HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-08-TREE-min
Minutes of February 8, 2007 Lexington Tree Committee Meeting
7:30 AM Room 111 Town Office Building
1. In attendance were: David Pinsonneault, John Frey, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Markus Pinney, Karen
Longeteig, Jeanne Krieger, Gerry Paul and Susan Solomon. Nina Danforth, a member of the Weston
Tree Advisory Group, was also present to learn more about our committee.
Gerry Paul was appointed as scribe. The minutes of the January 12, 2007 meeting were accepted as
amended.
2. Dave P. reported tree bylaw statistics: 480 sites/348 closed, 572 trees to be removed/320 actually
removed, 1363 trees to be planted/740 planted.
3. Dave requested that he give approval before any expenditures are made. He may be able to suggest
a more cost-effective source. Also, if items are charged to the Town (e.g. at Wales Copy Shop) have the
vendor call the DPW for the correct account to which the charges should be made.
4. We agreed on the following trees for the nursery:
1. Malus 'Hargozam'
2. Prunus 'Okame'
3. Liriodendron tulipifera
4. Quercus coccinea
5. Gleditsia triacanthos 'Shademaster'
6. Ulmus americana 'Princeton'
5. There will be a Conservation Commission hearing on the proposed tree farm on Feb. 13 at 7:30PM in
G-15. Dave P. will attend. The attendance of others is not required but can not hurt.
6. Dave will order Tree City USA signs.
7. We discussed trees for planting in the center. Four species were proposed. We should send
additional suggestions to Dave by Wed. Feb. 14.
It was suggested that we videotape/photograph the center prototype sidewalk/tree installation.
Dave will look into the possibility of grates for the tree pits.
8. The grant for the tree inventory has been submitted. We will start to advertise for interns even before
the grant is made to ensure we get the best candidates.
9. Markus raised the idea of soliciting voluntary donations from citizens by allowing them make a
donation added to their tax payment. Jeanne will discuss with the Town Manager.
10. We discussed the capital budget item for reconstructing the sidewalks in the center.
11. We agreed that we would not pursue tree planting funds at Town Meeting but would try again next
year.
12. Dave P. will contact Judy Uhrig, former chair of the Board of Appeals, who would like stronger
language in the bylaw changes.
13. The bylaw subcommittee will meet Tuesday February 13 at 8:00 AM in the Bedford Street DPW site.
14. Anne has done an extensive analysis of Belfry Hill. All agreed that she should pursue the possibility
of CPA funding to improve the overall site (trees included).
15. Gerry reported on the DVD's from the lecture series. He will keep one master and bring to the next
meeting a set to be kept by Nell. Nell will also be given a copy to send to Garden in the Woods. Gerry
will send a set to DCR(Eric Seaborn). Karen will use a set to send one DVD to each speaker and will
send one set to the Arnold Arboretum.
We agree that we will not sell copies but we encourage anyone who so desires to make copies either
using the set sent to the Library or borrowing DVDs from us.
16. Relative to the Friend of Trees, Susan reported that Judy Uhrig is interested in serving on the Board;
Gerry will contact her. Gerry will also contact Keith Ohmart and see if he is interested.
17. Tree talk articles are on hold until someone produces an article.
18. We discussed various possible logos for the Tree Committee but did not come to a conclusion. It was
felt we needed more choices. We all agreed to bring a candidate for the logo to the next meeting (if
possible showing how it would looked ``screened'' on letter paper and how it might appear on an
envelope).
19. It was announced that:
- Our Bittersweet article would be published in the Wellesley Colonial Times.
-There is a LWV Budget Talk March 3 at 9:00 AM at Cary Library
-There is an urgent need for donations to save the Hamilton Farm in Winchester.
20. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 AM
Respectfully submitted,
Gerry Paul