HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-14-TREE-min RECEIVED
2022 18 I „ , 12A8 Ruin
TOWN CLERK
LEXINGTON MA
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of April 14, 2022
Meeting conducted via Zoom at 10AM
Members attending: Gerry Paul (Chair),Jim Wood, Gloria Bloom, Pat Moyer Nancy Sofen, Select Board
Liaison-Mark Sandeen. Others Present: Marty Kvaal, Barbara Tarrh, Charlie Wyman, Rick Reibstein,
Marcia Gens. Members absent: Mark Connor DPW No representation
1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the minutes of March 101h and April 7, 2022 were approved.
Forestry Department Updates
2. Spring Planting
3. Tree Inventory Status
4. Tree Canopy Status
Items 2, 3, and 4 were not discussed. As DPW was not present.
5. Removal of a Town tree 149 Adams Street by Marquis Tree Service. More information needs to
be gathered.
6. IT is making progress in the implementation of Article 33 on the OpenGov(Viewpoint Cloud)
system.
7. Arbor Day tree planting location-no discussion
8. The Tree Committee supports the update to Chapter 87- Mass bills 5.3.123, H.2.195
9. Marty Kvaal developed slogans for bumper stickers and lawn signs along with price information.
The slogan adopted by the Tree Committee is "Lexington Cares for Trees"
10. Gerry will obtain booths for the Tree Committee for Discovery Day and Earth Day. Would
welcome other members to join him.
11. Removal of 37 trees at Center Park. Gerry Paul reported that in response to the Tree
Committee's position on the matter that the Town Manager had stated "these trees do not fall
under the jurisdiction of the Tree Committee." Gerry and Nancy Sofen prepared a reply (see
attached)to the Town Manager's response that was reviewed and approved by the Tree
Committee 5-0. It will be sent to Town Manager with copies to the Select Board and the DPW
Director.
12. High School swing space for the new High School construction has not been selected.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30AM
Next regular meeting (zoom) is June 9, 2022 at 7;30AM
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Wood
Attachment:
Dear Mr. Malloy,
We agree that the Tree Committee, like other Town appointed committees in Lexington, has
little or no jurisdiction, the power to make decisions, concerning Town matters. The role of
these volunteer committees is to provide advice to Town officials based on the experience and
expertise of their members. Town officials have the option of not following this advice or even
ignoring it. Usually, however, they listen to it and interact constructively with the committees
to assure the best possible outcome in any given situation.
Our recommendations and request concerning the removal of trees at the center recreation
complex relate in part to process and transparency. These two Lexington core values result in
better decisions and increase the confidence of residents that Town government is working
most effectively on their behalf.
The Tree Committee agrees that the Tree Warden has the right to remove imminent hazards
posed by trees. He also has the responsibility to first seek to mitigate the hazard - by pruning,
cabling, or other maintenance measures short of removal.
In the case of the 37 white pine trees at the center recreation complex, there are several
unique conditions that lead the Tree Committee to state that wholesale removal of these trees
is not justified and should be halted unless and until there is compelling evidence that a given
tree's removal is necessary for public safety.
The report issued by Mr. Brady of A&B Landscape does not identify any particular tree as
hazardous. Older trees do require maintenance, which in general is preferable to removal both
for cost effectiveness and to preserve the environmental benefits of the mature tree. To
remove a line of trees because they are old and require some pruning flies in the face of
prudent management of Lexington's natural resources and will adversely affect the Town's
ability to achieve its stated goal of carbon neutrality on a timeline that will help us to avoid the
worst consequences of climate change. Only trees individually assessed as hazardous should be
removed.
Removal of these trees is irreversible and will affect generations of Lexington residents to come
by contributing further to greenhouse gas production, removing climate-mitigating ecological
services, and leaving the center recreation complex a windier and more barren landscape that
is less conducive to residents' health and happiness. The Tree Committee would be derelict in
our duty if we were to not speak under these circumstances.
Sincerely,
For the Lexington Tree Committee:
Gerry Paul, Nancy Sofen, Mark Conner,Jim Wood, Patricia Moyer