Westminster Tree Commission

CITY OF WESTMINSTER TREE COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 4:30 PM Conference Room, Second Floor, 56 West Main Street 1. Call to Order Commissioners- Chair Steve Allgeier, Vice-Chair Cindy May, and Commissioner.Richard Wilbur, were present. Staff-Andrew Gray and Eric Schlitzer were present. Visitors - Jessica Fitzgerald and Paul Mullins were present. 2. Approval of Minutes a. Commissioner Wilbur made a motion to approve the July 24, 2017 meeting summary. Vice-Chair May seconded. The motion passed. 3. Old Business a. 2017 Urban and Community Forestry Workshop - Chair Allgeier thanked everyone involved in the success of the 2017 Urban and Community Forestry Workshop. Ms. Fitzgerald mentioned that a common comment attendees had was the field sessions only focused on one tree. 4. New Business b. Comprehensive City Tree Plan - The Tree Commission and Mr. Gray started to make suggestions to the template tree plan. Commissioners suggested a vision, planting recommendations, and short/long term action items to be included in Westminster's Plan. Mr. Gray briefed the Commission about how he is expecting to obtain maps from Towson University of Westminster's Tree Canopy as part of his Graduate School Project. The Commission will contact McDaniel College to see if the Environmental Science Department can find a student volunteer to update the existing City Tree Survey to include more detailed information about the current tree canopy.  5. Commissioner Report None 6. Staff Reports 1. Tree Removal (Storm Damage) - Mr. Schlitzer briefed the Commission on the Bradford Pear that split near the intersection of Court and Main Street and how the next storm would have caused the tree to be completely destroyed. 2. Tree Removal (Gas Line) - Mr. Schlitzer mentioned the tree that was removed at 134 East Main Street cannot be replaced due to a gas line running through the tree pit. 3. Tree-Mendous Program - Mr. Gray explained the City is looking to purchase several trees from this program through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Forest Service. The reduced cost of trees under this program will save the City resources for proposed plantings in King Park and the Conaway lot. 7. Adjournment Chair Allgeier made a motion to adjourn. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:40 PM. Steve Allgeier, Chair Westminster Tree Commission Adopted November 8, 2017