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The
New Castle City’s Tree Commission Meeting took place on May 5,
2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the City of New Castle’s Town Hall.
Members
Present: Chip Patterson, Chairman
Erv Thatcher
Susan
Keyser
Fran Peden
Members
Absent: Mark Miller
Lillian Shue
The
meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. Roll call was taken. A
motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the April
meeting.
REPORT
OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
Erv
Thatcher – There is a
swamp maple at 227 Chestnut Street that has a branch that is putting
a lot of weight on the tree and the branch needs to be pruned.
420 Delaware Street – the tree appears to be almost dead; Ms.
Keyser said its condition is due to the City’s pruning. She
will look at the tree. 138 & 140
East Third Street – cherry trees were put in at the same time
years ago and the one at 140 is growing but the tree roots at 138 are
girdled.
Tom
Maddox has a tree against the front of his house that is in the wires
and needs to be shaped up. Mr. Patterson will contact Bob Rizzardi.
Susan
Keyser – Spoke to
Brian Jamison who said we would get replacement trees and new trees
this week. (Discussion
followed about removal of trees where replacement trees are to be
planted.) She spoke to
Mrs. Kiley and she does not have room for another tree at this time.
They will discuss putting in a dogwood next Spring. Mrs. Evelyn
Johnson will call when she wants a tree.
CHAIRMAN’S
REPORT
Cypress
Trees Behind the Post Office – Ms. Keyser reported there is
nothing wrong with these trees. They will be stunted because of the
confined area where they are planted.
105
Harmony Street – The owner has requested removal of the tree on
the driveway side of his property. Ms. Keyser met with Bob Rizzardi
and looked at the tree. It is a Norway maple and there is a dead
branch in the crown and does not appear to be healthy. A
motion was made and seconded to remove the tree. The motion was
approved by unanimous vote.
Baldt
Avenue (10th
& Baldt) – tabled until the next meeting to allow members
to look at the tree.
8th
Street – Ms. Joan Smith has requested planting trees along 8th
Street. Mr. Patterson has informed her that he will
look at the location because of power lines in the area. (Discussion
followed.)
Planting
Behind Bull Hill -- Mr. Patterson informed that he was approached by
a resident about planting trees on Trustees property behind his
garage on Bull Hill. Mr. Patterson suggested that the resident get
Trustees’ permission and write this Commission a letter
informing whether the Trustees want us to get involved. Ms. Jan
Churchill delivered a letter today that she wrote to the Trustees as
Council Liaison to the Tree Commission wanting to use the tree grant
program to secure trees. These programs usually require showing how
you will support and maintain those trees. She needs to have the
Trustees endorse this then they have to complete the application as
the property owner. In the past we have filled out the application
for the Trustees. (Discussion
followed.)
East
Second Street – The homeowner feels his position was unfairly
represented at last month’s meeting. Mr. Patterson suggested
he write a letter making his feelings known and his request would be
reintroduced to this Commission; nothing has been received to date.
Tree
Stump Removal (Clayton Street) – The homeowner submitted a
letter to this Commission requesting removal of a tree stump. Mr.
Patterson sent him a letter instructing him to remove the sidewalk
first and we will remove the stump. This Commission is also
interested in prosecuting whoever is responsible for poisoning this
tree.
OLD
BUSINESS – Ms. Keyser
reported that one of the two new trees that have been planted in Bull
Hill did not bloom. She has spoken to Brian Jamison and suggested he
take the tree that is in Dewey Park and put it in place of the tree
in Bull Hill. She is unsure why the tree did not bloom.
NEW
BUSINESS – Discussion
about phragmites control in front of Bull Hill took place. It was
sprayed by helicopter in the fall of 2007. (Discussion
about phragmites control methods and areas that have been treated
around New Castle followed.)
Avison
Corporation Settlement – Mr. Patterson asked Mr. Thatcher about
the status of the Avison settlement that would rebuild the marsh and
turn it back into its natural state (dig out dirt and put in natural
plants). Mr. Thatcher said testing has been done but there is still
too much chemical existing in the marsh to go forward with
remediation.
ADJOURNMENT
A
motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
unanimously passed. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Debbie
Turner
Stenographer
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