2022-11-10-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2022 7:30 am via ZOOM Present: Members Gerry Paul (co-chair), Jim Wood, Gloria Bloom, Pat Moyer, Barbara Tarrh, Nancy Sofen; Select Board Liaison Joe Pato; DPW staff Dave Pinsonneault, Engineering Staff John Livsey and consultant Scott Ridder (Beta Group Landscape Architects). Guests: Charlie Wyman, Marcia Gens, Ingrid Klimoff, Marty Kvaal. Nancy Sofen was appointed scribe. Minutes of October 13 (as amended) were approved. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 am. A shorter agenda, and plans for a subgroup to begin meeting off-cycle with the DPW were announced. Forestry Division Updates: 1. Budget info (attached) was sent to all members prior to meeting. 2. Marc Valenti has been in contact with UVM, who have all the needed info and are finalizing the canopy survey report. 3. Kudos given for the Center Streetscape project. In response to questions about tree maintenance: all trees have 4 drip irrigation heads on moisture sensors. Trees are under warrantee and will get extra attention until established, then will fall under regular maintenance schedule. Battle Green traffic changes: 1. Reconfigures 3 intersections at corners of Battle Green, to improve safety and accessibility in time for 250th anniversary of battle (construction season 2023). Calms traffic, creates T or roundabout intersections, shortens pedestrian crossings, replaces outside sidewalks with concrete and interior sidewalks with stabilized stone dust. 2. No trees on the Battle Green will be touched and no construction material will be staged on the Green. 3. At Harrington & Mass Ave, plan is to remove one American Elm and one Norway Maple on the current island and to replant with sweetbay magnolia and black tupelo. Tree Committee requests that the possibility of transplanting elm be investigated, and that replanting with large shade trees when possible be prioritized. Perhaps more large trees can be planted along Mass. Ave. or Harrington. 4. At Harrington and Bedford St., plan is to remove one 20” Norway Maple on the current island. There are many underground utilities in this area. They will look at whether more trees can be planted in bump-outs or as a setback tree on Lodge property. 5. 12” Sweetgum to be removed at belfry entrance probably can’t be transplanted because it now grows on slope. 6. No plans to add trees to Battle Green at this point. DPW to consult master plan, evaluate and replant in future.