Minutes:
- Chestertown Tree Committee (TC) mtg November 9, 2023
Members present: Jeff Coomer, Ruth Menefee, Connie Schroth, and Cynthia Saunders
Others: Larry DiRe and Nina Fleegle
Agenda:
- Confirm budget request of $15,000 increase of $5,000 over previous years, plus $5,000 to initiate GIS; what is the platform to present as a “Supplemental Budget” request item?
- Status of the draft Tree Ordinance updated to May 30, 2023; add preamble?
- Status of ArcGIS mapping/data collection with Washington College (WC) of trees in Town public spaces and Town property (latest meeting August 30, 2023)
- Status of Shore Rivers 1,000 trees to be planted initiative (collaborate with Rec Committee)
- Main Street initiatives for tree wells
- Immediate needs for tree maintenance (safety issues etc)
- Planting opportunities for remaining fall/winter 2023
Larry DiRe will maintain existing budget for street trees/maintenance at two dollars per capita approx. $10,000.
Sean Lynn will prepare the initial budget for setting up the app in ArcGIS 1,2,3 to be received November 13th.
TC will present Council once GIS mapping contract is received/reviewed from WC. A one time budget allocation of $2,000 for initiating the platform will be allocated in 2024.
Action items:
On-going Tree Ordinance; create preamble.
ShoreRivers received grant funding for 1,000 trees to be planted in the area, approximately 300 trees will be allocated for the Town. Plant in empty tree pits downtown and other designated areas. Three year maintenance built in. Planting projected in phases for spring 2024.
Agree to monitor Basswood at 122 Cannon St and America Sycamore at 320 Cannon St.
Obtain flags/markers to mark new planting locations at Wilmer Park (wetland area) for two Cypress trees (in containers) at Town Hall; mark new planting locations at Rail Trail southwest of S. Cross St at bend, near Ajax Park and former Tidewater Trader building of three red Maple trees (in containers) at 200 block (odd) High St (heavy equipment needed, new planting sites prepped with backhoe or similar, stakes and guy wires); and mark new planting location at 200 block (even) S. Queen Street beyond Sumner Hall of Willow oak at 300 block even Park Road to be removed.
The TC reviews the existing 2009 Town Tree Survey and begin developing list of questions for the survey.
Research needed for treatment of spotted lanternfly.
Next meeting, December 2023 or early-Jan 2024 prior to Town Budget review.
Submitted by RDM 11.13.2023
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AGENDA
TREE COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Agenda for CoT Tree Comm mtg November 9th, 2023, 12 noon Town Hall (second floor)
Members: Jeff Coomer, Ruth Menefee, Cynthia Saunders and Connie Schroth
Items:
- Confirm budget request of $15,000 increase of $5,000 over previous years, plus $5,000 to initiate GIS; what is the platform to present as a “Supplemental Budget” request item?
- Status of the draft Tree Ordinance updated to May 30, 2023; add preamble?
- Status of ArcGIS mapping/data collection with Washington College (WC) of trees in Town public spaces and Town property (latest meeting August 30, 2023)
- Status of Shore Rivers 1,000 trees to be planted initiative (collaborate with Rec Committee)
- Main Street initiatives for tree wells
- Immediate needs for tree maintenance (safety issues etc)
- Planting opportunities for remaining fall/winter 2023
Last meeting February 1, 2023 (before meeting with WC GIS Lab)
In attendance: Jeff Coomer, Ruth Menefee (minutes), and Cynthia Saunders, also met with Kees de Mooy, TofC and Nina Fleegle TofC Mainstreet
We marked up an aerial for Kees for sapling plantings to be undertaken in early-2024 by the Maryland Forestry Serv (MFS) c/o DNR and MDE. Our contact person with MFS is Shaun Creasey. Highlighted areas included: Washington Park recreational and other areas (roadway r-o-ws); northwest (Dixon Dr to Morgnec Rd), central (at Dixon Dr, Lynchburg and High St.), and southeast portions (near Mill St. Town mtnc garage and Quaker Neck Rd) of the CTown rail trail; Areas along Morgnec Road and near the traffic circle at High St; Philosophers Terrace at Campus Avenue (not sure of ownership); northwest, northeast and southeast (nearest Heron Pt) perimeter of Bailey Park; perimeter areas of Middle School (Kent County property) and areas along Schauber Road; and the WWTP at John Hanson Road.
We also met with Nina Fleegle, Mainstreet Mng to discuss planting in existing tree wells within the TofC Historic District. We identified the following areas for 2 to 3” caliper native trees with individual site eval: 100, 200, 500 and 600 blocks High St. (various); 105 High St, 301 High St, 335-347 High St; 101 N Cross St at Emmanuel Church, 113 S Cross St; 99 and 101 S Queen St.; mid to southwest block of S Queen St from High St southwest toward Cross St (several spaces); 304 Park Row; 200 and 300 blocks of Calvert St; entirety of Mt. Vernon Ave; 100 and 200 blocks Washington Ave
TofC fiscal budget from 2021 allocated $7,500 for tree maintenance and $2,500 for planting.
Submitted by RDM 10.31.2023