2011-12-15-TREE-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 31, 2011 Draft 2 Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of Special Meeting, December 15, 2011 to discuss how best to satisfy the tree removal /mitigation requirements of the Tree By -Law given that not all Contractors /homeowners meet initial agreements established with the Tree Warden or fail to make a timely application for a tree removal permit. Attendees: Deb Mauger, Selectman's Liaison,John Frey, Chairman, Karen Longeteig, Chris Filadoro, Superintendent of Public Grounds, Gerry Paul, Nell Walker, Jim Wood • Jim Wood volunteered to take the meeting minutes. • Deb Mauger offered to chair the meeting and John Frey concurred. • We started by defining what is perceived as a problem(s) • Large trees are cut down, due to trees becoming Hazard trees, and Demolition Permits requiring mitigation per our By -Law. • Some Builders /Homeowners do not follow, or adhere to the agreements reached with the Tree Warden or fail to make a timely application for a tree removal permit. How do we tighten up the process? • Gerry Paul suggested the following agenda items: 4.1 Visability: Front End - permit -Copy of Surveyor Prepared and Signed off Tree Site plan to Town Hall(Building Commissioners file) Back End - Occupancy permit -As noted in the previous meeting by Dave Pinsonneault, he is working with Garry Rhodes, Building Commissioner, to have the Tree Warden sign off on the Occupancy permit as of February 2012. Jim Wood said that Garry Rhodes noted in a previous meeting with Paul /Wood that the Occupancy Permit requirements are established by State Statute. Removals (by Town of Lexington) open 4.2 Process: Short term Site Plans Mitigation exceptions 4.3 Problem Sites: 31 Vinebrook, 15 Slocum, 2 Braemore, 2 Frost 4.4 By -Law Changes 5. Discussion and Action items identified: 5.1 Chris Filadoro suggested the Tree Committee establish a single point of contact to take issues to the Tree Warden. Gerry Paul volunteered to be the single point of contact and the tree committee agreed. 5.2 Chris Filadoro said he would re- examine 31 Vinebrook's Tree Permit compliance. The Permit allowed removal of 3 Setback trees, 2 hazard trees and 10 trees not covered. He noted that he adds Hazard trees to the bottom of the Tree Permit form now. This is part of the working agreement with the contractor /builder. 5.3 Chris Filadoro noted that the required Surveyor signed off tree plans are maintained in the Tree Wardens office. It was recommended that two sets of the Surveyor signed off tree plans (this plan identifies all trees over 6 inches in diameter) be prepared, one to be maintained at the Tree Wardens office and one in the Building Commissioners permit file. Chris agreed to provide a section of the spreadsheet with which sites are tracked each by email to the Tree Committee members. Deb Mauger volunteered to contact Garry Rhodes to request that two copies of the Surveyor signed off tree plan be prepared, which shows baseline conditions, with one copy to be