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Courtyards of Concorde – TSCC 2388
Garden Committee – Fall Meeting
Thursday October 24, 2019 – Club Concorde Card Room 7:00 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
In attendance: Richard MacFarlane (Chair), Farid Alexan, Georgina Holloway, Helen McBrien, Nansy Aaslepp, Steve Merson, Carolyn Jackson and Kathryn Cole, Sandy and David Taunt, David Sannes, Bonnie Mui. Lucy Coschignano, Sandra Wilton and Barb Henderson, Co-Chairs, Landscape Committee.
Regrets: Nargis Alani, Anna and Slavek Rucinski, Lumi Necula, Lori Newman, Ken Park, Adele and Phillip Francis, Niall and Anita Anglin, Dan and Daniela Constantin, and Nimet Visram.
Contact List Reviewed
A typed list of names and contact information was circulated to all present for review, to ensure that everything was accurate and up-to-date.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Meeting was called to order by Richard MacFarlane, Chair, at 7:10 p.m. Richard welcomed and thanked everyone for attending. Richard thanked those who sent their regrets by e-mail or in person. Richard thanked everyone for their cooperation this season, saying the weather had seldom been better than this.
He pointed out that Lumi Necula wins the kale award, that Farid Alexan wins the award for the best variety of tomatoes, and largest cucumbers. Also, Farid has the tallest sunflowers, and even had two that seeded in the pots by the garden room.
Richard noted that he handed out at the meeting (1) agenda and (2) garden plan identifying garden boxes that were (a) not cultivated and (b) have December 2019, 2020, and 2021 as the expiry.
He said that an e-mail from him announcing the date of the meeting had been circulated to committee members three weeks prior (October 3) for our October 24 meeting. Attachments included: (1) bulletin of Fall Meeting; (2) Terms of Reference; (3) Year 2019 Garden Box Plan; (4) Minutes of the Spring Meeting on April 25, 2019.
Welcome to Landscape Committee Co-Chairs – Appreciation and Thanks to Committee
Richard welcomed Sandra Wilton and Barb Henderson, Co-Chairs of the Landscape Committee, and thanked them for attending. He appreciated Barb for contributing 2 spider plants and 2 palms for a lucky draw and draw tickets.
Richard thanked our Courtyards of Concorde Landscape Committee members and announced each name: Sandra Wilton and Barb Henderson, Co-Chairs, Helen McBrien, Farid Alexan, Nimet Visram, Jane Parry, Jeannette Valeriote, Phyllis Anderson. He complimented their hard work which resulted in a beautiful common area of flowers. Applauded by all attending.
Richard gave honourable mention to Ann Silverthorn who assisted with cedar hedge pruning, clean-up in the courtyard, and work for residents who have larger patios on the north side. As an aside, Ann’s father planted the cedar hedges 25 years ago when our condo building and courtyard was being constructed.
Richard thanked the Landscape Committee for improvements. Specifically, it was pointed out that, from Farid Alexan’s idea and suggestion, Sandra Wilton and Barb Henderson had picked up new gravel and renewed the gravel area near the dog run and picnic bench. Great work, at the very low cost of $35.00.
Sandra Wilton, Co-Chair, said that if anyone would like to help the Landscape Committee with various aspects involved in gardening the common area, it would be greatly appreciated.
Status of Garden Boxes
Richard said that due to 3 garden box users submitting in writing that they will not renew their use of the box, there will be 10 boxes available in Spring 2020, from 7 expired boxes whose users will be eligible to submit a request to renew for a three year term.
Welcome to Lucy Coschignano
Richard introduced Lucy Coschignano, our new resident who moved in two months ago. He thanked Lucy for donating tools to the garden room. He observed that Lucy was delayed in getting settled in her unit. Consequently, she could not cultivate the garden box in time for this season. Richard said this was understandable.
As a result, another resident, seeing the empty box, took the initiative and started cultivating garden box # 16 with vegetables and plants. Richard only discovered this in September. However, he allowed this as a one time event, given that there was no one on the waiting list and that it was begun late in the season. After discussion, there was no undue concern expressed by our committee.
Garden Committee Spring Meeting Minutes – Review & Approval
Richard said that he had circulated the April 25, 2019 Spring Meeting minutes by e-mail on October 3. He asked if anyone had concerns about the contents. There being none raised, a motion to approve the Spring Meeting minutes was tabled and approved.
