3, 2008 meeting were approved unanimously.

ITEM 3 - Communications

1. John Fitzpatrick, Wolcott Hill called to report large limb fell in his yard.
2. Call from Terry Zahnke, wants to coordinate on tree removal.
3. Call from owner 653 Wolcott Hill for ownership determination.
4. Call from Brian Conneely concerning limbs obstructing sidewalks.
5. Call from Fred Mangifico, Goff Brook, suggested he call arborist.
6. Call from Grandview Terrance resident requesting assistance with tree.
7. Request from ConnDot to remove crabapple at Wolcott Hill overpass.
8. Contacted by school bus driver concerning tree limbs at Millwoods interfering with buses.
9. Tom Nowak reported tree on South Meadow Road ready to fall across road.
10. Call from Soundbridge School review tree removal plan.
11. Letter from Patricia Pandolfe requesting removal of pine tree from row.
12. Calls from Westwood, Nott Street, Belcher Road, and Coleman Road concerning problems with neighbor's trees.
13. Letter from Linda Case concerning tree removal on Nott Street.
14. Contact from residents in Wells Quarter Village concerning trees planted by MDC on town property.
15. Call from Frank Morris reporting broken branches on Broad Street.
16. Call from Peter Gardow, broken limb on wires on Griswold Road.
17. Letter from Peter Gallacher, State Street, requesting tree removal.
18. Request from Gloria Gworek for tree planting at High School for Class 1958 reunion.
19. Memo to Joe Coombs, Chairman Town Hall Renovation Committee concerning damage to trees.
20. Letter from Chairman Graver to Richard Pastick noting his retirement.
21. Letters from Richard Lasher and Harry Covey concerning black walnut tree near Griswoldville Chapel.
22. Memo to Town Manager relative to stump grinder.
23. Request from Town Planner to review landscape plans for Hartford Hospital building.
24. Request from Town Engineering for opinion on possible tree removal for drainage on Hartford Avenue
25. Request from Fred Bushey, Wethersfield School System to meet at Highcrest School to review tree problem.
26. Memo to Town Manager with history of tree problem at Highcrest.
27. Chairman Graver sent memo to Bunce Road resident denying request to remove tree.
28. Request for tree pruning on Back Lane.
29. Request from Town Engineering for tree removal, Hartford Avenue for drainage project.
30. Call from Robert Bauer, Acting Deputy Director Public Works concerning tree splitting during storm.
31. Received several letters and phone calls concerning parking on Broad Street green.

ITEM 4 - Tree Warden's Report

1. Inspected storm damage on Wolcott Hill, limb fell in yard.
2. Completed 2007-2008 Annual Report.
3. Investigated complaint of sidewalk obstructions on State Street and Meggat Park.
4. Inspected storm damage to tree on Hartford Avenue
5. Attended Nursery and Landscape seminar at Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
6. Marked out tree planting site at High School.
7. Purchased tree for class of 1958 reunion.
8. Helped plant tree at High School and another at Keeney Memorial.
9. Attended Tree Warden's Workshop.
10. Attended Connecticut Tree Protective Association Fall Workshop.
11. Made up tree planting plan for Alee at Nature Center.
12. Reviewed plan with Chris Shepard.
13. Gave B & B Landscaping reprimand for pruning town trees.
14. Investigated MDC's unauthorized tree planting on Wells Quarter Village green.
15. Met with ConnDot Project Manager and authorized removal of crabapple at Rte. 5/15 overpass.
16. Met with Fred Bushey, Wethersfield Schools and Jeff Grundt, CIRMA at Highcrest School.
17. Posted three trees at Charles Wright.
18. Attended Connecticut Urban Forest Council Annual Conference.
19. Examined trees at 24 & 32 Hartford Avenue for Engineering Department.
20. Reviewed Hartford Hospital landscape plans for Town Planner.
21. Wrote a five year tree removal report for Linda Case.
22. Ownership determination at 653 Wolcott Hill.
23. Developed contractor tree damage report for Joe Coombs, Chairman, Town Hall Building Committee.
24. Inspected street trees at Cedar Ledge Farm, Back Lane. Made work order for crown cleaning.
25. Investigated storm related tree complaint on Elm Street.
26. Helped tree crew clean up storm damage on Elm Street
27. Posted at risk tree on Nott Street.
28. Contacted four private property owners with at risk trees.
29. Responded to a number of neighbor complaints
30. Worked with Tom Rathier CAES taking core samples on Broad Street green.
31. Attended Invasive Plant Symposium at UConn.

ITEM 5 - Old Business

1. The Commission's response to August 25, 2008 letter from Town Manager was reviewed and discussed. A final draft was unanimously approved upon motion made by Mr. Cashman and seconded by Mr. Winiarski.

ITEM 6 - New Business

1. Commissioner's reviewed a request from Mary A. Pandolfe, 117 Robeth Lane for removal of a pine tree at 123 Robeth Lane. Reason, she and her great grandson both slipped on fallen needles. The Commission unanimously denied the request based on the fact that falling leaves and needles are a naturally occurring event and is not justification for removing a tree. If it were the case we would be removing a lot of trees.
2. Commissioner Cashman raised a concern about the size and shape of wood chips used in the dog park. They apparently are hard on some dog's feet. Commissioner Alpert had heard a similar story. Commissioner Graver enlightened the Commission with the fact that different brands of chippers produce different size chips. The Town's chipper, manufactured by Bandet Industries produces a larger, courser chip than say the Vermeer Chipper. The discussion ended with no action taken.

Having no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

John Lepper, CTW
Tree Warden/Secretary Pro-Tem