City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Trees & Greenery Committee, 13 Sep 2023

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From YouTube: 9.13.2023 Trees & Public Greenery Committee

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9.13.2023 Trees & Public Greenery Committee

A

Thanks I'll turn the recording light on okay, I will call the.

B

Wednesday september 13th 2023 meeting of the trees and greenery committee to order uh we have the.

B

um Acceptance of the minutes from the august meeting any comments uh changes. I recommend.

B

Okay sing, none um we'll go to the retrieve removal request.

B

um Planes field near islington street. Actually, I think we get into more detail below that.

B

um Plainsfield playground forever source two black locusts, two pin oak one, norway maple one red maple,.

B

And the trees have been marked. Do we have something here? Yes, yes,.

C

Could you come to the uh come up to the speaker and uh microphone.

A

And speak into that so folks can hear in so we can record.

D

Good morning, I'm bob from lewis free service, I'm heading up the project uh forever source.

D

um We're trying to push the wood line back 10 feet around a few sections in.

D

Portsmouth and that's where it cuts directly through the park. uh Unfortunately, and we.

D

Like to take a few trees out because they're inside that 10 foot uh space.

C

So, which direction is it going to go? It's going to be right from the field or it's.

D

Going to go straight across that park, it goes from islington street to middle street and there's a.

D

Section of line that cuts directly through the park, especially close to middle street.

D

There's a few locus in there uh um that are fairly large at pin oak and norway maple. That has been.

D

Pretty much sidewalled in there for many years now, we'd just like to get the the spacing.

D

Talking with max, he says it's a good time to uh take these species out put in a different.

D

Species that's a little more compatible with the power lines in place, so you're referring to the.

A

Section of line that goes from middle road to pearson street, yes, diagonally across yeah.

E

I didn't I looked at that yesterday. I, the pin oaks didn't seem to be a problem to me. I.

E

They seem to be you just kind of keep putting them up that side, hard yeah, we're gonna, they're, gonna,.

D

Keep getting hit every four years to push that vegetation away from the lines. um Okay, thank you.

F

The tubeless black locusts, when that street was cut off years ago. Those were the best trees that.

F

Were left, we took out a ton of locusts out of that they used to be a drive-through. Yes from beverly.

F

Hill across there uh before the playground was done, so those locals were were the best that we.

F

Had to leave at the time that neither one of them are in good shape now, but you know they were what.

F

We had to leave some vegetation in that area, so eversource is willing to work with our staff to.

A

Replant a few trees in there that's a result of the removals said was that part of the discussion.

A

Replanting is, I don't believe we have a firm replanting plan. We certainly can discuss that. Okay,.

B

Now, what's your name, sir? I'm sorry can you give us your name, please, I'm sorry, I'm bob burner forever. All right! Thank you.

B

um Any discussion about the trees at the plains. um I just.

E

um I guess I would just like to firm up a plan for replanting, that's again yeah to get a list.

D

Of trees that were able to remove yeah speak with max in the city called something perfect. So.

A

I'm comfortable with that assurance because we've worked with eversource in the past.

A

To do replanting and they've been true to their word uh when they've said they would do it, they.

A

They'd follow through and do it so I'm comfortable uh with that uh agreement that would actually move.

F

Some of the trees out of there, because there is there- is a good batch of young trees behind these.

F

Yeah like right with that norway, nice kinkos and that kind of stuff, so working with corn.

F

To figure out what the sports needs are out on that field too, is important, because that.

F

Place gets loaded with people. You know a lot of people in cars, mm-hmm lots of cars. Is this a new.

B

um A new contractor uh scott richardson is usually here uh between northern and lewis,.

F

It's just a separate work that they're doing yeah. uh It's just a separate work group. uh Northern.

D

Normally, has your territory we're out of our work, so we could take on the project we normally handle.

D

Rochester area or wakefield and stuff like that, and so you you've worked with max in the past. Yes,.

B

Any um other discussions in the plane streets, okay, um motion to.

C

Remove those trees seconded by aj uh any discussion all in favor all right all right.

B

um Pebble hill road from sage lane to moffett.

