The Committee met in the conference room of the Department of Physical Plant at 3:30 p.m. Present were Messrs. Edsall, Howard, Hubbard, Martsolf, Middleton, Murray, Rieley, and Sensbach. Also attending were Mrs. Lynn Rush and Mr. Tom Leback. The minutes of November 16th not having been distributed, consideration was postponed to the next meeting. The chairman announced that Mrs. Crosby has approved the Committee's suggestions for locating the trees honoring Mrs. Shea and Mrs. Kayan, so that preparations for planting can proceed. He also raised the problem of the deteriorating Merton pinnacle, noting that Mrs. Bernard Mayo has offered to finance its preservation. When Mrs. Rush has completed her researches on the state of the art, she will bring a recommendation to the Committee.

Peabody Hall Ramp. Mrs. Rush presented a plan for replacing the temporary ramp, now providing handicapped access to Peabody Hall, with a permanent structure. The existing steps would be replaced by a long ramp, which could be held to a 3% slope, thereby qualifying as a "walk" and not a "ramp". After some murmuring amongst the Committee about the indecent haste with which the University responds to student protests, Mr. Howard moved approval, provided that the project include some planting for the south side of the ramp. Mr. Martsolf seconded and the motion carried.

Chiller for Zehmer Hall. Mr. Leback reported on a plan for concealing a chiller to be added to Zehmer Hall at Clinch Valley College. The chiller would be placed on a concrete pad adjacent to the loading dock. Mr. Leback proposed planting a double row of Arbor Vitae (Thuja occidentalis "nigra") on the uphill side of the pad. Eventually a wall will be built but not until an additional unit is added to the chiller. Mr. Rieley questioned the choice of the Arbor Vitae variety on the grounds that it would grow quite large. However, its ability to thrive on this cold and windswept slope carried the day, and the plan was approved on a motion by Mr. Ertel, econded by Mr. Sensbach.

New Forestry Building. Mr. Sensbach reported on the progress of planning for the new building for the state Department of Forestry on the Blue Ridge property. The site plan approved by the Committee has been completely turned around, with the building rotated and moved across Route 53 from its original position. A complicated set of inter-jurisdictional agreements and land exchanges makes it problematical whether the Committee will be able to exercise effective control over the landscaping of the site, but Mr. Sensbach will no doubt do his best to uphold the interests of the Committee. The matter was presented for information only, and no action was taken.

The Committee then repaired to the Grounds in order to consider various problems in situ. Passing by the Department of Forestry, Mr. Ertel presented their request for the removal of the large Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) now leaning out over McCormick Road. Since it was apparent that utility work had largely cut its supporting roots on the critical side, the Committee approved its removal on a motion by Mr. Rieley, seconded by Mr. Leback.

Observatory Hill Dining Hall. The Committee moved on to consider the plan, developed by Mr. Leback and already approved by the Committee, to fill the grand canyon between Alderman Road and the dining hall. At the deepest point 7' of fill would be placed; over all, 25 trees would be lost. The Committee reviewed those that would be cut and decided that only the White Oak (Quercus alba) south of the building would warrant the expense needed to insure its survival. With considerable misgivings the Committee formally endorsed this course of action on a motion by Mr. Hubbard, seconded by Mr. Edsall.

The Glass Hat. The Committee next considered a request to remove one of the Willows (Salix nigra) outside the Glass Hat (a.k.a. Tree House). The complaint cited the blockage of the storm drain by the roots of the willow. The drain will have to be replaced, and the work could be more easily accomplished if the tree were to be removed and replaced. With a drain made of PVC the problem would not recur. The Committee took a jaundiced view of the plan, which seemed to sacrifice a fine tree for convenience in the replacement of the drain. Mr. Rieley moved that the tree be saved and that the drain be dug by hand under the roots of the tree. Mr. Howard seconded and the motion carried.

As the hour had reached 5:00 and the other sites to be visited were far away, the Committee adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
J.J. Murray, Chairman