2004-12-09-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes December 9, 2004 Tree Committee, Lexington, MA Present: John Frey, Chairman, Jim Jones, Jeanne Krieger, Selectman Liaison, Karen Longeteig, David Pinnsoneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds, Susan Solomon, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Scribe, Jim Wood 1-2.. Before starting the agenda, a photo of the above group was taken on Grant Street. A venerable street tree, Quercus rubra, was included in the photograph for the 2004 annual report. 3. The minutes of the November 18 meeting were reviewed and amended. Item 7: Tree removal application fee proposal: remove phrase with word unanimous and add: ”No action taken by the Committee because the Fee is already incorporated into the bldg. permit. Even if there were a separate fee, there would be no guarantee that the fee will go for trees, since those fees go into the General Fund. 4-a. Forestry Division report (D. Pinnsoneault): From 10/1/2001-12/6/2004: Total calls: 235; Resolved - 148 (either the builder met requirements or no trees were affected in the set-back); Approved for removal - 343; To date removed - 136; Required to replant-779, with 305 of that total actually planted. THIS IS A SUMMARY SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE BYLAW. 4-b. Street tree planting and removals from Jan.-Dec. 9, 2004: 26 planted, 124 removed, 120 pruned, 3 treated with fertilizer and pesticide. 5. Tree inventory review: The last half hour of the meeting was spent in revising the list of tree attributes on the inventory paper form, based on experiences from the Fall Inventory. A new form showing these changes will replace the old table with the revision date in lower left corner: (rev.12/9/04) 6. Tree Gift Account and Memorial Tree Brochure: Jeanne Krieger suggested that a revolving account renewed from year to year funded from memorial gifts, Bylaw mitigation fees and other contributions can be set up expressly for tree projects. Money can be withdrawn by the Tree Warden with the approval of the Selectmen and the advice of the Tree Committee. 7. Tree Bylaw amendment: Jeanne Krieger said that unless we set up a tree revolving fund as in item 6. above, the State Atty. Gen. determined that mitigation fees go into the Town’s General Fund. 8. Annual report draft comments: John Frey’s draft was modified as follows: our grant application to the State was unfortunately denied, but we forged ahead anyway on the tree inventory since it is indispensable; we cannot manage without knowing what is there. 9. Warrant article for $15K for tree planting: to be reviewed later. 10. Sudden Oak Death alert. SOD is reported in Connecticut having been imported from Oregon in a plant shipment of Rhododendrons. If it spreads, SOD will have a tremendous effect on our framework of native trees and shrubs. 11. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.