The New Castle City’s Tree Commission Meeting took place on February 6, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in the City of New Castle’s Town Hall.
Members Present: Chip Patterson, Chairman
Erv Thatcher
Susan Keyser
Mark Miller
Fran Peden
Chandler Gebhart
Member Absent: Matt White
Lillian Shue
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Chairman Patterson.
TREE INVENTORY -- The Chair introduced Dave Athey and Bryan Pariseault of URS who addressed questions raised by Commission members at the January meeting about the tree survey. The database they prepared was also shown to members. Mr. Athey checked into the grant money involved. The grant was for $20,000 and they spent about $15,000 to create the database and costs for surveyors from the State Forestry Office. That left a balance of $5,000. He said the stats were given to Jeff Bergstrom along with information about a package of software that costs about $5,000. The Chair said it was his understanding there was $4,000 left over and there was discussion about whether the Tree Commission should purchase the software and add the extra $1,000. The Tree Commission did not know enough about the program and it was not pursued. (Mr. Pariseault briefly informed the group about the software and its capabilities.) Mr. Athey felt the tree survey is part of the city’s infrastructure, which is why Mr. Bergstrom received the program. The City of Newark’s program (Charlie Emerson) deals with management of trees in open space. The data already provided can be input into that program if we like. He can’t address what skill sets are required. Mr. Thatcher said there are other sources who can use the software in addition to Mr. Bergstrom. Mr. Athey referred to a previous discussion about the survey not being complete. URS was asked to survey trees within the right-of-way. The Chair said the trees in rights-of-way in New Castle Manor and Baldt where the streets are narrow did not appear in the survey. (Discussion about where the remaining balance is took place. URS sent invoices to DNREC for payment.)
Ms. Keyser asked where they were standing when they took the data. Mr. Pariseault responded that they used a county parcel map which isn’t based on rights-of-way. He added they were standing as close to the base of the tree as possible. Key was getting a position that lined up to a satellite. (Additional discussion took place about how trees were recorded.)
Mr. Gebhart expressed his dismay that the Tree Commission was not involved in this program from the beginning rather than being kept out. A lot of the problems we are faced with now could have been avoided had the Tree Commission been permitted to participate.
(Lengthy discussion about the program being presented took place.)
Mr. Athey asked what the status of the proposed tree ordinance is. The Chair provided the chronology to date. In the meantime the City changed attorneys.
Gerry Kavanaugh does not have all of his papers back from the former counsel. Everyone wants to know if we have authority over jurisdiction of trees in the public
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February 6, 2006
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right-of-way, whether that it is on private property or not. If we don’t have jurisdiction we want to changes things in our ordinance and go back to Council.
Mr. Athey informed that Rehoboth put in a tree ordinance and URS acted as planners there. He gave a copy of the document (17 pages) to the Chair as a courtesy. It is also available on their website.
The Chair will send information to Mr. Athey or Mr. Pariseault to be included in our program.
REPORT OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
Mark Miller – No report.
Fran Peden – No report.
Susan Keyser – Reported she is working on a tree list and to let her know as soon as possible if anyone has any trees to add to the list. She proposed trying Moon Nurseries for the Spring selection of plants and planting. There were no objections to her proposal.
Erv Thatcher – We took a couple of trees down in Buttonwood across from
Teel Petty’s house. Some of the branches were leaning out over the street. They are not street trees. There is a street tree at the corner of Lincoln and Buttonwood. It is a Norway maple tree that died last year and will be taken down soon.
Chandler Gebhart – The City didn’t put in the request for an appropriation from the Trustees to the Tree Commission this year. Ms. Banks noticed this and an appropriation will be made.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Family Foundation Academy Landscaping Plan – The Chair explained how this project got to us. The Planning Commission wanted us to comment on the types of trees to be planted and also asked that the parking area islands be enlarged to 15 feet to accommodate what originally was two green ashes and two red maples. The school’s engineer, Lowell Hutchinson, asked that if we had any problems with any of the plantings to let him know. Ms. Keyser reminded that we had a big discussion about ash trees and decided not to put them in any longer. The Chair said the zoning code calls for trees that are 4 inches in caliber every 30 feet. Mr. Miller would like to see majestic trees planted since it is along the roadway. (A discussion took place about various species of trees for the project and alternating species.)
Ms. Keyser favors pin oak trees while Mr. Miller likes sycamore trees. She and
Mr. Miller will discuss further after the meeting.
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Arbor Day Symposium – The Chair will be attending a two-day Arbor Day Symposium on March 7-8, 2006. Municipal Services will be paying for his trip. There was no objection from members present to paying for any Tree Commission member who wishes to attend also.
Toner Tree, East 4th Street-Handicap Accessibility – The Chair sent out an email to members informing about Joe Toner’s tree on East 4th Street. He will be home from the hospital soon. A driveway and parking pad are being installed for him and asked if anyone objected to removal of the tree. If a driveway is put in it will cut the roots. Ms. Keyser made a motion to remove the tree; Mr. Miller seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Ash Trees -- The Chair has not received a response from Russ Carlson to date.
Ms. Keyser will try to contact him.
The Care of Trees Resumes – We have received a resume of personnel from The Care of Trees. We don’t need to do anything this evening, but review the information so we can discuss the scope or type of work we might want them to perform for us.
NEW BUSINESS
Tree Commission Appropriation – The Chair referenced a letter sent to Anita Banks of the Trustees of New Castle Commons requesting a $20,000 appropriation for the coming fiscal year, which is 4/1-3/31. (Copies were given to each member in attendance.)
Budget – We will be receiving another $5,000 for this last quarter from the Trustees.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Turner
Stenographer
