Woodstock Tree Committee 2-9-2026

Present- Carol March- co-chair
Michael Veitch-co-chair
Linda Lover-secretary
Achva Stein
Mike Onorato
Ed Sanders- absent

Joe Otters- WEC representative
Housing committee guest- Rebecca Brooks

Agenda-
Introduction of Joe Otters from the Woodstock Environmental committee
Intro to our Tree Committee members
1-Town Issues
2-DOT project report
3-Arbor Day
4-Earth Week

1-Town issues-
a-Town website will be done over.
b-Carol and Linda will work on the new Tree Committee page adding a section about invasive species and tree diseases with links to educate.
c-Trying to set up a mtg with Supervisor Anula Courtis to discuss budget and tree law passage ( law to be amended to include reducing the circumference size of tree trunk
inorder to protect all trees) ,as well as the DOT project ahead.
d-Achva volunteered to do the Tree City application.
e-Mike volunteered to be our treasurer.

2- Michael's DOT report-
*He will handle the DOT project research.
*He has FOILed for info on the many emails that the Complete Streets committee has sent out ,but they are encrypted and cant be accessed.
*Where are the plans? A $65,000 grant was spent on the plans.
*Brian Slack-Ulster County Highway Planner says no money to pay for the shared bike and walking path out to Bearsville.
*Kevin Smith is not a member of the Ulster Co. Trail Commision
*Supervisor Courtis is the point person for the DOT project
*Walking path on the north side or Rt.212 has fewer trees that would be impacted.
*Michael recommended the "Share the Road" program be implemented so trees could be saved.

3- Arbor Day- April 24
*Plant tree for Ed Sanders. Possible sites might be behind the Pollinator Garden, next to the Shakespeare stage. Consult with Ed.

4-Earth Day week- April 18-25
*Nothing is firmed up yet but the WEC is working on holding something everyday for adults and kids'.
*Watershed Wonders- April 18 at the library
* Town cleanup and tabling at the Community Center - April 25
Biodiversity, Complete Streets, Beyond Plastics ( Jo Swartz), Climate Cafe are a few ideas they are working on.
* Tree Committee could table with maps of important trees that would be endangered in the DOT project. We could show how trees are important. Achva volunteered to label trees in town to show the species in order to educate the public. Possibly invite the Mayor of Kingston to talk about planting trees. Have information on invasive species and diseases that impact trees.

Mtg. Adjourned- Next mtg. 3/9/25
Respectfully submitted by Linda Lover