2020-10-08-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee minutes for meeting held on Zoom on October 8, 2020 Meeting was called to order at 7:37 am Virtually present: Gerry Paul (chair), Gloria Bloom (scribe), Nancy Sofen, Pat Moyer, James Wood, Mark McConnell and guests Marcia Gens, Charlie Wyman, Marty Kvall and Richard Reibstein. Town staff present were Marc Valenti and Chris Filadoro Minutes of the September 10 meeting were accepted. As regards the planting of all male trees, the center streetscape plan remains unchanged. Best practices (BP). In updating the BP suggestions were to consider the allergenicity of trees particularly where children congregate. Ecological concerns should be considered as well. Update from the tree warden: The RFQ for bare root trees for town planting received one response. Regarding the cutting of trees at 53 Hancock Street, the builder was cooperative. There was an issue about removing hazardous trees. Progress on the tree inventory will be discussed with Dave. $72K from the DPF was added to the tree fund to compensate for the trees cut down on school properties to make space for solar canopies. Mitigation trees will be planted. This is in addition to usual plantings. Mitigation is a town policy not requirement. The drought has been bad for young trees. Extra watering efforts have been made Tree canopy assessment. Town Counsel said that the tree fund can be used to pay for it. No bid received yet. We need current and past canopy assessment. Nancy will look into what other communities have done. Gerry contacted Julie Krakauer about access to the permitting system. Several dead trees have been removed from the Green. Gerry, Nancy, Marc and Chris will meet from 8-9:30 on October 19 to discuss issues of bylaws and regulations regarding trees. Jim Wood suggested having protections for trees greater than a certain size (24") and restrictions on removing large trees. Tree Comm. Needs a volunteer to follow Planning Board meetings. The committee unanimously approved Marty Kvall to join the committee. Use the December meeting to discuss warrant articles for the ATM. Gerry will draft a statement for the town's annual report. The state gives incentives to cut trees for solar panels. It suggests over 50 species of possible replacement trees without more than 34% being of any one species. Brief discussion of E. Lexington being a tree desert, and how to deal with invasives. The new edition of the Tree Manual is waiting approval by the Select Board. Other organizations working on tree issues: Sustainable Lexington, CLC, the garden club. Suggestions to improve the Lexington living landscape include: encouraging native plants and the planting of more trees, reducing lawns and the use of toxins such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. A book by Doug Tallamy, Natures Best Hope, was recommended reading. The meeting was adjourned at 9:06 am.