2019-04-11-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Minutes of the Lexington Tree Committee Meeting of April 11, 2019 Room 125 of the Department of Public Works, 201 Bedford Street The meeting convened at 7:30 am. Present were Gerry Paul (Chair),Anne Senning,Jim Wood,Jewel Kuljian, Pat Moyer, Gloria Bloom, Nancy Sofen (scribe), Bob Creech (Planning Bd. Liaison), and guests from Concord, MA: Brian Rosborough, Pete Funkhouser and Jonathan Keyes. Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden) and Jill Hai (liason from Select Board) were absent. 1. Minutes of the March 141h meeting were accepted as amended, noting Jewel Kuljian's absence from that meeting. 2. A street tree (maple) blocks visibility of a pedestrian crosswalk signal in front of the Stone Building/Waldorf School and the DPW would like to remove it. Committee members are in agreement that the tree is healthy and that the area is difficult for pedestrians for many reasons, including heavy traffic and the turn from Pleasant Street. Dave Pinsonneault has committed to looking into alternatives to removal (an extension arm on the signal beacon?) if the tree is healthy. If the tree must be removed,the TC requests that large shade trees be planted as street or setback trees nearby. 3. The `Best Practices' document was distributed to the Concord guests. It was noted that Eversource has a list of trees that are acceptable to plant under wires. That document is attached to the minutes. 4. Gerry Paul will invite Chris Filadoro to a special meeting of the TC next Thursday,April 18 from 8-10 am to cover agenda items 4-7 that could not be addressed at this meeting because of Chris' absence. Topics will include • Status of the Tree Inventory • Tracking removal of trees on private property: how much work is involved in extracting this information from existing tree bylaw applications? • Tracking survival rates for new plantings • How does he select tree species for planting? Note that meeting did not take place. S. Can we strategize to identify someone on DPW staff who can help with tracking homeowner requests for the setback tree program? 6. Trees for spring planting will arrive on April 22 and will be heeled in until planted. TC questions include • Who is contractor? • Where are trees being stored and who is caring for them? • What is delay in planting? • Does the contractor guarantee survival of the trees?