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<br />LEXINGTON TREE COMMITTEE <br /> <br /> <br />Minutes of meeting of April 18, 2002, 7:30 AM, Room G 15, Town Office Building <br /> <br />1) Attendance: Frey, Griscom, Solomon, Walker, Wood <br /> <br />2) Minutes of March 14 meeting approved as corrected <br /> Meeting of April 11 was held without a quorum; no minutes were taken <br /> <br />3) Arbor Day proclamation was approved by selectmen <br /> <br />4) Discussion on Article 12: <br /> Telcon by John and Susan received negative responses; no one willing to speak for monies for survey <br /> Unanimous decision to postpone Article 12 indefinitely for this fiscal year, due to technical problems with conducting <br />surveys <br /> Cons: <br /> a) Newton used volunteers in the early 1990's <br /> b) uncertainty of how town equipment could interface at this time <br /> c) expensive <br /> d) technology is underutilized <br /> Pros: <br /> a) yields statistical data that is consistent, reliable, and easy to update <br /> b) standards would be established, not subjective opinions <br /> c) interfaces with all utility companies <br /> d) would use only one map with many overlays <br /> e) aids long-range planning <br /> f) do it once, do it right <br /> g) town must retain control of information, not the contractor <br /> h) can prioritize tree removals <br /> GIS is the technique, GPS is the tool <br /> <br />5) Research by John and Nell on various methods and vendors <br /> David Blonairz, US Forest Service employee, head of NE Center of Urban Forestry at Uof Mass campus, <br />Amherst <br /> Jane Calvin, Community Action Forester, DEM Urban Forestry Program <br /> Tom Brady, B rookline tree warden, formerly Watertown tree warden <br /> Karen Doherty, formerly with ACRT Inc., now "Trees, New England", urban forestry consultant. <br />Would walk the streets with Palm Pilot, not GPS, very labor intensive, $2.50 to $10 per tree <br /> Kevin Puls ACRT, Environmental specialists 800-622-2562 x 213 (Ohio) $2.50 to $10 per tree <br /> Ellen and John Coppinger, Lowell, MA would run education sessions and <br /> lead volunteers or would do whole survey. 978-671-0128 or (cell)978-375-3913 <br /> Rolf Briggs "Tree Specialists, Inc." www.treespecialists.com <br /> David Hawkins, "Urban Forestry Solutions" GPS with GIS mapping system $2.50 to $10 per tree <br /> <br /> Must keep up database maintenance. <br /> Questions: How does Lexington keep up existing information on sewers, highways, etc.? <br /> What is town policy and procedure on GPS? Is town committed to upkeep? <br /> <br />6) Vote: <br /> try for $25,000 under Article #4 for tree plantings <br /> face up to political reality <br /> continue mandate voted last year <br /> John and Jim will present <br /> <br />7) Received Tree City USA award. An article will be in the MinuteMan Meeting adjourned 8:45 AM <br /> <br />Next meeting Thursday May 9, 7:30 AM, Room G15, Town Office Building <br /> <br /> Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> Susan Snell Solomon, Secretary <br />