B

um To black locusts, one silver and maple, two red maples, one elm, one white oak: um yeah are you here.

D

On behalf of um yes, yes, that's me as well um that property that abuts, that is, the green company.

D

I'm not a land uh uh a surveyor, so I can't really tell what the property line is. It looks like they.

D

Have marking these are several trees along the wood line that just kind of poke out past that.

D

Marking so I'm saying yeah, those are trees. We're going to take we'd like to get your permission.

D

Before we move them, but it's just another one of those just push them gently, pushing the woodline.

D

Back a little bit and that's on the west side of beverly, yes, so that that's also the the area that.

A

We're going to be putting a multi-use path on so it it's likely related to that requirement.

F

And that was already stretched up widened up matt. You know comments in here that that grade.

F

Shape has already been changed. Yeah. You know a lot in that area and it was already trenched.

F

So the trees aren't the trees are along for the world either in any situation.

B

Don't get any any discussion about the um trees from sage lane to moffett street you.

B

Have a motion to recommend removal joanna second number dennis any discussion, all in favor aye.

B

um 777 middle road, eversource, one red oak, one black cherry.

B

Red oak's been fruit, a couple of times, okay, I I feel like I have a fight coming on for this.

D

One, it's been there forever, um it's not in the best shape. uh It's growing up directly.

D

Under the line, it's kind of, like my classes, coming up underneath it um either way this.

D

Is going to be an ever source problem when that history just decides to do whatever it's gonna.

D

Do naturally so we'd like to take it out and there's a declining, sherry right next to it,.

C

When I was looking at that tree, I was wondering, was the tree there before the.

C

Lines, curiosity, uh it gets me and, like I I'll start doing research on this stuff, I.

D

Think power came to portsmouth in 1913.. um The phone company came in in 1936, so.

D

I don't know what language, but where anybody around now is probably launching's gone. uh It.

D

I don't know I I couldn't tell you if that was there, I think we're we're approaching.

D

um Without taking a core sample and figuring out, actually how old this tree is because we've seen.

D

I've seen oaks grow in ancient a year, an inch around in a year, and I see them grow. Minuscularly.

D

So it depends on the soil, I'm guessing that they probably hit the stage at the same topic.

G

I have an opinion about this trade. I'm the homeowner that lives directly across.

G

The street from this from this monster, I'm sorry, could you come up to the edge? Oh yeah.

B

And give us your name. Yes, my name is mike kivan. I live at 802 middle road. It's directly across from.

G

um This uh this tree- and I completely agree with you- I've been calling on this tree for a number.

G

Of years, um just my opinion of what I've noticed is that the thing is absolutely enormous and the.

G

Limbs that come across this thing, it seems like they they go horizontal instead of vertical and.

G

They're so massive and they're, so big middle road is so busy with cars and trucks and walkers and.

G

Joggers and um we've noticed in the past two years that there's this whole, you guys have prune this.

G

Thing up in a couple years ago, but there's a hole in the main part of this trunk that we've noticed.

G

uh Raccoons coming in and out of this, this hole in this trunk, which means it says to me: I'm not an.

G

Expert, but it means to me that part of this trunk is compromised, safe assessment, which is makes.

G

It a little weaker, and also we get these another thing we've noticed is that we'd get these storms.

G

And we get these like high winds and especially in the winter, those limbs that are going across.

G

The street are like, like swaying and we watch and we're like. Oh, how is this thing especially.

G

A horizontal one or like how is this thing still up, um not to mention at the last last thing is.

G

It's over one of my wires and my neighbors. It's over his electrical wiring is internet wire. So I.

G

Mean one bad storm: one bad win could snap one of these things and god forbid, if there's anything.

G

Underneath it so I I'm totally before getting this monster down it's to say it's a safety issue.

B

It's interesting. It's it's a it's! It's a nice. I mean it's a majestic tree, but it's.

G

It's I mean it doesn't. Grow grows over the road, it's just not safe.

G

Thank you any um other questions or discussion. Well, do we have a motion to recommend anymore.

B

Oh second, but then it's a second by pat uh all in favor, all right all right. Thank you.

