Meeting Minutes

Wednesday April 6, 2022

Black Hill Ranger Station 6PM

 

Attendees:

Gabrielle Oldham             Michael Morgan

Kathie Jarmon                   Katie Kranich

John Bennett                     Ron Anderson

Rob Feldt                             Dori Murphy

 

Gabrielle brought the meeting to order at 6:05PM. 

The March minutes were reviewed.

Treasurer’s report

1)      John indicated there was no activity on the bank accounts, but requested reimbursement for the $100 registration for the St. Mary Anne’s Garden Market for tree giveaway and outreach, which he paid out-of-pocket.  Members remembered that this request was already approved.

2)      John requested reimbursement for $0.35 cents/mile for big tree measurements in the county for 93 miles of travel, which equates to $32.55. 

Motion: Mike motioned to reimburse John for the $32.55 at the $0.35 cents/mile rate for 93 miles.  Ron seconded.  The motion was approved.

3)      Rob will look into ordering checks.

Big Tree Program Update:

John gave the county report, and details are provided below:

The Cecil County Forestry Board re-measured 5 trees and measured 5 new trees on March 20th.  Members who participated were Gabrielle Oldham, Michael Morgan, Dori Murphy, Kathie Jarmon, Katie Kranick, John Bennett.  Tom Frederick, former Board Secretary, also participated.  One new tree, a concolor fir, Abies concolor, became the new State Champion.  The previous State Champion Douglas fir, at the same site, remains State Champion.  The American beech at the same site remains the Cecil County Champion.  The black cherry at ENSF is declining.  Three hickories were measured at Calvert Regional Park.

 

Douglas fir

                                                                               

Concolor fir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State-wide, 37 trees were measured/re-measured.  Eleven were re-measurements and twenty-six were new trees.  Frederick Board members measured a new State Champion hophornbeam owned by Board member Keith Schoonover.  Mark Lipnick (Baltimore County FB) discovered and helped measure a new State co-champion sweet birch in Gunpowder Falls State Park.  John also said no one contacted Cecil about the upcoming interfaith driving tour of champion trees in Harford to see the champions on 4 church properties.

 

John said he had a call from a realtor asking if there was some protection that can be put on a champion tree for a property that is being sold.  There was some discussion about it being written into the deed, and Katie asks if it could have some sort if historic designation.

 

 

 

Eastern Hophornbeam                                 

 

Sweet Birch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NRCC Update: Gabrielle gave the NRCC camp update:

·         Gabrielle gave the report on NRCC and said the NRCC is halfway there on accepted students and that the limit is 42 students for camp.

·         There were 9 kids that hadn’t been interviewed yet, but that acceptance letters went out.

·         Gabrielle is working on details for camp night staff and meal planning.

·         She also wonders if they have filled Harry Spiker’s old position yet to cover bear biology.

·         Gabrielle finally report that this will be the 50th ANNIVERSARY OF NRCC!

·         John asks if there is anything on the urban forestry camp, and Gabe indicated she’d like to be on the committee, but hasn’t heard anything yet.

Website Update:

Ron gave the update:

·         He reported that last month’s minutes are posted as well as Cecil big trees, all posted and up to date.

Old Business:

·         Ron says he spoke to a member of the board of commissioners who recommended being on the agenda of the boards next meeting.  Ron and Gabe are planning to attend and make their case for funding.  This would take the form of offering services and expertise for planting trees, with the goal of building a good relationship.

·         Rob talked about having tree given to the board as a gesture.

·         Tree bagging will take place Sunday, April 24th at the Black Hill Ranger Station at 1PM.  300 trees will be available for bagging, and Rob will have all the supplies. 

·         Rob can have brochures for DNR programs and invasive species for St. Mary Anne’s event. 

·         QR code of native plants of the northeast and plant invaders.

New Business:

·         Ron says he read a good book—“The Nature of Oaks”.  He recommends it.

The meeting was adjourned approximately 8:50PM.

The next meeting will be held on May 4th at 6PM.