Urban Forestry Commission

URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION Minutes of May 23, 2024 IN PERSON REGULAR MEETING Room 208 Municipal Building MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT ALSO PRESENT Jane Harris, Chairwoman Howard Weissberg- Acting Director of Bob Grimm PW (via Webex) Jonathan Morris Robert Hennessey and Ruth Veletta Steve Conkrite, Vice Chair Chris Donnelly- City Forester Dave Meyering Carl Lecce 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. Public Comment 92 High Street: Residents of 92 High Street discussed tree in front of their house that needs to be removed. Chairwoman Harris explained the process of removing the old tree, grinding the stump, and then planting a tree adjacent to where the removed tree was. The tree being removed will probably not come down for another year or so, but if the city and resident are going to do a set back and plant on the resident’s property they do not have to wait for the tree to come down in order to plant the new tree. Chairwoman Harris stated that they are pretty much out of time for spring planting, but they can try for the fall. Chairwoman Harris will email Mr. Hennessey to discuss further plans. 3. Review of Meeting Minutes Minutes from March 28, 2024 meeting were reviewed and edits were suggested. Minutes approved with revisions. 4. Old Business Tree Warden Report  Acting Director Weissberg will check on request for top soil. Steve Cronkite requested about 4 cubic yards of top soil to be delivered to the arboretum on Long Lane.  No Tree Warden report, will have a full report at next meeting. Chairwoman Harris expressed concerns shared by residents who live around hazardous trees. Public Works Report  Acting Director informed the commission that Public Works is critically short staffed right now. There have not been discussions with the Mayor regarding the bid going out  to execute the inventory grant, as Public Works is currently working on 6 RFPS. Acting Director Weissberg stated that there was an option for fast tracking it, but since that was not preferred by the commission it will be up to the Urban Forestry Commission and the Mayor’s office to decide how it goes out to RFP. Account Balance  Chairwoman Harris asked about account budgets, stating that she had spent quite a bit of money with Gabe and Prides Corner. Acting Director Weissberg will need to get together with Rohan Manning in order to determine the account balance. Chairwoman Harris needs to purchase a few more trees, which Acting Director Weissberg stated that that should be fine.  Chairwoman Harris asked for an update regarding a response from Scarborough Road resident, Acting Director Weissberg stated that he has not heard anything and thinks that Chairwoman Harris’ email was very effective. There has been detention basin clearing happening on Scarborough Lane as part of the AARPA grant. Downtown Business District Tree Pit Bid  There was a meeting with the AARPA people and the bid has been in purchasing, Acting Director Weissberg is hoping that it will be put out to bid on the 24th or 25th of May. The bid required a significant amount of work internally and will require specification recommendations from vendors and will not just go to a low bid, but to the best bid. Carl Lecce Welcomed to the Commission Wesleyan Hills Pool & Tennis Club Proposal  Steve Cronkite updated the members on the meeting that occurred at the Architecture and Landscape Review Committee (ALRC) of the Wesleyan Hills Association meeting in May, the ALRC is made up of three people, but one could not attend, Bob Grimm is on the ALRC and stated that there are some objections regarding fences and signs. Steve submitted a form to the ALRC with space for abutters signatures, and the ALRC would like the Urban Forestry Commission to obtain those. There was discussion surrounding neighbors and necessary signatures, Steve Cronkite will obtain signatures prior to the next meeting in June.  Chris Donnelly was recently at a conference with Dr. Cynnamon Dobbs of UConn and will put Steve Cronkite in touch with her, as she has experience with microforests. Tree Inventory Grant  Chris Donnelly stated that unfortunately the process seems to have stalled and asked for clarification regarding the committee not going with the fast track option. Chairwoman Harris stated that that would be using the LIDAR that he is already in the process of doing and when the committee met with Acting Director Weissberg regarding the LIDAR process it became clear that it would not give them the species or condition that the committee would normally expect. Chairwoman Harris informed the committee that since the  committee decided not to merge with the LIDAR process it was passed to the mayor’s office, but that coincided with budget season, which has been exceptionally busy this year. Discussion regarding grant timeline submitted and delays in the process. Steve Cronkite suggested setting a “drop dead date” for the mayor, where if the RFP is not issued by July 1 then it isn’t possible to use the grant money and it will be returned. Arbor Day and subsequent spring plantings  Chairwoman Harris said that Arbor Day went well, and the plantings are all done.  Chairwoman Harris went to check on trees that were planted at Indian Hill Cemetery and the trees do not appear to be what the committee had picked out. The commission members discussed purchasing tree seals to label trees. 4. New Business  9 new trees were planted by Steve Conkrite at the arboretum: Swamp Chestnut Oak, Pitch Pine, Black Locust, Black Birch, Osage Orange, American Holly, Autumnalis Cherry, Caucasian Wingnut and American Persimmon. Most were trees Steve propogated from seeds he collected.  Discussion around ArbNet accreditation: Commissioner Carl Lecce updated the group and stated that we have probably earned level 1, and the distinctions between levels 1 and 2, which include: a paid staff person, and 25 species versus 100 species, information on tree tags. Commissioner Steve Conkrite will update the excel spreadsheet with additional columns of information, Commissioner Lecce will reach out and find out what needs to be on the database. 5. Other/Correspondence  Slowly getting Pashley Lane Replanted  Please see attached e-mail from Cranberry Lane resident.  Berlin Street resident will be having Crimson King Norway Maple tree removed to accommodate sewer lateral that needs replacing. Discussion regarding removal of the tree and necessary permit requirements to have the tree removed. 6. Adjournment Motion to adjourn at 5:30pm