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Minutes, May 11, 2006 Lexington Tree Committee Lexington MA Present: John Frey, Chairman: Jim Jones; Karen Longeteig; Gerry Paul; David Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds; Anne Senning; Susan Solomon, Emeritus; Nell Walker; Jeanne Krieger, Selectmen liaison. 1. Scribe and Minutes. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe. Minutes of April 13, 2006 were accepted as corrected. 2. Report Under the Tree By-Law: David Pinsonneault. To date 445 sites have been visited, of which 301 are now closed. A total of 1026 trees require replanting, of which 525 have actually been planted. A total of 519 trees have been approved for removal, of which 238 have been removed. A computer problem made it impossible to make a report on the Forestry Division. 3. Other DPW/Tree Committee Issues: David Pinsonneault requested an amendment to the By-law to mandate protection of trees during construction: defining set back areas, keeping tree root zones free of vehicles and debris, replacing shade trees removed with shade trees, defining replacement evergreens by height. Discussion – Particulars may need to be put in Tree Manual, or referred to by section of By-law. Jeanne Kreiger will report back to Committee on the technicalities of amending the Bylaw. Tree Inventory has been transferred to CartêGraph. To integrate this DPW work order system with the GIS Inventory will cost $1075. DPW is applying for accreditation through the American Association of Departments of Public Works. This requires a Master Street Tree Plan. The Street Tree Inventory will be used to fulfill this requirement. This voluntary accreditation process will encourage DPW to integrate best practices in their work. All volunteer hours for the Education Grant: speakers meetings, Inventory, mailer need to be sent to David by the end of May 2006. Matthew Foti donated a sugar maple for the Town Green, a sugar maple for the Harrington School, and a Heritage Elm near the Center Pool Complex. A motion was made to mention Matthew Foti in the Tree Committee’s annual report, and to thank him both directly as well as in the Board of Selectmen’s meeting. The town purchased 6 additional trees from Matthew Foti: 2 hornbeams, 2 red maples, and 2 tree lilacs. David Pinsonneault and the DPW staff traveled to South Hadley to take advantage of their town’s offer of trees free for the digging. They dug 12 oaks: burr, pin, and red. Six went to the High School, one to Hastings Park, two to Burlington and Blake Roads and the others to various Parks in town. 4. Education Grant Mailer: It will be handed out at the next two lectures. Lecture: The last-minute substitution of speaker Jad Daley for William Cullina, necessitated by a death in Mr. Cullina’s family, went smoothly. Sixty-five people attended. Inventory: Belfry Hill has begun. May 21 a weekend crew of volunteers will go out with John Frey. nd. Anne Senning will begin organizing teams after June 2 5. Planning/Strategy Sub-Committee: To meet June 1, 2006, 9:00 AM. Gerry Paul will locate a room. 6. Memorial Trees. Nell Walker reported on plaques from Nameplate & Panel Technology. They come in two sizes, a 3”x5”and 4”x6”which screw into the tree but are held away from it by springs, which allow the tree to grow. They may be engraved with information such as the accession number, date, name of donor and other sentiments. The plaque type was approved for use on our Memorial Trees. 7. Boston Memorial Trees. Anne Senning reported that Boston has a detailed application system for Memorial Trees for various parts of the city. 8. Tree Farm. Discussion postponed. 9. Tree Talk. Anne Senning will write an article after June 1. 10. Dolberg Memorial Tree. John Frey suggested two sites for the Dolberg Memorial Tree: Visitors Center near Mass Ave, or the Common. David Pinsonneault strongly suggested the Common as the DPW is going to be removing a dying ash tree on the Bedford Street/ Harrington Road corner next week. John Frey will follow up with the family. 11. 2020 Vision Committee Meeting. It will be held at 7:30 pm Tuesday 5/23/06 at the Cary Memorial Library Meeting Room focused on Theme III, “Sustain/Enhance Physical Character& Environment. 12. Nell Walker’s report on Bill Brumback’s lecture on invasive plant control was postponed due to lack of time. Meeting adjourned.