2015-12-10-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Hall Annex Minutes, Meeting of December 10, 2015 Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig, Jim Wood, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen. Chris Filadoro (Superintendent of Public Grounds), Suzie Barry, Selectmen Liaison. Absent: Jewel Kuljian. Karen Longeteig took her turn as scribe. 1. Minutes of the October 8 and the November 12 meetings were reviewed and approved with minor amendments and one abstention. 2. No updates on tree removal numbers under the Bylaw. Activity: There was a tree hearing at 90-92 Grant Street attended by Chris, Gerry, John and Karen. Chris marked even dead trees; others may be hazardous, so the appearance was that there were a lot of trees marked. There was one objection. A compromise has been reached with the neighbor and builder – however, the permit is still in process. Chris stated that the tree re-planting should benefit the neighborhood, not other distant neighborhoods. 3. Lex Center Tree Planting: Chris reported that 7 or 8 trees were planted; 4 on the south side and 4 on the north -- six elms and two lindens. Matt Foti Co. did the planting, much of it by hand; old root balls were dug out. 4. Fall 2015 Tree Planting: Only ten or 11 trees are left unplanted as of date, out of 70 ordered. Foti planted 40 of them. Planting is continuing today 12/10/15, thanks to mild December weather. The hardest part of the planting is site selection and Dig Safe work. Chris said that the TC members’ work make this possible. Jim returned the compliment to Chris and his crew. Rick, the watering employee, has listed any newly planted trees which died, and most have been replanted. 5. Status of bid for tree inventory: No final proposal has been received from David Rines; Chris will call him. He needs a $ number or a “not to exceed”. He also needs two more bids to put in a purchase order; as he has had difficulty getting tree companies to respond or bid, he is allowed to note these instances as part of the three bids. 6. Mass Ave (between Percy and Bloomfield): Some stakes are in the ground marking sites. Chris has met with homeowner who possesses ideal site for planting, but due to personal conflicts, the homeowner would prefer to plant in the spring. Chris also looking at the abutting house and the next building, which is a church. This topic has come up in an effort to get trees planted in the area of the new sidewalk, as tree pits were inexplicably not included in the construction of the sidewalk. 7. Trees removed at 11 Slocum Road: The trees were White Pines, and may have been in the Right of Way and thus illegal takedowns.