HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-10-TREE-min Tree Committee Meeting — 7:30 AM June 10 , 2021
Attending: Gerry Paul (Co-chair), Mark Connor(Co-chair), Pat Moyer, Nancy Sofen, Gloria
Bloom,Jim Wood, Marty Kvaal. Marc Valenti (DPW), Chris Filadoro(DPW), David
Pinsonneault(DPW), Mark Sandeen (SB), Charlie Wyman (Sustainable Lexington/Lexington
Living Landscapes).
Agenda Items:
1. Appointed Gerry Paul scribe and approved the Meeting Minutes of May 13 and May 27,
2021
Tree Warden Updates:
2. Chris reported that spring planting is complete. He will send a report next week on
planting locations and species.
3. Tree Inventory-Chris reported that the kick off meeting with Arbor Pro took place.
Work will start July 15.
4. Marc reported that the kick off meeting with UVM for the Tree Canopy Assessment took
place about 3 weeks ago. There will be a delay in the original scheduled to allow for the
use of aerial photography that will be performed this summer to complement the 2014
and 2018 surveys; the report will now be available by the end of the year. The
Committee agreed that a slight delay in exchange for 2021 data was a good tradeoff.
5. 120 East St Tree Hearing—Chris reported that the applicant for the tree removal has
withdrawn his request.
6. 5 Fulton Rd Tree Hearing—will be held June 21 at 8:00.
7. Gerry and Chris reported that the former Tree Nursery will be used as a native plant
nursery. It is doubtful that any trees will be salvaged as they have grown for many years
in planting bags and will have significant root girdling.
Committee Topics:
8. The Tree Bylaw Enforcement Report (see attached) created by Nancy Sofen was
discussed. Dave Pinsonneault will respond to all the issues raised in the report by Friday
June 18 and any further action by the Tree Committee will be postponed until after we
receive the report. Dave indicated that they will be starting the process to implement
the Viewpoint Cloud work to implement Article 33 passed at Town Meeting. It cannot
be made live until the Attorney General approves the article. He also indicated that the
DPW will request an additional employee for the Forestry Dept. in the FY 2023 budget
and expects it will be favorably received by Town Management. The possibility of a
part-time employee in the interim was discussed; there are limits on what funds could
be used for this. There was a discussion concerning the need to more strictly enforce
the protection of remaining trees at bylaw sites.
9. 2021 Priorities/Projects/Assignments
a. Tree Committee Visibility— Mark Connor presented his vision for a "citizens
action group" which would increase tree planting in Town.
• 9-month effort—target Fall 2022 planting
• Web site
• Small trees (e.g., so could be planted by school children)
We discussed possibly planting along the bike path but issues were raised
because the land is not actually owned by the Town. Chris pointed out the
actual planting is only one part of the process. The others (buying trees, finding
sites, maintenance, etc.) usually is the bulk of the effort.
b. Tree Committee Outreach— Pat Moyer reported on a meeting yesterday to
develop ideas. Attendees were: Pat, Marty, Mark Conner, Charlie and Pam Lyons
from Lexington Living Landscapes. The ideas proposed were:
• Ideas like Mark's above but with schools
• Proving information (web link) to the Tree Manual to new homeowners
• Tax/water bill inserts with tree information
• At least annual Tree Talks at the Library
• A small arboretum at Fletcher Park possibly with QR codes on the trees
with information about the tree. The idea of an arboretum somewhere
in Town was greeted enthusiastically. Mark made the point that this
could also be thought of as landscaping which led to the idea of tracking
new Town building more closely possibly through liaising with the
Permanent Building Committee (PCB). Nancy and Charlie will try to
connect with the PCB.
c. Marty Kvaal has volunteered to be our observer at the Planning Board. In
answer to her question of what she should monitor replies were: special permit
discussions where tree removals are involved and regulations involving
landscaping and/or trees. In discussing special permits, we agreed that Chris
should sign off on sites under the jurisdiction of the Planning Board. He will
make contact with them on this.
10. Mark Connor suggested we should try to influence the ZBA to take trees into account
when they grant zoning variances. He proposed that
a. We present to them
b. Assign a liaison (a single person or rotating)
c. Contact ZBA staff who can alert us when one of their hearing involves trees.
11. Jim Wood updated us on the plaque planned for the John Frey memorial. They will be
presenting shortly to the Memorials and Monuments Committee and he is working to
finalize the inscription for the plaque working with the Bicycle Advisory Committee.
12. Move to adjourn unanimously approved. Next regular meeting is scheduled for July 8,
2021 at 7:30