HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-11-09-TREE-min
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes, Lexington, MA, November 9, 2006
Present: John Frey, Chairman, Jeanne Kreiger, Selectmen representative, David Pinsonneault,
Superintendent of Public Grounds, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, scribe, Susan Solomon, Nell
Walker
Absent: Jim Wood, Karen Longeteig, Markus Pinney
1. Anne Senning appointed scribe. The minutes of October 12, 2006 were accepted.
2. Report under the Tree By-law, David Pinsonneault. Total calls 470. Total to remove 556.
Total removed 251. Total to plant 1310. Total planted 572. Total closed out 318.
3. Report on the budget request, David Pinsonneault, Gerry Paul. $24,000 is being requested for
tree planting in the FY2008 budget. A letter of support from the Tree Committee will be
delivered today to Director of Public Works, William Hadley. Later a similar letter will be sent
to the Board of Selectmen.
4. Commemorative Tree #2, along with trees in Fletcher Park, and an Elm and flowering tree
between the Town Offices and Cary Hall, were reviewed for proper planting depth. Some trees
were planted higher than recommended in the Tree Manual. In the future attempts will be made
to plant trees so that the original grade of the tree (root flare) is no more than 1-2” above the
surrounding existing grade. David reported that he would be responding directly to any further
complaints directed to either the Tree Committee or the Selectmen.
5.Area behind CVS parking lot: Alternative ground covers were discussed; other types of ground
covers create issues of trash collecting in them, as well as snow being dumped in the area during
the winter. John would like to discuss further.
6. Gerry Paul agreed to head the Friends of the Trees. Publicity will start after the new-year to
begin recruitment campaign for March 2007. This will help with the timing for volunteers for the
Spring Tree Inventory. Gerry also agreed to help with the Tree Farm.
7.Commemorative Tree Set Aside Money. $500 from each Commemorative Tree must remain in
the Town of Lexington Revolving Tree Fund. These funds will be segregated from the other
‘working funds’ in same Fund and will not earn interest. The placement of these funds will be
evaluated periodically as the number of Commemorative Trees increases. The current Budget is:
Inflow Outlay
Commemorative Trees $4,500 Trees $4,000 (planting15-20)
Donations 2,200 Reserve 1,500
Working 1,200
TOTAL $6,700 $6,700
It was suggested that Jim Wood be in charge of tracking these funds, and report regularly to Tree
Committee.
8.Education Grant Close Out. The Mailer has been completed. The lecture series was completed.
The editing of the videotapes is in process. Each lecture will be available on a separate DVD at
the library. The Tree Inventory part of the grant is completed with the exception of the work
order system with is being negotiated betweenCartêGrapheand the Town MIS Department.
9. Tree Inventory. Anne Senning reported that 2006 fieldwork is completed. She is working with
the Town MIS department and Robin Evans of the Urban Forest Institute of Boston University to
clear up hardware and software problems for 2007 season. UFI donated indefinite use of two
hand held computers to Lexington to complete Inventory as well as Ms Evan’s technical
assistance. Thank you note will be sent to UFI. Anne will be working on data documentation.
10. Commemorative Trees. Decision was made to purchase stationery, with a Lexington Tree
Committee design with the purpose of sending a thank you note to anyone who from this point
forward purchases a Commemorative Tree. Susan Solomon agreed to send out notes and letter to
editor of Minuteman. She displayed the Commemorative Tree Book, which will be housed in the
library. She has written thank you to three donors of Commemoratives Trees. David
Pinsonneault will talk with Rob Adleson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance in the Town
Offices to see that each donor to the Town of Lexington Revolving Tree Fund, including, but not
exclusive of Commemorative Tree donors is sent a receipt for tax purposes. It was decided to
remove the word ‘perpetual’ (in the second place it occurs) from the second edition of the
Commemorative Tree brochure as trees have a natural life span. It is expected that the
Commemorative Trees will be replaced if they meet an untimely death due unnatural causes.
11.Response to Planning Director Maryann McCall-Taylor postponed until next month.
12.Tree Farm/Nursery postponed until next month.
13. Nell Walker will take annual photo at the beginning of next month’s meeting at the First
Commemorative Tree in Tower Park, December 14, 2006, 7:30 AM. Meeting will then move to
Room 111