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Election of Garden Committee Chair
Richard introduced the election of the garden committee chair for discussion.
He had written in the October 3 e-mail that the Board of Directors had decided to defer the election of the chair “until further notice”. Further, that Richard MacFarlane could continue as chair if he wishes to do so.
However, Richard raised this item at the Fall Meeting, to hear what committee members had to say, and to ensure that the status of chair regarding an election, the timing, was appropriate and agreed to.
Discussion ensued. It was suggested that the committee chair ask if anyone in the room would like to offer their name as a candidate for chair. Those attending were asked by Richard and no one offered to be considered as a candidate.
It was decided by the committee that the election be deferred until the Spring Meeting, that Richard continue as chair, and that the committee handle the election particulars.
Waiting List – Procedure
Richard observed that he had tried to see whether establishing specific start dates for (a) new garden box applicants, for instance, from April 1st to December 1st the previous year and (b) those whose three year term had expired, for instance, December 1st start date until April 1st to submit a request for renewal would provide a consistent benchmark for residents submitting a request for a garden box or to renew, by date and time.
Constructive feedback from the committee was that this would depart from the Terms of Reference established and approved by the Board. It was too detailed and not necessary. It was viewed as unfair to existing garden box users who wish to renew. “Why try and fix something that is not broken?”
Accordingly, after thorough discussion, Richard supported returning to the original process as described in the Terms of Reference. A simple approach that welcomes requests for a garden box in writing, submitted to the Property Manager, and organized by date and time. Furthermore, residents can submit at any date.
It was agreed by the committee that a notice can be distributed in the new year, welcoming any resident to request a garden box, i.e. those who never have had one. Richard will arrange a notice in March 2020.
Garden Box Plan
Richard referred to his hand-out at this meeting of the garden box plan. (1) In Year 2019, 7 garden box terms will expire, and 3 residents are not renewing. 10 spots will be available. (2) In Year 2020, 3 terms will expire. (3) In Year 2021, 5 terms will expire (and 1 box was not cultivated in Year 2019).
Richard announced that (1) Niall and Anita Anglin are not renewing garden box # 17 (their note of April 3, 2019); (2) Dan and Daniela Constantin have not cultivated and therefore their box # 18 is considered vacant and available; and (3) Anna and Slavek Rucinski are not renewing garden box # 4 (their e-mail of October 22, 2019). Richard reached out to the Constantin’s by e-mail with no response.
Richard announced with thanks that two committee members have already submitted a request to renew for Year 2020: (1) Georgina Holloway and Farid Alexan – October 1 and Bonnie Mui – October 2.
Other Business
Farid Alexan noted there was a bad odor that was in the garden room for three weeks. The source was compost bags brought in that were not ours, that were ordered to be removed from elsewhere on the property. It was suggested that we keep on top of compost bags left in the garden room and advise front office if they aren’t being picked up for a while. Len does pick them up regularly but there are times when he might be away. Richard said he takes the initiative and removes the bags if they are in the garden room for too long.
Richard observed that last fall, 6 compost bags were filled to capacity. When he tried to move them to the garbage pick up area, end of visitor’s parking level, 2 split open and he had to re-bag and clean up the debris. He suggested that anyone of us filling the compost bags try to not over-pack them, so that they are too heavy to lift and move.
Nansy Aaslepp showed us a compost bag that had the inscription: “GO LEAFS GO!” on the bag. Nansy suggested we could buy some and use them. To conclude our meeting on a positive note, a lucky draw was held for 2 red wine bottles (donated by Richard) 2 spider plants, and 2 palm plants (provided by Barb and Sandra, with grateful thanks).
Written in Richard’s October 3 e-mail but not reiterated at this meeting, the deadline for removal of plant material in garden boxes is Nov. 15. Terms of Reference dictate Nov. 1 but in view of busy schedules, Richard extends this deadline. As per usual, storage of plants, marked with resident’s name, unit #, for the winter in the garden room.
Motion by Sandy Taunt to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Sandra Wilton. Approved.
Minutes of the Garden Committee Fall Meeting of October 24, 2019 by Richard MacFarlane
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