Tree Board

DRAFT Montpelier Tree Board Minutes October 1, 2015 5:30‐6:20 pm Montpelier City Hall In attendance: John Snell, Abby Colihan, Jeff Schumann, Lynn Wild, John Akielaszek; Volunteers Bob Troester and Ken Libertoff Old Business The meeting minutes from the September 3 meeting were approved. Public Comment Bob Troester provided some information from a Madrid, Spain newspaper regarding the City of Paris, France banning the disposal of cigarette butts. Violators are fined 75 Euros. Update on Nursery Plans and Neighborhood Planting Lynn met with the North Branch Nature Trekkers, 4th -8th grade students who were eager to work in the nursery. Ken Benton of the North Branch Nature Center runs the after-school program. A tree tagging exercise is planned for October 8th and weeding, vine removal and pruning will be future tasks for the junior tree stewards. They are available every Thursday until December. The St Paul pilot neighborhood planting project is underway. On October 21st from 11 – 12:30 tree board members will meet with St Paul Street residents to learn about picking tree planting sites and what trees to plant given site limitations. The hope is to match trees available in the nursery to planting locations in the neighborhood. The pilot project will be expanded to other City neighborhoods. Fall nursery work is also planned including grass cutting, leaf delivery and spreading and installing mouse guards. Update on Washington County Courthouse parking lot hedge An update was not available because Geoff was not in attendance but John S indicated that the hedge is looking very good. A workday to add compost is planned. Update of tree maintenance downtown John S suggested that we give the oak located in front of Splash until next Spring to see if it will recover. A ginkgo will be planted on October 2nd to replace the dead tree in front of the Book Garden. Watering Update Abby reported that it took about two people (usually her and Ellen Doyle) a whole morning twice per week during the dry period this summer to keep the trees watered well. It was also noted that Ken, Bob and John watered the oak trees at Taylor and State Street by bucket brigade with water obtained from JP Morgan’s. Courthouse Tree Grate/Guard A workday will be planned to pull the grate and guard. Compost Workday John S suggested that any volunteers communicate directly with Sarah if they wish to help out. Bob and Ken indicated interest. The workday was tentatively planned for October 10th or 11th. Other Business John S mentioned that pedestrian committee maps are in the works which will also contain tree information. We briefly discussed erecting Tree City USA signs at the main road approaches to the City Beaver proofing trees will be on workdays in November/December. The Tree Stewards Annual Meeting will be held on October 10th. Tree Board members were urged to attend. The meeting adjourned around 6:20 p.m. Next meeting at City Hall: Thursday, November 5th , 5:30‐6:30