Tree Board

Tree Board minutes 09/26/22 Morgantown Tree Board (MTB) Minutes, meeting of September 26, 2022 Public Safety Building conference room, 4:36 PM. 1. ATTENDANCE: MTB members Dan Brown, Donna Marie Foster, Secretary Jon Weems, Chair Dave Barnett, City Arborist Scott Cline, Urban Landscape Director Marchetta Maupin, and City Council liaison Joe Abu-Ghannam. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: D. Barnett moved, and J. Weems seconded, that the minutes of the August 22 meeting be approved as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 3. REPORT FROM CITY ARBORIST: S. Cline reported pruning in White Park, and inventorying on the far side of the reservoir there. He said he had begun the major task of inventorying trees in Whitemoore Park. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. White Park update. M. Maupin distributed bid documents, incorporating many MTB suggestions, for the planting of trees. She noted that the trail plan was being tweaked. She mentioned scheduled replacement of an old sewer line nearby. B. Arbor Day. Plans were in place for Morgantown’s Arbor Day celebration beginning at 9:00 AM Saturday, October 1 at the Spruce Street Farmers Market. After the ceremony there, the plan was to plant three trees at different locations in Suncrest. J. Abu-Ghannam said he hoped to have three MHS students on hand to participate. C. Tree Article. There was consensus that the maple piece written by D. M. Foster had been appropriate, timely, and well written. D. Caperton Trail Invasive Species Removal. M. Maupin reported the contract with Ryan Ward/All-Star Ecology had been signed, but no start date declared. Work was anticipated to begin with tree removal during the winter of 2022-2023, followed by stump treatment in spring of 2023. 5. NEW BUSINESS: A. Future Downtown Tree Work. M. Maupin said a planting schedule for Pleasant St. was complete, with work anticipated in fall 2023. Walnut St. work was expected to follow, perhaps in 2024, after possible underground utility work. She noted that Chestnut St. will be getting some trees. 6. OPEN DISCUSSION: D. M. Foster urged better structural pruning of young downtown trees. 7. NEXT MEETING: 4:30 PM, Monday, October 24, location to be determined. 8. ADJOURN: D. Brown moved, and D. Barnett seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously at 5:46.  Tree Board minutes 09/26/22 Respectfully submitted, _____________________ Jon Weems, Secretary