Committee discusses planting about 20 trees at airport, airport declines earlier offer but is open to meeting

Committee members reported progress toward a tree-planting plan at the airport after an earlier decline from airport staff and said they expect to meet with airport administrators to stake and finalize planting locations.

The committee said it had sent a letter to the airport commission proposing tree plantings; airport staff initially declined to participate, citing concerns such as leaf drop in parking areas. Committee members said they called Art Gasparo and plan to meet with Warren Smith, identified in the meeting as the airport’s new administrator, to discuss locations and to stake out each planting site.

One committee member said the plan would include approximately 20 trees to fill gaps in the parking area. Members discussed planting species including elms and red maples and noted some existing trees near the tarmac and restaurant seating that airport staff have asked to remove. Committee members stressed that removal is not permitted without permission and that they will discuss whether a tree can be moved or should be replaced with a new specimen.

The committee also said one planted tree was blocking a security camera and another is one-sided; members said they would raise these as part of the meeting with airport staff. Charlie was asked to check whether the airport’s contractor, Crassula, will handle planting; members said planting responsibility should be part of the agreement with the airport.

The committee agreed to arrange a meeting in the coming week with Warren Smith to finalize locations and to coordinate any necessary removals or replacements. A member noted that some of the trees the airport wants removed include an English oak between the gazebo and the restaurant and other specimens nearer the tarmac.