2006-11-09-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Minutes, Lexington, MA, November 9, 2006 Present: John Frey, Chairman, Jeanne Kreiger, Selectmen representative, David Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, scribe, Susan Solomon, Nell Walker Absent: Jim Wood, Karen Longeteig, Markus Pinney 1. Anne Senning appointed scribe. The minutes of October 12, 2006 were accepted. 2. Report under the Tree By-law, David Pinsonneault. Total calls 470. Total to remove 556. Total removed 251. Total to plant 1310. Total planted 572. Total closed out 318. 3. Report on the budget request, David Pinsonneault, Gerry Paul. $24,000 is being requested for tree planting in the FY2008 budget. A letter of support from the Tree Committee will be delivered today to Director of Public Works, William Hadley. Later a similar letter will be sent to the Board of Selectmen. 4. Commemorative Tree #2, along with trees in Fletcher Park, and an Elm and flowering tree between the Town Offices and Cary Hall, were reviewed for proper planting depth. Some trees were planted higher than recommended in the Tree Manual. In the future attempts will be made to plant trees so that the original grade of the tree (root flare) is no more than 1-2” above the surrounding existing grade. David reported that he would be responding directly to any further complaints directed to either the Tree Committee or the Selectmen. 5.Area behind CVS parking lot: Alternative ground covers were discussed; other types of ground covers create issues of trash collecting in them, as well as snow being dumped in the area during the winter. John would like to discuss further. 6. Gerry Paul agreed to head the Friends of the Trees. Publicity will start after the new-year to begin recruitment campaign for March 2007. This will help with the timing for volunteers for the Spring Tree Inventory. Gerry also agreed to help with the Tree Farm. 7.Commemorative Tree Set Aside Money. $500 from each Commemorative Tree must remain in the Town of Lexington Revolving Tree Fund. These funds will be segregated from the other ‘working funds’ in same Fund and will not earn interest. The placement of these funds will be evaluated periodically as the number of Commemorative Trees increases. The current Budget is: Inflow Outlay Commemorative Trees $4,500 Trees $4,000 (planting15-20) Donations 2,200 Reserve 1,500 Working 1,200 TOTAL $6,700 $6,700 It was suggested that Jim Wood be in charge of tracking these funds, and report regularly to Tree Committee. 8.Education Grant Close Out. The Mailer has been completed. The lecture series was completed. The editing of the videotapes is in process. Each lecture will be available on a separate DVD at the library. The Tree Inventory part of the grant is completed with the exception of the work order system with is being negotiated betweenCartêGrapheand the Town MIS Department. 9. Tree Inventory. Anne Senning reported that 2006 fieldwork is completed. She is working with the Town MIS department and Robin Evans of the Urban Forest Institute of Boston University to clear up hardware and software problems for 2007 season. UFI donated indefinite use of two hand held computers to Lexington to complete Inventory as well as Ms Evan’s technical assistance. Thank you note will be sent to UFI. Anne will be working on data documentation.