B

Hope to meet you again in a later date: okay,.

B

um Update on um and we can receive, an update from max on uh would be avenue. Did we talk about the.

C

Ash trees yeah, so we skipped one of them. The first item, peter city city, owned ash trees.

B

Oh god, this is just a city. This is honestly just this is this is not.

B

Part of the episodes when I thought that was okay, we let's take that up.

B

um Five ash trees and various stages of decline recommended by max and everything every plant.

C

Industry, what's yeah, how old are those 25 years or so or less? I would bet I didn't. I didn't check.

F

On that type, but I don't even call them going in and you know, city or parks, department or.

F

Somebody, you know, put them all in there and get you a better guess if you want, but that park was.

F

Redone it's 15 years ago, maybe yeah. I was going to say just about the start of this committee.

F

When they cut off the road and that kind of stuff, so some of those good some of those trees were already there. I know, okay in the back out in the back of that field,.

C

So when I'm looking at ash trees now, the very first thing I'm looking for is emerald ash borer.

F

I didn't see it on any of those trees. There's one. That's declined, really bad. I didn't see any exit.

F

Holes but where the bark being wet that kind of stuff, it's tough, to see them, sometimes the exit.

F

Holes you're looking for you, know big as a pencil, eraser and usually d shaped, but I mean it's not.

F

Perfect d, it's kind of like a bad oval, um but they you know it has somewhat of a flat side to it. Is.

C

How you tell it's eav and if we're looking at the five trees, starting from the south end, I guess.

C

From the yep, the first and the third tree I bought.

C

Actually looked pretty good yeah, it's one of those things I mean if, if max are eab holds them.

F

You know they'll leaf out again next year. You know, you know these trees. Aren't you know they're.

F

Not immediately failing like somebody or others, there's one of them, that's there's one of them.

F

That's really bad the other one. That's got a lot of die back in yep, but I didn't see it in that.

C

First and third- I don't know I don't know about, I did a drive-by, so I never get up close okay.

C

Yeah I I was surprised, I thought a couple of them were totally fine, but I know that that can change.

E

Quickly, yeah, but they didn't seem typical of what I've seen when I've looked at trees, ailing. I did.

E

You see blonding in the tree, I no, you won't see it on green acid. Those are green. Those are green.

F

Ashes, not white ashes, you won't see it as much. Okay, uh white ash. Typically, you know big tall tree.

F

And has a there's a lot of room for a lot of bugs you know essentially to be underneath the bark.

F

um So the blonding happens as a result of the woodpeckers going after it. um So it's.

F

Halfway, two-thirds up the tree, those are fairly small trees, so they might not be attracting.

F

A woodpeckers as much, but you won't see the blonding as much as in green from what we found.

F

In the field, you won't see it as much in green ash. Okay, that's good information! Thank you. Green yeah,.

F

They just have some melissa's ash, but they're all green ash trees to be planted in that area.

B

Can we um is there a tristan leaving the tour the.

B

Healthier ones, [music] if he knows that it's in there.

F

Yeah, just let it up be up to max, let them remove all of them or tell them to try to save those four.

F

And five, whatever he can save, save and let it ride out for another year or two okay, but.

F

If he can't, if he can't you know if he makes that decision, he can make a you know, decision.

F

When he's there on site- um and we've done this in other trees, I mean he's trying to say what he can.

F

Take somebody has to and that'll give motion, yeah. Okay, can you say it again? Yes put it on.

F

Max's shoulders all approved no, but he can try to stretch him up because we're gonna hit that.

F

Park pretty hard, you know, there's some nice days coming out. There are other trees in there, but it's.

F

Another section that's going to get hit, so the motion is to um take out the worst first. You got.

B

The worst first leave healthy ones and to allow if middle, wants to come in if possible, but at max's.

B

Discretion. Yes, I second that, yes, I third that any um just got further discussion all in favor.

E

Aye aye, okay, um okay, update max, gave us an update on 216 woodbury avenue.

B

And um yeah- I guess max, isn't here to give us an update on the planting, but uh so I I.

