2019-02-14-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Tree Committee Minutes, of February 14, 2019 Meeting DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Room 125 Members Present: Gerry Paul (Chair), Jewel Kuljian(Scribe), James Wood, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Gloria Bloom, and Selectman Liaison Jill Hai. Guests: John Bartenstein, Bob Creech and Keith Ohmart. Absent: Chris Filadoro 1. Appointed Jewel Kuljian as scribe. Minutes of January 10th meeting read and approved. The questions from the current meeting are to be sent to Chris by Gerry Paul (see Aft. 1 & 2) 2. Best Practices Study/DPW Tree Planting Policy. Discussed the changes that have been made, looking at DPW and Best Practices and where they differ. A copy of Tree Processes from Chris is to be requested by Gerry. 3. Review of Chris's list of locations and species of trees planted in 2017 and 2018. Postponed due to Chris's absence. 4. Status of setback planting program. Seventy five at least are on back log. Question, is Google Sheets being used? 5. 2019 Spring Planting. Consider requests from town members, with responses for May tree planting, to plan for May 1 st. What is the timeline for planting?Where and what species are to be ordered? How many are to be street trees and how many are to be setback trees? If the con- tractor is chosen to do the planting, what will be ordered?Ask what the goal is for having trees planted. 6. John Bartenstein and Bob Creech discussed the need to capture information about trees on private property that are not covered under the Tree Bylaw. Broadly, there is no jurisdiction of the Tree Bylaw unless there is major construction or paving of a driveway is being done and in these cases only in the setback. Bob proposed a mobile app that could be helpful for the Tree Warden, local Tree Care Service providers, and interested homeowners to capture information. Discussion ensued about the use of the mobile app. See the pros and cons in Aft. 3 Only those trees taken down are recorded. The data would also be useful concerning storm water issues (relative to impermeable surface on lots). Brainstorming about how to collect information for trees not in the setback, in conjunction with the tree permit is needed. If the property is covered under the Bylaw (about 100 sites per year), Chris could collect data regarding the inches and size all trees removed on the lot as supplementary information. 7. Working with Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC), Keith Ohmart This organization arranges for walks in the Spring and Fall, and provides information for Candi- dates running for office. Keith has a Speakers Series under consideration. He is looking for a resident replacement on the Board which meets six times a year on Wednesday evenings. Keith wants to stay in touch with the Tree Committee. He has made a considerable effort to eradicate invasive bittersweet cutting it in half up high on the limb and at the bottom at ground level. This seems to make an impact with no return of the species at the site. Keith is interested in keeping open spaces of land available for public use. 8. Judy Baldasaro and Megna Outreach. The 2008 Inventory updated by Anne has been stopped. Chris said Davy Tree Service is doing the updating. Deadline is in question. Property