2006-09-14-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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9/14/06 Lexington Tree Committee Minutes The meeting was attended by: John Frey, Jim Jones,Jeanne Krieger,Karen Longeteig, David Pinsonneault, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, and James Wood. 1. Minutes of August 10,2006 meeting were approved as amended. Gerry Paul was appointed as scribe. 2. Richard Canale made a presentation concerning the possible adoption of a "Scenic Road Bylaw". After discussion, the Tree Committee voted unanimously to support the adoption of such a bylaw. 3. David P. reported the following statistics concerning the bylaw: 461 sites of which 312 are closed; 541 trees to be removed of which 247 have been removed; 1280 trees to be replanted of which 560 have been replanted. 4. David reported that in conjunction with the possible new DPW facility at 201 Bedford Street, he was trying to ensure that certain specimen trees were preserved. He is also proposing that the design include an "arboretum/learning area" that could include such trees as an American Chestnut, Princeton Elm, etc. He would like input on other trees to plant there. 5. Out of concern that trees are sometimes not budgeted for when town building are built/replaced, the Tree Committee unanimously passed the following motion: When town buildings are built/replaced, the budget for such building shall include money for appropriate landscaping including trees and that the Tree Committee should approve the landscaping plan". Jim Wood will draft a letter to the Selectmen indicating the position of the Tree Committee on this issue. 6. We discussed a proposal to make status about tree bylaw sites more accessible. Issues associated with the proposal were discussed but no conclusion was reached. Further discussion was deferred to a future meeting. An open issue we will research is whether the information is part of the public record. 7. Relative to Commemorative trees: a Scarlet Oak will be planted on the Common celebrating the lives of Shirley and Alexander Dolberg; a Red Maple will be planted at Buckman Tavern in memory of Hermann Haus. 8. Jim Wood reported that the balance in the Tree Revolving Fund Balance is $6688.30 less a $4000 encumbrance to Sylvan Nursery. 9. John, Karen, Jim Wood and Gerry reported on the discussion at the Planning Board meeting of Sept 6 where the Tree Committee proposal for a by-law concerning subdivisions was proposed. The Planning Board staff will prepare a draft proposal which includes our input. Karen and Anne will send additional input to MaryAnne McCall Taylor with concrete suggestions for preserving trees in the interior of the land to be developed. 10. Richard Canale made us aware of a grant for technical support through MAPC for -storm water planning -low impact development. He also pointed us to Mass. Highway Guidelines available on the mass.gov web site(click on mass highway) 11. We attempted to show videotapes on CU-Soil and bare-root planting but had technical problems. We did have an informal discussion but without the tapes. John will reschedule the showing of the tapes for next week at the Library. 11. Gerry Paul committed to prepare a Tree Talk article by Oct. 1 on controlling Asian bittersweet vine. 12. We voted unanimously to accept a letter to the Conservation Commission written by Jim Wood