A

Will, mr chairman, uh I know max, is excited about continuing the giveaway uh tree program uh so.

A

We're we'll work with aj to to see what works uh for next year, uh but he also indicated that he's.

A

Looking to to continue planting in a robust manner of trying to get, you know better than 100 out.

A

From the city side as well, so I know the planes uh field, the scenario and also the skateboard.

A

Park, uh it's very we're really looking forward to to getting some trees into all right, all right.

B

um Any old business I if I make um just a follow-up on the request for uh badges.

A

um We reviewed city policy there's a form that uh was generated as a result of this request and.

A

I'm in the process of making sure it's uh fully vetted, uh so what I'll do is I'll get that form.

A

For everybody, it just says you know what the rules and responsibilities are when you wear.

A

A badge and that you acknowledge that you should once you're done with the committee. You return the.

A

Badge, I'm in that city property and that you're representing the city- um and I you know, I don't.

A

See any issues with it really, but I just want to give it one last read before I make it public.

A

Okay, thanks for doing that. No, yes, thank you! Peter any update on hall street cemetery.

A

um I just signed two purchase orders uh for the contract, so we're having two separate contractors.

A

uh One is coming in from bracket tide, the other's coming from the south side, south street side, yeah.

A

um And you know we have agreements with the property owner off a bracket.

A

um Mike truebridge owns a piece of property that he's allowing us to access um the back smoke.

A

Right to the back side of the cemetery and then everything's nailed down for the south street side.

A

So that should be. We should see action on that in the next. You know I just signed the purchase order.

A

um Yesterday so that stuff should be coming through in the next couple weeks,.

A

Yeah, what are they going in there with equipment they're going to try to put.

F

A crane up in there or no on the back side. Yes, on the other side, they have small narrow.

A

Tracked vehicles, I think, yeah with grapples they can get the stuff out. They believe they.

A

Can get it in there without getting onto other people's properties, which foreign.

A

That's just a tight spot, so it'd be good to see some of that yeah. Any um new business.

B

So I guess we're gonna have a record shot meeting and.

B

I'm I'm wondering if factor tick, adams isn't here filibustering or anything to the person even show up. So that's cool uh wrong mouse see.

A

Hi lauren, um can you hear us I can? Can you hear me.

H

You can hear me: okay, well, go ahead! Okay! Thank you. I've never attended a meeting on this end of.

H

Thing so this is new to me. I apologize for being late um more complicated than I thought to get on.

H

um So I'm late- and I apologize for that, but I I had a few questions about the plains field.

H

um Tree removal- am I too late for that? No we're ready go ahead, lauren, okay, great um so.

H

Going to eversource, why are they a nuisance now, but not before.

H

Is there something different now is uh lauren this today urban forester for the state? I don't.

F

Work for the city, but I sit on this committee, so a few different things have changed in the.

F

World of eversource, as well as other power companies, so rules and regulations were.

F

Changed in the last three or four years about clearances around power lines: okay,.

F

um As a result of storms- and you know, people being out of power and all that kind of stuff, so some of.

F

Our clearances around the city have changed. Polls have been going up higher all around.

F

The city uh to allow other stuff on those polls, those polls- are all relatively new in that area.

F

I don't know when they're put in but they're all you know fairly new polls, so there's more stuff.

F

And more different companies on those lines so, like the two little, the two large black locusts.

F

um You know they're relatively close to line but they're far enough apart, but they're in.

F

Relatively poor health, the pin oaks that have been there there's a large pin oak on the the.

F

Corner, I guess, as you leave the playground, I'm not sure what that road is. That's out. There.

F

um It's been what's what's referred to as sidewall, so the guys have just been pruning.

F

It forever either to not make the request to you know, because you know they're funding the cost of.

F

This removal, so policies change whether they keep pruning something for forever, eventually take that.

F

Tree down, so, if you look at the power in that area, you know that that one big pin oak, you know, will.

F

Literally, have to be pruned every few years of the rest of its life yeah, I mean it's disappearing for.

H

Sure it's just a tough spot for that tree to be in the norway maple that was planted. uh You.

