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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-15-2019 Minutes Tree Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3 Minutes Tree Board 9 a.m. May 15, 2019 Town Hall Annex Board Meeting Room, 105 E. Corbin St. Present: Chair Andrea Lewis, Casey Collins, Tim Logue, Bryan Stuart, Liz Waters and Greg Yavelak (ex officio) Absent: Frances Harris and Phyllis Simon Staff: Public Information Specialist Cheryl Sadgrove and Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood 1. Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum Chair Andrea Lewis called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. 2. Agenda changes and approval Member Liz Waters noted she had articles to share during updates. 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on March 20, 2019. Motion: Waters moved to approve the minutes as presented. Member Bryan Stuart seconded. Vote: Unanimous Changes: None 4. Review request from Pam and William Turner for town to remove an oak tree from the right of way on East Tryon Street Trueblood shared a photograph of the tree and said the Turners had consulted with an arborist who advised removing the tree because of its proximity to a power service line and because it is too large for the location planted. She noted the property owner, Pam Turner, was present to answer any questions. Stuart asked whether there are other issues with the tree in addition to the power line. Turner said its branches are hanging too low over the parking lot. Upon discussion, it was determined that the primary power lines are on the other side of the street and that Turner’s concern is the tree could disrupt the service line to the building she owns at this location. Turner shared additional photographs with the board while Trueblood explained that the power company does not prune trees near service lines but only near distribution lines. Ex Officio Member Greg Yavelak asked if the service line could be moved. Turner said she would not pay for it to be moved, and Trueblood said the town also would not pay for the line to be moved. Yavelak asked if the town could pay to move the service line. Trueblood didn’t think so. Page 2 of 3 Trueblood asked if there have been problems with power service because of this tree. Turner answered there have been no problems yet. Trueblood asked if the arborist who looked at the tree and recommended removal anticipates problems with service. Turner said yes, if the tree continues growing. Trueblood asked why the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce asked an arborist to look at the tree. The chamber is the new tenant of the Turner building. Turner said the arborist is a member of the chamber and is planting shrubs and perennials near the tree for the chamber. Trueblood noted the chamber’s arborist is recommending a redbud or crepe myrtle be planted to replace the oak tree. She also noted there is another spot in the right of way in front of this building where she and Turner have discussed planting a larger tree. She said the chamber now does not wish for a larger tree to be planted because it would reduce the building’s visibility. Stuart said he thinks it would be detrimental to the property to remove the tree because it would increase the heat in the parking lot and reduce privacy from the adjacent funeral home. He said right now the cost is someday maybe the power service to the building would be disrupted. He thinks removing the tree would create a significantly less attractive property. It’s a beautiful healthy tree. If he were property owner, he would be more concerned about creating a less attractive property than about possibly losing power to the building temporarily someday. He thinks it would be a disservice to the town and Turner’s property to remove the tree. Member Casey Collins said the tree will grow and it is possible to limb it up above the power line as it grows taller. Trueblood said that would possibly be the town’s responsibility because it is a town tree. Stuart agreed. Stuart said the chamber’s arborist raised concern that pruning would damage the tree. He asked whether that was true. Yavelak, who is a certified arborist, said it depends on how much is pruned. Trueblood said arborists have different opinions. Some believe if you could have 25 years to enjoy a tree without problems, you should keep it. Others think if a tree is going to be a problem in the future then it should be removed now. Yavelak agreed to look at the tree after the meeting. He thinks the town should prune it. Turner said she is fine with keeping the tree if it can be maintained by the town. Trueblood said a company certified to prune near active utility lines would need to do the pruning, which makes it more expensive. Motion: Stuart moved to table a decision about removing the tree while pruning is considered. Logue seconded. Vote: Unanimous 5. Review request from Hillsborough Garden Club to support request to Gov. Roy Cooper to issue a proclamation to declare June 17-23 as Pollinator Week in North Carolina Trueblood said the Hillsborough Garden Club has already sent a letter and is requesting that the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners also send a letter. Trueblood said the Tree Board needs to vote on making a request for the Board of Commissioners to send a letter; it would not be on an agenda for the Board of Commissioners until June 10. Trueblood said the Tree Board could designate her to send a letter on behalf of the Tree Board, signed by Lewis, and can also request that the Board of Commissioners do the same. Motion: Collins moved to do both. Waters seconded. Vote: Unanimous Page 3 of 3 6. Discussion of 2019 Treasure Tree selection Trueblood reviewed that the board had voted to designate a southern red oak behind the courthouse, but the tree is a willow oak. Board members noted there is a southern red oak in an unremarkable spot near the jail. Trueblood said she can check whether it is in the town right of way. Stuart suggested some members and Trueblood walk over to the tree after the meeting. Motion: Stuart moved to table the discussion. Discussion: Trueblood noted there are beautiful trees in the Margaret Lane Cemetery. Logue pointed out oaks host more caterpillars. Waters would like a sign for the tree. Trueblood said the signs on Riverwalk get moved. Waters suggested temporary signs. Trueblood noted the ones on Riverwalk make it through the flood. Second: Logue seconded. Vote: Unanimous 7. Updates A. Hillsborough Garden Club Trueblood noted: • The garden tour went very well. Ticket sales increased from about 300 two years ago to a little over 400. It was well coordinated with many docents. • Sarah Meadows, who is working on behalf of the Hillsborough Garden Club on promoting Pollinator Week, would have a table at Last Fridays to promote the pollinator week. B. Bee City Subcommittee — No report was given. C. Staff and board updates Trueblood: • Recognized some may have been frustrated that Earth Evening was cancelled. She suggested the board discuss possibly having a table with the Bertha Bee exercise at a Last Fridays or other event in August or September. • Reported the workday at the Cates Creek Park pollinator garden was successful and more people volunteered this year. • Reported compost blankets would soon be installed in Cates Creek Park. • Reported she is pursuing the purchase of a steam weeder. The board then briefly discussed the detrimental effects of Roundup on the environment and people. • Said she will bring a possible text amendment to a future Tree Board meeting that would allow people to not mow their yards or portions of their yards to create meadows and natural areas. Waters shared some articles about Roundup and Fearrington Village creating a green space. She reported she had visited a very old longleaf pine in Pinehurst. She also noted an article about a bald cypress tree in North Carolina being one of the world’s oldest trees. Trueblood asked board members to spread the word about a workday for stream buffer restoration from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday at 715 Dimmocks Mill Road. 8. Adjournment Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.