2011-11-10-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts 201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125 Minutes, Meeting of November 10, 2011 Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jewel Kuljian, and Nell Walker. David Pinsonneault (Tree Warden), Chris Filadoro, (Superintendent of Public Grounds), and Jane Beswick (Friends of Trees) also attended. Absent: Karen Longeteig, Jim Wood, Deb Mauger (Selectman's liaison). Gerry Paul took his turn as scribe. 1. Minutes of the October 13th meeting were approved as amended. 2. Tree Warden's agenda items: David Pinson neault/Chris Filadoro 10/29/11 Storm Report: 600 calls; trees and limbs down across town. DPW working on streets first, remaining areas later. a) Tree removal activity under the Bylaw since 10- 01 -01: 778 sites /684 closed; 2358 trees to be planted /1746 planted; 971 trees to be removed /836 removed. Fees levied for removal of trees, and collected under regulation of 8 -4 -08, are $38,060 (from 3806 DBH inches of trees removed). b) Contractor compliance with Tree bylaw: Dave reported that he had begun discussion with the Building Inspector on notification when occupancy permits are granted he and Chris are working on the spread sheet on which Tree Removal Applications are tracked and how to give it visibility. Dave will provide his proposed plan at next month's meeting. Chris has been trying to contact Jason Brickman, the builder at 31 Vinebrook Road to discuss planting of only 3 trees as opposed to 5. 15 Slocum Road to discuss unapproved removal of trees. Chris estimates that approximately $2000 is required in fees (in addition to $1280 for approved removals) and that approximately 30 additional trees will have to be planted as mitigation (in addition to 21 initially required). c) Nursery: Anne's report of storm damage is as follows: "I made an assessment of the Tree nursery Monday morning 10/31/11 and did emergency pruning on damaged trees. The nursery sustained relatively little damage. Seven trees were injured and corrected; mostly broken limbs or severed leaders. I think one of the trees may not survive, but I have left that decision to the collective wisdom of the late winter group of pruners. The Ulmus parvifolias, both Frontier (3) and Emer II (8) have been bent and in some instances twisted by the storm's wind." d) Storm damage to newly planted street trees: Anne reported that 6 of the 16 trees planted as street trees in the last month were damaged and may be dead. Matt Foti will remove any dead trees and replant with nursery trees (primarily Ostrya virginiana). e) Jewel reported that all setback trees to be planted this fall have been planted and she is now visiting sites in preparation for spring setback planting. Chris will have setback trees planted this fall mulched (Cost should be less than $100). f) All street trees to be planted this fall have been cleared for Dig -Safe® including the Jim Barry Memorial tree. g) Chris reported that he will be submitting a "program improvement request" for two