HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-04-18-TREE-min
LEXINGTON TREE COMMITTEE
Minutes of meeting of April 18, 2002, 7:30 AM, Room G 15, Town Office Building
1) Attendance: Frey, Griscom, Solomon, Walker, Wood
2) Minutes of March 14 meeting approved as corrected
Meeting of April 11 was held without a quorum; no minutes were taken
3) Arbor Day proclamation was approved by selectmen
4) Discussion on Article 12:
Telcon by John and Susan received negative responses; no one willing to speak for monies for survey
Unanimous decision to postpone Article 12 indefinitely for this fiscal year, due to technical problems with conducting
surveys
Cons:
a) Newton used volunteers in the early 1990's
b) uncertainty of how town equipment could interface at this time
c) expensive
d) technology is underutilized
Pros:
a) yields statistical data that is consistent, reliable, and easy to update
b) standards would be established, not subjective opinions
c) interfaces with all utility companies
d) would use only one map with many overlays
e) aids long-range planning
f) do it once, do it right
g) town must retain control of information, not the contractor
h) can prioritize tree removals
GIS is the technique, GPS is the tool
5) Research by John and Nell on various methods and vendors
David Blonairz, US Forest Service employee, head of NE Center of Urban Forestry at Uof Mass campus,
Amherst
Jane Calvin, Community Action Forester, DEM Urban Forestry Program
Tom Brady, B rookline tree warden, formerly Watertown tree warden
Karen Doherty, formerly with ACRT Inc., now "Trees, New England", urban forestry consultant.
Would walk the streets with Palm Pilot, not GPS, very labor intensive, $2.50 to $10 per tree
Kevin Puls ACRT, Environmental specialists 800-622-2562 x 213 (Ohio) $2.50 to $10 per tree
Ellen and John Coppinger, Lowell, MA would run education sessions and
lead volunteers or would do whole survey. 978-671-0128 or (cell)978-375-3913
Rolf Briggs "Tree Specialists, Inc." www.treespecialists.com
David Hawkins, "Urban Forestry Solutions" GPS with GIS mapping system $2.50 to $10 per tree
Must keep up database maintenance.
Questions: How does Lexington keep up existing information on sewers, highways, etc.?
What is town policy and procedure on GPS? Is town committed to upkeep?
6) Vote:
try for $25,000 under Article #4 for tree plantings
face up to political reality
continue mandate voted last year
John and Jim will present
7) Received Tree City USA award. An article will be in the MinuteMan Meeting adjourned 8:45 AM
Next meeting Thursday May 9, 7:30 AM, Room G15, Town Office Building
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Snell Solomon, Secretary