Tree Board

January 5, 2012 5:30 PM Tree Board Meeting - Minutes Memorial Room, City Hall In attendance: BobTroester, Carole Naquin, John Snell, John Van Deren, Wendy Blakeman, Sarah Hoffmeier, Geoff Beyer, and Jean Jolley Wendy reviewed the Meeting Agenda asking first for feedback on the Tree Plan first sent by Clare Rock earlier in the week. No other comments or input were given by the board. The tree inventory was discussed. Jean mentioned that her husband tried to open and view the data Geoff sent to her, but was unable. Bob pointed out that Google Maps/Google Docs could be a useful tool in maintaining the inventory. Wendy suggested that as a group we prioritize which places in the city need new trees. White River Junction nursery has credit for the Tree Board from last year. Wendy will go to look/choose trees this spring. Additionally, there is funding for 8 trees from an awarded grant (the amount is unsure, but was proposed at $5,000). Geoff will report back with more details on the grant. It was agreed upon for the Tree Board to be represented at the Winter Farmer's Market again this year. Benefits of the market include educating the public and recruiting. No dates were discussed. John Snell suggested having dates in mind for TB work sessions or pruning workshops to recruit volunteers (at the market and in other ways). The heating plan for Montpelier was in question as to how it would affect which parts of the city. John Snell offered to call Harold Garabedian, Project Manager, for more details and status updates. Also, John noted that he feels one of the larger problems the TB is having is that we are still not communicating with public works and the city on which sidewalks are getting replaced . Before leaving, Wendy brought up the need for a new chair as she and Clare have stepped down as co-chairs. John Snell expressing a willingness to take on some of the duties, but also that he would like to share responsibilities (especially the paperwork). His schedule does not always permit him to make Thurs. night meetings and he asked how the TB can better accommodate this. Carol suggested that having two chairs works better and added that there is a need to recruit young people. John added that something Clare did that he felt was a strength was laying out goals over the course of the year. Rotating taking minutes for the TB meetings was discussed. John VD, Jean, Wendy, and Sarah offered to take minutes occasionally. The Tree Board Inventory was revisited. Geoff mentioned software (J&S?) and Bob asked about tying the data to the city maps. Geoff spoke of using GIS to tag a tree. Tracking and maintaining the trees would be better attained with smaller goals and dividing the work. Sarah suggested setting small goals each meeting for one person to take a block to monitor and report back to the group. Geoff relayed information on the potential for a new intern by the spring. He will report back, but believes there is a good chance for a candidate or AmeriCorps member (paid for by $700 left in the Mazer Grant). Geoff mentioned going to the Capital Area Neighborhood (CAN) meeting set for tomorrow (Fri night) to get recruits. He proposed three issues: parks, trails, and trees and could suggest workshops on these that would involve volunteers from CAN as it relates to neighborhood issues. John S suggested that once we are better organized then recruiting will be better because we will have goals and projects that are more hands on that need volunteers. Sarah suggested sending a recruiting announcement to Kate Forrer for the SOUL program participants. Also, Sarah asked about the website and offered to help better maintain it. Carol will call Sandy to straighten out the terms dates. John S would like to see the board members more participatory and Carol added that having assigned tasks would help. Jean mentioned that it would be helpful for the meeting's announcements to come earlier than the week of the meeting. Jean would like to see more measurable and attainable goals proposed by the board . The group brainstormed on Geoff wooden guards - John S suggested wooden grates and Jean suggested a wooden bench design could work as a more attractive and usable function for a grate. John S will send around a draft of a schedule for the TB for the year. Geoff ended the meeting with an update on the City Council Meeting which happened on Weds. Jan. 4. The city is pretty well set on a 0% tax increase and needs to cut $650,000 from the budget . Tom Golonka sounded as though he was most for cutting the Tree Board budget. All members offered to send around the City Council Presentation that Sarah and Geoff created to gain support before the final decision. Sarah will send it out to the members. John S said that in this kind of a circumstance, it would be effective to have an organized list of the Tree Board contributions (in monetary terms), the amount of cash flow and grants brought in. Meeting adjourned casually around 6:45pm. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2 at 5:30pm in the Memorial Room of City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Hoffmeier