Urban Forestry Commission

URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION Minutes of March 28, 2024 IN PERSON REGULAR MEETING Room 208 Municipal Building MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT ALSO PRESENT Jane Harris, Chairwoman Howard Weissberg- Acting Director of PW Bob Grimm Chris Donnelly- City Forester Jonathan Morris Carl Lecce- Guest Steve Cronkite Dave Meyering 1. Roll Call Jane Harris, Chairwoman, called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm, in Room 208 of the Municipal Building at 245 DeKoven Drive. The roll was called and a quorum was determined. 2. Review of Minutes The minutes of February 22, 2024 were reviewed and approved. 3. Old Business Tree Warden Report  The tree warden report was reviewed. Public Works Report  Acting Director Weissberg stated that Chairwoman Harris assisted with some tree work in Melilli Plaza related to the installation of a transformer. The tree pit project RFP is close to going out. He stated it was difficult to figure out how to bid this project due to the nature of the work so he believes the RFP is the best way. He estimates the cost of the project being close to $100,000. Account Balance  Account balances were not discussed in detail but noted on the agenda. Downtown Business District Tree Pit Bid  Nothing additional to what was discussed above. DEEP Tree Inventory Grant  Chris Donnelly stated that he had been in touch with Acting Director Weissberg about the RFP since this is the next step in the process. Acting Director Weissberg stated that BETA Group was already contracted to do a pavement management inventory project. They drove all 200 miles of the city with a lidar collection unit. They collected data on our pavement conditions, signage, curb ramps and sidewalks. The imaging company that they used is able to extract any roadside feature that they have collected. Tighe and Bond will be ultimately taking the data and putting it into existing City overlays. He stated that it should be an easy lift to make an amendment to the existing contract to extract this data for tree inventory. The lidar unit allows the company to geolocate everything from the data that is collected. The commission questions whether or not tree stumps would be detected with the lidar. They commission will want to schedule a public information session. BETA Group will be sending Acting Director Weissberg information on a similar project they did for another municipality. DEEP Environmental Justice Grant  Chris Donnelly stated that if the tree inventory would be able to be done it would allow them to find areas of focus. This grant is very focused on areas in downtown Middletown. The intent of the grant is to plant 100 trees in this area- 50 street trees and 50 on private property. The grant will involve significant outreach into the community. Tree planting costs will need to be itemized. The committee discussed what community groups may be able to assist with tree planting activities. The application deadline for this grant is April 17th. Carl Lecce Nomination  Howard Weissberg will bring Carl Lecce’s nomination to the Mayor’s office. Wesleyan Hills Pool & Tennis Club Proposal  The weather has impeded work at this location. The hope is to have work started in the summer months. Steve Cronkite thinks that they should be able to plant the new trees in May. Additional Tree requests  Works is being discussed with a tree planting vendor. Scarborough Road Trees  A resident of Scarborough Rd is unhappy with the condition of the callery pear trees. The area has been reviewed multiple times. It will be removed from the agenda. It was suggested that a list of acceptable trees be created. Arbor Day  Stakes will be placed in the ground before this event to mark the location of where trees will be planted. The celebration will be held on April 26th at 10am at the Wadsworth Mansion. 4. New Business  Chairwoman Harris heard from Suzanne at Cario. She was looking for sites where she could do studies about additives in certain species of trees. There are two possible locations with slightly different conditions with the species of trees she is requesting. She was brought to Vets Park. There are also trees on Scenic View Drive that already contain the additives. 5. Other/Correspondence  Acting Director Weissberg will be requesting topsoil to fill in anything from tree work that will be done. 6. Public Comment  None 7. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:35pm.