Property and Grounds Committee
Meeting Summary March 12, 2009
Committee Members Present:
Franklin Buck Ken Burke
Outi Hanscomb Chuck Heath
Cindy Horan Bill Schwab
Bill Spring
Tom Whalen (Liaison to the Board)
Don Horan Board Member
Pond maintenance:
Four proposals have been received for pond maintenance. Every proposal noted significant rip rap erosion at pond 3, the Gladstone pond. We will recommend that the work at pond 3 be done soon, before the erosion problem becomes a more costly repair. Ken Burke continues to monitor the pond. He has pointed out areas along the rip rap that will need to have saplings removed. Pond 5 has a major growth of trees that may need to be removed professionally. He will advise Debbie. Ken also noted that water flows against the block retaining wall behind Aspen Hill. Ken noted that water ponds at the outflow of the drain that runs under Plantation between Smithfield and Aspen Hill. He suggested that this area might benefit from mosquito control.
Winter tree pruning:
Shenandoah, according to their maintenance contract, pruned the understory branches of several trees.
Bartlett Tree Services pruned cross branches, branches that may be a safety hazard, dead wood, and pruned branches to allow only one leader branch.
Chuck Heath was with the two arborists from Bartlett when they pruned these trees.
Trees along the guard rail on Bridgewater, and some trees along the path, were not included in the contract with Bartlett. Debbie has asked Bartlett to submit a proposal for these areas.
Erosion areas that may be corrected this spring:
Shenandoah will be asked to recommend ground cover and/or plantings to repair erosion sites on the hill at the front end of the Center’s parking lot, and on an area off Bridgewater Circle, behind Linden Drive.
An area between Reston and Hanover, and an area on Reston, will be watched over the summer.
Flower pots in pool area:
Franklin Buck has prepared the pots and will plant summer flowers at the appropriate time.
Large green flower pots:
The Garden Club is willing to take some of the empty pots. Emery Dilda is checking to see if the Villas are interested in some of the pots also.
Planting and Design Subcommittee:
Ann Graf has been in contact with Shenandoah concerning the summer flower selection for the entrances and around the Center.
Shenandoah:
The irrigation system around the Center will be adjusted to control overwatering in the shrub beds. Larry Wiltshire has been monitoring the new trees and foresees replacing 2 or 3 trees this fall.
Master Plan:
Two residents are each interested in donating a bench. One bench will be located between 109 and 119 Smithfield. The other bench could be located at one of the following sites; Bridgewater and Castlewood; Bridgewater and Buchanan; Bridgewater and Linden. A decision will be made at the April 9 meeting.
146 evergreen trees and 137 flowering trees are in the Master Plan design, along with several shrub beds. It was noted that dogs are a problem, particularly at the corner of Smithfield and Ripplemead. Would shrub beds be practical on that corner because of the amount of dog usage and the reality that some dog owners don’t clean up after their pets? Turning the area into a natural setting, using mulch areas and paths may be a practical solution.
The trees along Bridgewater in front of the Center may pose a future problem as their roots grow and cause the sidewalk to break up. Chuck Heath suggested root pruning. This could be done by Shenandoah or Bartlett.
Statement of Work for common ground landscape maintenance proposals:
Chuck Heath, working with John Lynch and Bill Spring, will present a draft of the SOW, as well as a time line of the process for seeking and selecting a landscape maintenance contractor.
Suggestions for the next FRCA insert in the Gazette issue:
1. Remind residents to clean up after their dogs.
2. Don’t throw dog droppings or the bags, in the street sewers.
3. Sweep seed, fertilizer, and weed control granuals off your sidewalk.
Next meeting: April 9, 2009 1:00 pm.