2023-03-09-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• What is the time table to finalize this report? • Nancy asked if we can get figures in more native form as opposed to a pdf so she can overlay a figure to a street map. At the end of the discussion Dave Pinsonneault said that tree committee members should send him any questions they wanted and he would answer them. (Suggest we send a copy of your questions to Gerry Paul also so we have all questions in one location ). Later in the meeting Gerry noted that the presentation to the Select Board by UVM was tentatively scheduled for April 24th. 4. Exemption from Chapter 87 and Lexington Tree By- Law • David Pinsonneault said that trees such as at 29 Barberry would not have been helped with pruning or maintenance spending. • Dave agreed that the following reasons listed in the report are not reasons for declaring a tree (a Town tree or a tree at a bylaw site) to be a hazard. o a tree simply in decline o a tree perceived to be in "bad shape" o a tree for which the risk can be mitigated by pruning or other means o a tree for which any risk is not current/imminent and he will make it clear to his staff that that is how the DPW will operate. • Mark Connor expressed the concern that trees at a work site seem to become hazards where they weren’t before. • Nancy Sofen said a large number of trees are listed in the inventory as in poor condition (but not hazards) and while the DPW might find it more efficient to remove such trees when they encounter them, the public has concerns when they are removed. She indicated that while it may be inefficient to hold a public hearing for such trees it would go a long way towards building public trust. Dave responded that trees are not removed by Town staff without a thorough analysis. • Nancy noted that in the bylaw, there is a requirement for hazard trees to be declared in writing asked where those records are kept. Dave said there has not been such documentation and that, from now on, developers who want a tree declared a hazard will have to provide a report by a certified arborist and will have to be concurred with by a Town arborist. • Nancy asked about records of hazard tree declarations for Town trees removed by the DPW. Dave said that this hadn’t been done and indicated that he would make note of that requirement. • Pat noted the need for better communication with the public when a Town tree is removed and Dave suggested that this be a subject of the next “mid-meeting.” • Gerry Paul noted that in cases where trees needed care, e.g., the hemlocks with woolly adelgid on Barberry Rd, it might be a thought to see if the neighborhood would be willing to spray the trees because of the value they provide.