HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-STAC-2009-06-10Shade Tree Advisory Committee Meeting
June 10, 2009 Minutes
Present: Nina Bassuk, Carolyn Boronkay, Judy Fogel, Dan Klein, Pamela Markham, Paul Paradine, Monika Roth,
Nancy Schuler, Debra Statton, Keith Vanderhye, Lew Ward
In the absence of the Forester's report (Andy is on leave), Lew will bring us up to date, but first some member
concerns:
Pamela tells us that a housing development on Chestnut Street has been approved, on the other side of the street
from where INHS put in another development. Trees there were massacred for the earlier development, and she fears
for the remaining trees suffering the same fate now. Can the trees be protected?
Another member asks for an update on Walmart and the trees there. Nina will call reps of the Planning Board
about both Walmart and Chestnut Street issues.
Lew's Report: the City has planted 123 trees, and Andy with Wegmans another 44 for a total of 170 trees this
Spring. By neighborhood, the 123 trees went to Belle Sherman (26), Fall Creek (37), downtown (8), East Hill (5),
South Hill (9), West Hill (15), Northside (17), Southside (10). Last Fall the City planted 219 street trees and another
100 in other places.
10 Frontier elms were lost this spring (Nina says these difficult to transplant because a hybrid of Ulmus
parvifolia and carpinifolia). Of the trees on Elmira Road, approximately 6 were lost, all Fall planted. Nina says the
trees should have been watered in during the Fall, and that the City should get gators on right away.
Lew's done a lot of work on Treekeeper records, and will shoot a GPS with Ruth before he leaves. GIS is
up for the public, with 5 steps to get there. Debra volunteers to write an article for newspaper on how to use. Nancy
says the City should have a link to this on its website.
Lew says the City made an insurance claim for $189 for a tree hit by a car in April. In other notes, he
reports that they've fertilized but with the wrong stuff, and after catching the mistake worked with it diluted, using it
for all last Fall's trees that weren't responding. Nina stresses again that it's not food they need but water. Lew is
working on RPM data for Nina. Lew and Andy are to be trained June 23 in pest detection by IPED.
Lew says he scored 3rd on the civil service test, so if #1 or #2 are unsuitable or bow out, he will get the
technician job. Otherwise he's out. If Andy is not back by July 7, Lew will be put in as a temporary employee.
Trees in Bloom: Andy is writing some articles although on leave. Debra will write an article on the tree website for
week 15, Nina on what not to do for week 22, and Paul on catalpa for week 30.
Commons Tree Walk: Paul and Nina will take pictures for the tree walk guide. (Melanie, Nina's former student
who's compiling the guide, is out of town due to the death of her grandmother.)
Beautification Report from Dan: Dan and crew planted the traffic islands at the tuning fork this week. The
Commons is 90% done. A portion of the creek walk behind the library where the Beautification Brigade had planted
was taken over by the new building there; that's regrettable but to the good, the building has taken responsibility for
the area. All planting should be complete by the end of June.
Re the rotary, height is an issue, but not everyone is upset about the forsythia/canna planting. Don't need to
see across rotary. Trees there can be limbed up. Height also an issue at the tuning fork where visibility is important.
NYSEG Report from Paul: Crews are starting next week on E State St (from elec. Substation down). Paul would
like crew leaders to meet with Andy and Lew in case some removals are needed instead of pruning.
The big transmission line behind the Children's Garden, going along behind Wegmans and behind Floral
Estates, will be done too.
Citizen Pruners Report from Monika: the program is doing well, with 2 crews of 8 -12 people on Monday evenings
and a lighter crew Thurs a.m. Suggestion to go down to Rte 13 and remove dead, also the suckers on crabs in the
West End. Pamela notes that elms on Aurora St need limbing up.
Nina says the Green St bank is looking bad. Monika suggests this is a good project for students who come in Aug.
Dan's crew will get to it, but it's last on their list. Nina suggests Dan call us and we'll get a crew there, a lot of us,
and do a really clean job.
Next meeting July 1, meet on Green Street bank. Minutes respectfully submitted by Debra Statton