2022-12-08-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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RECEIVED Lexington Tree Committee Minutes 023 10�Felb,9:49 a,rn 12/08/22 `TOWN CLERK LEMIINGTON MA Members present: Gerry Paul, Nancy Sofen, Barbara Tarrh, Gloria Bloom, Pat Moyer, James Wood, Mark Connor, Joe Pato (Select Board Liaison) Town Staff. Dave Pinsonneault DPW, Mike Cronin Public Facilities Agenda Items: 1. Appointed Mark Connor Scribe. Unanimously approved November Meeting Minutes 2. Mark and Dave presented a summary of the DPW/ TC working group to the whole committee. Topics included Spring Tree planting, new tree bylaw proposals for Spring Town Meeting and the status of the online implementation of the current bylaw. Discussions focused on the TC's desire to maintain a consistent and robust town wide planting program without interruption caused by specialized and highly focused planting mitigations. Dave indicated that the current Fall and Spring planting budget was allocated to the mitigation of pine trees at Center Field. Dave indicated that he has requested an increase in spending allowed from the Tree Fund by $15,000 for the next fiscal year. A follow up conversation occurred centered on bridging the gap between limited funding and accelerating annual tree planting by creating a collaboration with the public and the DPW to plant saplings/whips in the front yard setback throughout town. Consensus agreed that it was a worthwhile idea to continue to pursue. The online bylaw implementation conversation centered on the current stalled status with Dave indicating that he is awaiting an update and timetable from the Town's IT Department and would reach out to IT on a status report. The TC members expressed frustration with the long delayed completion of the job. Dave indicated that it was out of his control and dependent on a highly leveraged IT Department. The proposed bylaw discussion focused on the merits of several bylaw changes. Dave indicated that he would support the increase to the look back provision and voiced real concern and lack of support for the expansion of the regulation of tree on town owned property. A compromise was discussed to apply the current bylaw to new town construction projects. 3. 2023 Spring Tree planting: The discussion was a continued topic of concern. The TC as a whole reiterated its desire to not interrupt the well-established schedule of Spring and Fall tree planting throughout town. Gerry expressed a strong desire to explore alternate ways to increase the planting budget for this Spring. Dave reiterated his belief that trees planted at Center Field qualify as part of the Spring Planting program. He also indicated that it was not only funds that limited the DPW's ability to plant trees this Spring. Man power bandwidth was a limiting factor as well. He also expressed a concern about depleting the tree fund today at the cost of future solvency Nancy indicated a tree planted today is significantly more valuable than one planted in the future. Various opportunities for cost saving options were discussed for the tree planting program including watering methods, summer student internships and the increased emphasis