MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Held Through Email Due to Coronavirus Restrictions
Attendees:
Gabrielle Oldham Dori Murphy
Ron Anderson Kathie Jarmon
Michael Morgan Tom Frederick
John Bennett
Cecil Bank
Checking Account
Date Description Amount
5-5-21 Beginning Balance $1476.00
6-1-21 Ending Balance $1476.00
Cecil Bank CD’s
Date Description Interest Rate(%) Matures Amount
6-30-20 12 month CD 1.0 6-30-21 $2535.90
12-17-20 12 month CD 0.2 12-17-21 $7511.00
The Board decided to
transfer $1500.00 from the currently expiring CD to the checking account. Then let the rest of the CD rollover to
another 1 year CD.
Big Tree Program
Update:
John
reported:
There
has been no activity in Cecil County. As
a reminder, all but one of the trees has been re-measured or has died. The remaining tree is the silver maple in
Eder Park which will have to wait until late fall.
At
the State level, Joli, Marc Lipnick
and I traveled to Brandywine (yes the EAB site), to
visit an old family farm. The owners
nominated a huge yellow poplar (386) on a steep bank. They have a photo of their grandmother posing
by the tree c.1910. We also found and
measured two white oaks (354 & 332), two black locust,
a Norway maple & an eastern white pine.
The largest locust, the maple and the pine all are new PG County
champions. We also re-measured a
southern red oak & an American elm—the latter remains the county
champion. The owner of the southern red
oak is a recent widow; her two daughters want her to come live with one of
them. She told them, “I can’t leave my
tree!” It has an average crown spread of
112’—easy to understand why she wants to stay.
In
Garrett, DNR Forester Melissa Nash and a Board member did some re-measuring,
including the State champion tamarack.
The tamarack has grown well. A
local reporter did an article; as a result we have
received two new nominations. FYI, all
three trees are transplanted seedlings from either New England or the upper
Midwest/ tamaracks are not native to MD.
The
Baltimore County FB started on their 23 re-measurements over two days. I don’t have a final count, but at least a
dozen are done & 3 are dead. One of the oaks split 10’ down from the
top. The owner hired a specialty tree company
to cable the trunk together. The BCFB
members the tree looks great.
The
Foundation is working with a master woodworker on an agreement for the
woodworker to donate a percentage of his sales in exchange for a promotion of
his company on the MBTP website (and I assume on the Foundation website). We will also make him aware of big trees that
have died. Dawn is handling the
negotiations.
Natural Resources Career Conference (NRCC) Update:
Gabrielle reported:
Changes are still being
made to Covid-19 restrictions for NRCC. Vaccinations are not required, but are
being encouraged. Campers who are not vaccinated will need to get tested before
camp and show proof of negative results. They will also need to wear masks at
Camp except outside. Temperature checks and health surveys will still be done
every morning for everyone. Right now we have about 33
campers. I think the number is lower this year because parents are still a
little concerned about sending their kids away to camps.
We'll be having real
meals instead of brown bag meals. We have a male night staffer but still need
to find a female, GCPS is unable to find one for us this year.
The Board decided to
offer $450.00 support for a Camp student from another County this year.
Website Update:
Ron reported that he updated the website as follows:
The
May minutes were added to the website.
The
June agenda was added to the site.
County
Champions trees BT # 2241 (Cottonwood), 2262 (Flowering Dogwood), and 2265
(American Holly) trees were re-measured.
The photos/stats have been updated on the county’s Forestry Board
website.
New Business:
Tom reported:
The State will be transitioning from Teleworking where possible, to working at the office for most people in June with a July 1st start date. A new Teleworking process is currently being developed now. I don’t know if that will mean that in person Forestry Board open to the public meetings will be allowed yet.
The Cecil County Forestry Board reviewed and approved a Forest Retention Area Timber Harvest Plan under the Forest Conservation Act regulations on May 20, 2021. The Plan was located at the Oakwood Rod & Gun Club property and on 13.2 acres.
Next Meeting: July 7, 2021