Tree Wardens’ Association
Board Meeting
June 15, 2004
I. Roll Call
Present
Ken Placko, President
Lisa Zerio, Vice President
Bruce Bennett
Greg Foran
Jamie Klase
John Pinchbeck
Karl Reichle
Paul Young
Absent
Bruce Spaman, Secretary
Warren Jacques, Treasurer
Bob Ricard, ex oficio
Keith Mitchell
Guest
Leslie Kane, TW, Guilford
Alan Carey, Supervisor of Vegetation Management, NU
Bob Allen, Maintenance Coordinator East, NU
II. Minutes
Motion to accept the minutes of the April 20th meeting as presented (Reichle), 2nd
(Bennett), passed with all in favor
III. Treasurer’s Report-(Appendix A)
*Request made to have dates entered with the expenses
Motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented (Reichle), 2nd (Zerio), passed
with all in favor
Out of order for the convenience of guests
VII. A. Tree Warden Leslie Kane, Guilford, Letter to NU
1. Problems arise-rapid deterioration in service since Asplundh became sole
source provider of line clearing
-Leslie concerned with # of complaints from residents on trimming
-Difficult getting the right contact-Asplundh contact always changing
-Inexperienced crews
-What is left over at end of NU prune became town issue/responsibility
-Results-Kane wrote letter to NU
*NU has been very cooperative since the letter
2. NU Reaction to Kane letter-catalyst of change-Alan Carey
a. Problem
-January 2003-Asplundh becomes the sole source-See minutes
dated April 3, 2003 & March 30, 2004 for complete description of
process-based plan by NU
-Quality assurance by NU months behind schedule
-Payment being made when Asplundh quality control finished
Page 2-TWA-6/15/04
2. Reorganization
a. Return to geographic-based maintenance program
-4 divisional arborists
-one person to oversee whole project lifecycle
-one contact to town from NU-none from Asplundh
b. Payment not made until NU quality assurance complete
3. Separate Projects
Enhanced tree trimming
Capitol improvement projects
_______________________________________________________________________
A. Connecticut Tree Protective Association (CTPA)-Placko
1.Summer meeting-July 15-Chain Saw, Exotic Pests, Tree Decay
-booth to be set up for TW
2.Arbor Day Ceremony at the Capitol Building
-over 150 children
-awards for poems and essays
-one winner from each county-8 winners
3. Fall workshop-Panel discussion of Trees and the Law
-CIRMA-municipal liability-atty.
-No date set yet
-Looking to reach TW and commercial arborists
4. Update pest booklet and put on-line
-Bruce Pauley and Tim Abbey
B. Connecticut Urban Forest Council-Mitchell-not in attendance
V. Committees Reports
All committees are to have mission statements for the next meeting!
A. Tree Warden Education-vacant
1. Will run with 10 people
-2nd letter will be sent
2. Options for continuing ed- Decision to discuss options with Ricard
-Reduced rates for repeats
-Come to one class for a small fee
-Certified members can return for free
Page 3-TWA-6/15/04
B. Workshop Committee (Formerly Public Education)-Young, Zerio, Foran
1. Fall Workshop-Tools of the Trade
a. Logistics
-Tuesday, September 28, 2004-8:30-12:30
-Location-CFPA
b. Program put on by THM Scientific, Inc.-distributors
-Peter Felix-contact
-Root grow use
-Air spade-possible demonstration
-Cambistat-improves durability of urban trees
c. Discussion
-Open discussion period-TW’s bring their favorite tools
-Equipment should be evaluated before TWs “advertise” products
-Add disclosure-education, not endorsement
d. Young will put together potential program
2. GIS Inventory of Public Trees-Placko
a. Potential spring workshop
presented by Tom Brady, Past President, Mass Tree Warden
Chris Donnelly will help with $ +
Show priorities of tree care on paper
b. Pinchbeck will assist Workshop committee
C. Annual Meeting-Pinchbeck and Zerio-no meeting yet
D. Newsletter/Public Relations-Zerio
-Website still needs content to be useful
-Run Kane letter with Carey response
E. Membership-Mitchell-not in attendance
F. Public Policy/Legislation & Enforcement
-Klase will chair
G. Finance-Jacques
-Placko will look at auditors for external audit of transition of Presidents
H. Executive Oversight-Bennett, Reichle
I. Thanksgiving Tree Planting
-Litchfield County for 2004
Page 4-TWA-6/15/04
VI. Old Business
A. Next meeting
-August 24 in Milford
B. Board Contact Information
-corrections made
VII. New Business
A. Tree Warden Leslie Kane, Guilford, Letter to NU
Out of order-see page 1
B. ANSI A300 Planting Standards Final Draft-(Appendix B)-Placko
-Finalized by fall-moving quickly
-Will pictures be included?
-Bennett will contact with comments
C. CL&P permits-Pinchbeck
-Used to give a blanket permit
-Can TWs devise a standardized permit?
-Include in the TW School
-Zerio will get copy of Ridgefield permit and put on website
D. Banned Plants
-2 bills passed
-$500/plant enforcement through DEP
Motion to adjourn (Zerio), 2nd (Foran)