2019-10-10-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Meeting Minutes 201 Bedford Street October 10, 2019 7:30 am Present: Gerry Paul (Chair), Gloria Bloom, Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden), Pat Moyer, Mark Sandeen (Select Board Liaison), Nancy Sofen (scribe); Absent: Anne Senning, Jim Wood; Guests: Varda Haimo, Sandra Mayo, Patrick Mehr. Kelly Carr (Beta Group), John Livsey (Town Engineer), Tim Lee (Working Group of Center Streetscape Ad Hoc Committee and Design Advisory Committee). Minutes of September 12, 2019 were approved. Pat Moyer asked the group to consider what we can do to further citizen engagement and support for a stronger Tree Bylaw. She suggested that we prepare a presentation for Town Meeting about the tree canopy study that is proposed to be funded by a program improvement to the DPW budget. Guests Varda Haimo and Sandra Mayo came to the meeting to express their dismay at tree clearing associated with construction in their neighborhood on Lincoln Street. The complexities of the tree bylaw were explained, and all agreed that to both combat climate change and to preserve a pleasant living environment, more must be done to prevent removal of trees, and of large trees in particular. It is also felt that with other towns enacting stronger restrictions, public sentiment may be shifting toward preservation even if that means infringing on private property rights. Suggestions for engaging the public included: • Holding listening sessions similar to those held by the Planning Board before they proposed new bylaws to TM. Such sessions could be promoted through conventional media, social media, local list serves and personal email invitations. Varda, Pat, Nancy and Gloria are to meet to discuss setting up a Tree Committee Facebook page. Going to existing groups that are concerned with sustainability: GWAC, Sustainable Lexington, Mothers out Front, Citizens for Lexington Conservation, Conservation Stewards, Sunrise (LHS student organization). Holding substantive discussions and providing information using social media, for those who do not attend listening sessions. It was also seen as important that the RFP for the canopy study include retroactive canopy measurements, so that the data on how the canopy has changed drives conversations about what needs to be done next. 2. Chris Filadoro informed the TC that the Tree Canopy Study program improvement request has been submitted. The Tree Committee should recommend the the Select Board support the request. Chris will reach out to Cambridge Tree Warden Dave Lefcourt, to learn about their canopy study. We would like to see both street level