TETC March 4, 2010

Minutes

 

Present: Ross Traverse, Myra Maynard, Sylvia Warkentin, Marina Cheeseman, Helen Spencer

Apologies: Madeleine Florent, Shirley Thorne, Rodolphe Devillers

 

  1. Minutes from February  meeting were approved
  2. Business Arising from Minutes
    • Coyote information meeting – Sylvia reported that it was well attended, including the mayor and 3 councilors. Some of the interesting things she learned were - Torbay town cannot do anything about the trapping regulations – the recommendation to protect dogs is to keep them on a leash – if owners choose not to do this then they should learn how to open the leg-hold traps (which are designed not to hurt the animal, but may require stepping on both sides to open them to release a trapped pet ) and loosen snares or carry wire cutters as the snares are designed to kill.
    • TETC files were not cleaned up last month as there was no word on cabinets etc. We will try to do this in March.
    • The status of paper recycling – will try to find out from Ralph

 

  1. Torbay Tree Day.

Ross suggested we find out when Arbor Day is and hold our tree day then. White spruce and larch seedlings should be available for distribution among interested residents. Ross will write planting instructions, including instructions for planting the seedlings temporarily in order to bring them to a decent size before planting in their final place. We need to compile a list of potential places that would benefit from trees being planted and get permission to plant there. Some suggestions were the RC parish hall grounds, behind the new arena, periphery of Kinsmen Centre property and the new school. If you know of a place that needs trees to soften the landscape and provide shelter then please contact Helen hspencer90@hotmail.com and either get permission to plant there or let her know who to ask. In deciding where to plant it’s important to consider where snow is put and where people walk or mow. Safe places for trees may be along a fence line or an area that is left as unmown grass in summer and is not used for dumping snow in winter. We also need to contact the schools and youth groups – guides, scouts, Junior Forest wardens, and school environmental groups etc to find out if they would like to get involved. Ross also suggested we might look into drafting up some guidelines for the unnecessary removal of trees when building. This could be presented to council to become part of a building permit. He says in some places 10% of the cost of building a home has to go into landscaping. Everyone involved benefits from living in a more beautiful place.

  1. International Biodiversity Year Celebrations

We would like to hold some events around this theme such as plant identification, bird watching etc and perhaps include them with Torbay tree day.

  1. Remediation of the borrow site for the new highway by Indian Meal Line.

Helen had had an enquiry about what is proposed for this site. We don’t know what the plans are, but we came up with suggestions for turning it into a park or re-grading it to become a community tobogganing hill and park.

  1. TETC March Hike

This Sunday we will meet at 2 pm at the town hall as usual, then drive to Byrne’s Lane and hike from there. After the hike Ross invites hikers to his home for a ‘slide’ show of plants or other pictures of environmental interest and a pot luck supper. Bring pictures on a CD or memory stick if you have them.

  1. Rock Garden

No progress this month, but it is becoming more urgent to have a plan in place ready for spring. Ralph and Myra will draw up what is needed and then we can get quotes for making a plan

  1. Newsletter

It is almost time for the next TETC newsletter. Sylvia has written her articles. Ross will write on biodiversity in lawns.

The meeting was over at 9.15pm. Minutes recorded by Helen.