Summary of Gypsy Moth Public Meeting

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00:00:00 - 01:00:00

The town of Gypsy Moth is facing a budget shortfall and is considering ways to generate the money, including looking for government funds or private donors. The town is also considering a private urban spray program for individual residents.

00:00:00 This video is a public meeting where the speaker explains that the meeting went well and that staff are looking for another good meeting. The speaker then goes on to say that they have to get some things done before they can start debating the alternatives.
00:05:00 The director of public works and utilities presents on the gypsy moth issue. He states that the town is doing everything it can to address the problem, and asks that residents remain respectful of staff and council.
00:10:00 The town of Pelham is concerned about the gypsy moth, which is a pest that can cause extensive damage to trees and other property. Climate change is a significant factor in the gypsy moth's spread, and the town is looking into various ways to combat the pest. There are several alternatives to using biological agents, which will be evaluated based on public feedback.
00:15:00 The town of Pelham is planning to use a chemical to control the gypsy moth, which is an insect that is affected by climate change. The town is investing in programs to help adapt to climate change, and is also hiring a climate change coordinator. The town began spraying the gypsy moth in May of 2008 and completed the program in 2019.
00:20:00 The Gypsy Moth public meeting discussed staff's proposal to spray private property within the urban boundary in order to control an infestation. The meeting also discussed possible alternatives to the spray program, including providing residents with information about the program and receiving feedback from the public.
00:25:00 Tonight, the town of Pelham provides three alternatives for dealing with the gypsy moth pandemic: completing an infestation survey of missile property, spraying only municipal property with moderate to severe infestation, or spraying the entire town with moderate to severe infestation. The first alternative would be funded through the general tax base, the second would be funded through the general tax base and the third would be funded through the general tax base and spread equally among the town's tax base. The fourth and fifth alternatives would be the same, spraying private and public properties throughout the town with large severe infestation.
00:30:00 The town of Pelham spent $89,000 this year spraying 160 acres of private property with a moderately severe gypsy moth infestation. The town estimates that the cost would increase if levels increased, reaching $350,000. The town is asking for counsel on how to price the spray program.
00:35:00 The gypsy moth public meeting discusses the cost of spraying for both urban and rural areas, how the spraying program works, and the possibility of spraying in the next year. The director and staff are considering issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a spray program.
00:40:00 The town is considering a spray program to control the gypsy moth, but does not yet have the information needed to make a decision. The town has issued a draft RFP for an infestation consultant, and will likely pass a budget without knowing the full cost. The choices the town makes regarding the spray program will have a significant impact on tax rates.
00:45:00 The speaker discussed the differences between double and single engine helicopters, and the cost difference. They pointed out that, in an urban area, using a twin-engine helicopter is mandatory for safety reasons. However, in a rural area, using a single engine helicopter is allowed. This difference can lead to a substantial cost difference.
00:50:00 The Gypsy Moth Public Meeting was held to discuss the government regulation that decides where you use what machine, and to present a recommendation by the Committee received from Director of Public Works & Utilities Department, Jason Marr. Any further discussion on the presentation was not seen by the Committee, and the recommendation passed without any opposition. Jen Pills Eckert spoke in favor of reopening funding options for the 2019 spray program, and stated her name for the record. Councilmember Wink addressed concerns raised by residents, mentioning that some of the criteria for the Main Street Revitalization Grant were not met, and stating that the grant money should be spent by March 2020.
00:55:00 The town of Gypsy Moth is facing a budget shortfall of nearly $80,000, and council is considering ways to generate the money. One option is to look for funds from government programs or private donors. The town also initiated a private urban spray program for individual residents, which some did not want. Council is considering ways to refund those who did not want the spray done, and to pay the bills for the spray program.

01:00:00 - 02:00:00

The town of Hillcrest is having a meeting to discuss the gypsy moth problem and how to solve it. Some residents are not happy with the way things are going, and the speaker offers their opinion on the situation.