F

Know, presumably by us you mean out in the out in the lawn area, uh is a medium-sized tree now.

F

They're, looking towards the future, that tree is only going to get bigger. uh You know eventually.

F

Becomes in the wires and they take the top out, then they take the side out. Then they, you know.

F

They just keep physically pruning that I have the interest in that line. The eversource folks.

F

Are not here right now, but I assume that's a major feeder line for one way or the other in that area.

F

It's a you know. It has three phase power at the top of most of that line, which means that you, it.

F

Serves either a valuable resource or more people or whatever, so you know they could be looking at.

F

Issues and you know with reliability issues in that area. uh There's a couple of small locus trees.

F

That have been growing up at the base of that big blue spruce tree yeah. I assume they're just wild.

F

Trees that you know ended up in there they're four or five inch diameter they're, 15 20 feet.

F

Tall now again they're only going to get bigger, um so it it's going to hit hit hard all at once.

F

um But I think a lot of this has been maybe passed over over a few years. Okay! Well, you! I.

H

Mean you definitely answered my question. The fact that regulations have that that makes sense in.

H

And of itself, so I appreciate that yeah we've had issues where we've had to take out trees.

F

Going down like both work, where the hospital is uh under the transmission lines and that kind.

F

Of stuff a few years ago, because population changed to open up around those transmission.

F

Lines as well, okay- and I know that there's a there's essentially like 2 gories and trees,.

H

I said from eversource both on on the agenda its sites that both a tree will be planted for.

H

Each tree removed can I assume that it will be at that site? uh You can make that assumption, but that.

F

Plan has not been made yet we discussed that this morning that trees will be planted, but there's a.

F

Lot of uses around that property, um so the grounds folks and sports folks and all that kind of stuff.

F

Should be in that mix, uh so trees will be put back in there, but we didn't decide on it on a one.

F

For one right at that location, okay, but it'll but they'll, be on planes field. It's not like you take.

H

You plant another tree in the city. The idea is to keep the uh around the same number of trees.

H

At that park yeah so lauren, the the desire is to provide shade trees. um That will not be.

A

Impinging on the um the power lines and that will be able to grow to full. uh Have you know nice full.

A

Foliage because it's it's a great space for big trees, where you know we will be looking to that.

A

um In the future, of course, is committed to buying the trees, so they're they'll.

A

Move forward with a replacement as well wonderful and my last question for all of you. So obviously.

H

um We are directly above the park. We love the park. I think we're great stewards of the park.

H

um As these as the city works with the different sports organizations and the wreck- and you know.

H

Dpw and whatnot to determine locations of new trees. Could there be some communication with.

H

Us as a butters only because I know that max had mentioned eversource is probably going to.

H

Be approaching us about some of our shrubs and whatnot. So if we can find synergy and meeting.

H

Our you know our desires and hopefully what the city needs. Can we look into that.

A

Yeah, if you, if you've already had conversation with max max, is the one uh is the staff member.

A

For our department that we're coordinating that um so I'd reach out to max and make sure.

A

He's aware of your desire, if you've already had the conversation he's probably cognizant of it.

A

um So you know we: we try to accommodate a budding property owners uh when we can.

A

uh There are times when we can't, but uh typically we'll accommodate folks.

H

Okay, so we could maybe be part of that this guy disguiser being played yeah, but I would.

A

Encourage you to reach out to max and just remind him that you're interested in yeah.

B

And and lauren on on the um the material that max sent with the agenda because he wasn't here today.

B

He writes the new trees will be planted for every removed tree. The planting selections will be made.

B

More suitable for the site in the immediate area and several large shade trees. We will be planted.

B

In more open space at the plains field in the spring, yes- um and I I'll I'll mention to max.

B

That he should, uh as peter just did I'll mention it to max to get in contact with you. That would.

H

Be awesome, we appreciate um how great you all take care of the park, it's beautiful and where.

H

We consider ourselves lucky to live next door to it. So thank you for everything that you do.

A

All right well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

B

um Any uh anything else to fill the record shortest meeting. Yes,.

B

Okay, thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you.