2006-04-13-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee, Lexington,MA Minutes for April 13, 2006 Present: John Frey, Chair, Jim Jones, Jeanne Kreiger, Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, David Pinsonneault, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Jim Wood 1. Nell Walker was appointed Scribe. The minutes of March 9 were approved as amended: the $5,000 for trees was removed from the operating budget (Dave P. under item #3 of the minutes). 2a.Report under the Tree By-Law : Since inception 10/1/01, 442 sites visited, 299 were closed; 515 trees approved for removal - of these 236 were removed; of 1,203 required replantings 522 were replanted. 2b. Forestry report 1/1/06 -4/12/06: 38 removals most from winter storms, 16 pruned. 2c. Other: D. Pinsonneault strongly advises addition to By-law to include a required tree protection during construction (and modify Tree Manual to illustrate this, esp. in the public R.O.W). We now have 5 years experience with the By-law. Pinsonneault will draft wording to tighten up species requirements (e.g., shade tree replaced with shade tree, not small ornamental ) and a clear definition of setback is needed (only one 30 ft. setback /lot should be allowed) . Committee is asked to provide hours donated to the current State grant program involving the Lecture Series and the Mailer. Deadline: June 1, give data to Tree Warden. 3. The Lecture Series is taped and edited by the Tree Committee for public viewing. G. Paul reported that the first two lectures have had repeated runs on the town cable system. We need an easier way to put our information on the town website. Getting the lecture series on the Town calendar via the website is a cumbersome process. 4.Planning and Education Grant progress: 4a. Lecture May 9 logistics: Assignments for evening production: taping, signs, information table, powerpoint setup, invoices, room set-up and PR for media. Members are urged to send email reminders to relevant organizations. From 7:15 - 7:30 we need 2 people at the info table in rear of lecture room. A. Senning and ? 4b. Anne S. report on Inventory: (1) DPW now has list of trees in need of care pulled from inventory process, the data is linked to the town’s cartegraph maintenance system, (2) of the top 12 tree species registered, 8 are native. The Norway Maple, a non- native leads the list. (3) DPW now has a second iPAC ready to go. (4) Belfrey Hill is next to be inventoried. 5. Tree Talk (in the Minuteman) Series: J. Frey “Tree Protecton During Construction” article appeared 4/13/06. A. Senning’s Inventory article to follow. 6. A River Birch will be planted on Arbor Day at Belfrey Park near Clarke St. on 4/28. A preliminary ceremony is at Cary Library at 11 a.m. 7. The Kathy Yates Memorial Tree planting is scheduled for June 9. Research for appropriate label system is underway. Information from both Mt. Auburn Cemetery (Garden Club) and the Arnold Arboretum (N. Walker) is being evaluated and a decision on labels will be made in May. The Yates tree inaugurates the Memorial Tree Program. A memorial tree is $1500. J. Wood will look into a Memorial Book. 8. .The Mailer and Memorial Tree brochures will be handed out at Buckman Tavern on Earth Day, April 29. 9. J. Wood reported on research for a Town Tree Nursery: There is a good site on conservation land at the Lower Vine Brook Bike Path s. of East St. It has a water access due to previous farm activity. Conservation Commission is in favor. Further discussion at next meeting in May. 10. Marrett Rd. Mobile Station tree mitigation: the station will plant 4 new trees to replace two removals. Thanks to J. Wood, J. Frey and the Board of Appeals. 11. Jim Wood gave the Tree Committee report to Town Meeting on 3/29/06. 12. The second Memorial Tree (Nancy Dolberg) will be planted at Depot Sq. 14. Tree donations are fully tax deductible according to John Frey. 13. A Sugar Maple, donated by Matt Foti, who was originally on the Ad-Hoc Tree Committee, will be planted on the Battlegreen. It will replace the 120 yr. old Maple which went down in 2005. He will choose from 3-4 possible sites on the Green. 15 &16. Reports postponed : Boston Memorial tree program and long term Tree Com strategy. Next Tree Committee Meeting - May 11, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. Room 111