01:00:00 The town of Pelham is recommending that the town spend money on a gypsy moth control program. The speaker, who is knowledgeable about gypsy moths, is testifying in favor of the budget proposal.
01:05:00 The speaker discusses the town's history with gypsy moth, presenting a white paper to the town in September with recommendations for the future. He notes that the town doesn't need the added problem of people getting injured slipping and sliding on the sidewalk of a carpet of caterpillar fras. He applauds all citizens who volunteer their time and talent to make the town's serving various committees to make their commitment to this and to make the community better. He also notes that healthy trees provide a beautiful canopy for the citizens to enjoy, and like a rising tide, increases the value of all properties within the community. One of the town's priorities is to protect its environmental assets, and trees in an urban setting get stressed from pollution from vehicular traffic, salt from winter roads, and other factors when gypsy moth caterpillars defoliate their leaves.
01:10:00 The town of Hillcrest is proposing to spend money to protect an asset, Gypsy Moths. A committee composed of senior staff, town councillors, and informed citizens would develop and recommend to council an effective Gypsy Moth break control program. The committee would meet regularly and retain oversight for the effective term of the current council. In addition, the town would ensure a program defines in detail threshold standards for spraying and develop a pricing formula for both of these groups if need be. The town would explore with other municipalities how they budget for Gypsy Moths in anticipation of their following year requirements. Finally, the town would see if setting aside reserve funds every year would offset a large budget increase in the year spring is required.
01:15:00 The town of Hillcrest sprayed private property without residents' permission in an attempt to control the gypsy moth infestation, but residents later found out and withheld payment. The town was eventually forced to reinstate the spraying policy after residents pointed out errors in the utility billings. In 2008, the town was warned repeatedly about the gypsy moth infestation, but did nothing. In 2000, residents warned the town about the infestation, and in 2017, the town was given multiple warnings about the gypsy moth infestation but failed to take action. Finally, in 2019, the town sprayed Hillcrest Park but was unable to go any further due to lack of timely information.
01:20:00 The town of Fonthill, Ontario, charged residents for spraying their property, even though the town's estimate was inaccurate. This resulted in residents overpaying by about 48,000 dollars. The town could reduce this bill by taking rural properties into account and by charging residents based on lot size, rather than estimated acreage.
01:25:00 The town is planning to move forward with solving its gypsy moth problem, but some residents are not satisfied with the way things are going. The town hired a consultant, and resident Kofi Robertson can provide copies of the town's applications to the Ministry of Environment and Conservation.
01:30:00 The video discusses the town's two options for dealing with the gypsy moth infestation: spraying the trees and homes, or not spraying at all. The costs involved with each option are explained, and the idea of having the town pay for spraying on private properties is brought up. The video also discusses the rural and urban programs, and the differences between them.
01:35:00 The speaker offers their opinion that the town should use the report prepared by Mr. Feeley and the comments received from tonight's meeting to think about how they make decisions. They also suggest that the council take the retreat to think about their decision-making process.
01:40:00 The speaker discusses the gypsy moth problem and asks how the burden should be shared among taxpayers. She also asks why some people who live closer to Hillcrest Park paid while others did not. Paul responds that the boundaries of the spray zone were based on property boundaries and susceptible trees.
01:45:00 The speaker discusses the various problems they've experienced with gypsy moth prevention, including the cost of traps and materials, and the need for prevention to be a part of the local government's budget. They propose an alternative to the current method of paying landowners to remove infested trees, in which the town absorbs the cost of traps and materials.
01:50:00 The speaker discusses their experience with gypsy moth and how homeowners can take advantage of different control methods. They also mention that it is important for citizens to be educated about gypsy moth so that they can make informed decisions about how to deal with the pest.
01:55:00 The speaker explains that the city is charging homeowners for spraying to protect their homes, even though they are responsible for part of the land. The speaker also discusses the issue of whether or not there is damage done to other animals when BT is sprayed.

02:00:00 - 03:00:00

The town of Pelham is considering a spray program to control gypsy moth infestations, and is discussing how to distribute the cost of the program among the townspeople. There is concern that the town is not doing enough to help landowners protect their land from the gypsy moth.

02:00:00 The speaker discusses the impacts of gypsy moth infestations on ecosystems and suggests possible alternatives to using chemical pesticides. He also asks for input from the audience.
02:05:00 The speaker expresses concern about the lack of communication among the townspeople, the lack of viable alternatives, and the lack of consent among the community. She suggests that the townspeople communicate with each other more and do their homework before making decisions. She also suggests that the townspeople consider purchasing land outside of the sprayed area.
02:10:00 The town of North Adams held a public meeting to discuss the proposed spraying of gypsy moth areas. The gypsy moth paper which was very good was presented, and residents were asked if they were concerned about the ease of staff life. There was discussion of changing the mapping from May to August to account for new trees. One resident, Mark Hughes, commented that his property was not on the original map and was later informed that a map change had occurred. Hughes requested that the town address the concerns of all residents formally.
02:15:00 The town of Blackwood Crescent in Fonthill charges residents six hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre for using their helicopter to spray gypsy moth larvae. Graeme Ashdown Blackwood asks the council what they want the town to do, and they reply that they want the town to spread out the responsibility for paying for the spraying throughout the year. They also ask for a date when the tally of how much residents have paid will be done.
02:20:00 The video discusses the cost of spraying gypsy moth larvae, and how this cost is typically split between the townspeople who live in the rural areas and those who live in the urban areas. It notes that, if the townspeople who live in the rural areas want to be treated differently, they should pay a separate price for this service.
02:25:00 The speaker discusses how the town council voted to choose Option 5 - a ground spray instead of Option 4 - hiring a professional tree service. The speaker also comments on the proposed 8% tax increase every year if the town were to foot the bill for the whole town.
02:30:00 The speaker discusses ways to protect their property from the gypsy moth, including using sprays. They ask a councilor if the spray program is effective after the caterpillars have hatched, to which the councilor responds that the female moth does not fly and that the spray program is after the caterpillars have hatched.
02:35:00 The Gypsy moth is a caterpillar that can travel by ballooning or by attaching its egg mass to firewood and taking it to cottages. One way to control the gypsy moth is to survey the area for egg masses and to kill the caterpillars and eggs when found.
02:40:00 The town of Pelham is in the process of bidding on a spray program to eradicate gypsy moth, and is seeking to get more than one quote. The criteria for hiring the contractor is determining if their work is required, and the town is considering using Trees Unlimited.
02:45:00 The speaker discusses the pros and cons of spraying different areas of Pelham, and notes that the town is not being fair in its distribution of the cost. She also complains that the town is not doing enough to help landowners protect their land from the gypsy moth.
02:50:00 The town council is discussing six possible policy solutions to the gypsy moth problem, all of which are contingent on the completion of a RFP for a spray program. One option would involve using existing funds to conduct an urban spray, while another would involve paying landowners directly for the expense. One concern raised by one of the councilors is that taxpayers might be paying twice for the same service.
02:55:00 The town of Pelham is considering spending $21,000 to conduct an infestation survey this fall. The motion passed with all council members voting in favor. One speaker said the staff was helpful and another said everyone should know about the budget for the survey.

03:00:00 - 03:10:00

The speaker asks the council to be aware of potential legal implications surrounding the spraying of gypsy moth populations.