2019-12-12-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of December 12, 2019 Held at 7:30 AM, DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA Room 125 Members Attending: Gerry Paul (Chair), Nancy Sofen, Anne Senning,Jim Wood, Gloria Bloom Other Attendees: Mark Sandeen (Selectboard Liasion) Charlie Wyman (Sustainable Lexington Land Use Subcommittee), Mark Connor-Visitor Absent: Pat Moyer, Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden). 1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the minutes of November 14, 2019 were approved. Tree Warden Updates 2. Bylaw Activity & 3. Setback Planting. - Were not discussed as the Tree Warden was not able to attend. 4. Fall Planting -Chris relayed the fact that 20 trees remain to be planted to complete the Fall (2019) tree planting program. 5. Tree Canopy Assessment Program Improvement -Gerry Paul reported that Dave Pinsonneault has submitted a $30K Program Improvement Request(PIR) for the FY'2021 and FY'2022 budgets for a tree canopy analysis. Charles Wyman said the Sustainable Lexington Land Use Subcommittee will support this request. Gerry will explore possible backup plans if the PIR is not approved. 6. The Garden Club requested a Tree Committee member speaker for a Spring 2021 Weds. AM meeting. There were no volunteers at this time. 7. Best Practices - Nancy Sofen presented the modified Best Practices. It was further modified to state that ALB hosts should not be planted unless there is a compelling reason and approved unanimously by the Tree Committee. Mark Sandeen expressed concern about the impact of gas leaks on tree planting in Lexington. Current number of leaks is 149 and this is a moving target. 8. Tree Management Manual Update -The issue of whether to include trees that are host to the Asian Longhorned Beetle in the list of recommended trees was discussed. Anne Senning was against this. Anne noted that the US had spent $750 million to eradicate ALB infected trees and the cost in Worcester, MA to eradicate ALB infested trees was $11 million a year from 2008 on. Others on the Tree Committee argued in favor given the low risk of an ALB infestation and the minimal incremental risk due to planting a small number of ALB hosts each year. Gerry Paul presented other Massachusetts Towns planting lists that included ALB hosts. 9 & 10 Possible bylaw changes - After discussion it was concluded we will not go forward with a warrant article for Spring Town Meeting.