Tree Board

Tree Board minutes 9/25/23 Morgantown Tree Board (MTB) Minutes, meeting of September 25, 2023 Chair D. Barnett called the meeting to order in the Public Safety Building training room at 4:31 PM, noting that a quorum was present. 1. ATTENDANCE: MTB members Dan Brown, Matt Cummons, Chelsea Hilty, Secretary Jon Weems, Chair Dave Barnett, and City Council Liaison Joe Abu-Ghannam, City Arborist Kaitlynn Deskins, Urban Landscape Director Marchetta Maupin, and Development Services Director Rickie Yeager The planned Nov. 11 visit of the national Christmas tree, while last on the agenda, was discussed first so R. Yeager would be able to leave without sitting through the rest of the agenda. The tree, a 63-foot-tall Norway spruce grown in West Virginia, was to be on a tractor-trailer at the Courthouse Square the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 11. Items discussed included decorating the square with live or cut trees, providing a special photo op location, and MTB hopefully providing an activity for children. D. Brown suggested contacting Art Yagle and/or Jim Rockis of the WV Christmas Tree Growers Association. R. Yeager mentioned that Main Street Morgantown Executive Director Amy Loomis would also be involved. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: J. Weems moved, and D. Brown seconded, that the minutes of the Aug. 28 meeting be approved as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 3. REPORT FROM CITY STAFF: M. Maupin mentioned reviewing the suggested trees for planting at the former Woodburn School property, mulching of High Street trees including the addition of soil from retired planting baskets where needed, a few dead trees on Walnut Street, and an agreement with Ryan Ward of All-Star Ecology to spray to control invasive Japanese knotweed along Deckers Creek. K. Deskins mentioned work on Morgantown’s Tree City USA application and adding more information to the tree inventory. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Review Approved Tree & Shrub List. Questions centered around how to deal with certain species of alder, catalpa, crape myrtle, styrax, and basswood/linden. D. Barnett, D. Brown, and J. Weems agreed to meet via Zoom to go through the entire list line by line. 2. Pleasant Street Streetscape. M. Maupin reported progress, including the installation of grates. She added that the problematic silver maple at Jack Roberts Park may be removed during the coming dormant season. 3. Tree Cleanup I-68 Sabraton Interchange. An MTB field trip was suggested to assess plantings done years ago by George Longenecker at this interchange within City limits. Discussion shifted to the median on Don Knotts Boulevard, a state highway.  Tree Board minutes 9/25/23 5. NEW BUSINESS: 1. MAC-ISA Conference. Preparations were well underway for this event October 1-3 at the Morgantown Event Center. City Arborist K. Deskins and MTB members Greg Dahle and D. Barnett planned to participate. 2. Arbor Day. Morgantown’s Arbor Day, October 14, was likely to involve tree planting at Krepps Park. M. Maupin mentioned sourwood, American hornbeam, persimmon, styrax, and possibly flowering dogwood as trees needing to be planted. Members were reminded that any publicity must first go through the City’s Communications Department. 3. U. S. Capitol Christmas Tree Event. See text above before “Approval of Minutes.” 6. OPEN DISCUSSION: J. Abu-Ghannam requested an MTB report to City Council at the last meeting in October or November. D. Barnett said he would deliver such a report and invited other MTB participation. It was noted that invasive spotted lanternflies were present in great numbers as close as Pittsburgh and likely to be in Morgantown as early as 2024. M. Maupin mentioned that vandals had cut one or more trees near the intersection of Beverly Street and University Avenue. 7. NEXT MEETING: 4:30 PM, Monday, October 23, Public Safety Building conference room. 8. ADJOURN: D. Barnett moved, and D. Brown seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously at 5:59. Respectfully submitted, _____________________ Jon Weems, Secretary