HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-05-10-TREE-min
Minutes of Lexington Tree Committee Meeting of May 10, 2007
1. Anne Senning appointed as scribe. Minutes of April 12, 2007 amended and approved.
2.Present: John Frey, Chairman, Karen Longeteig, Jeanne Krieger, Selectman Liaison, Gerry
Paul, David Pinsonneault, Tree Warden/Superintendent of Public Grounds, Anne Senning,
Scribe, Susan Solomon, Nell Walker, Jim Wood Absent: Markus Pinney
3. Tree Warden Report: David Pinsonneault
a. Report on Bylaw: Tree Warden David Pinsonneault inspects all of the properties that
meet the requirements of the tree bylaw. The process is as follows: David Pinsonneault visits the
site. He looks at the property with the owner/builder. He looks at all trees which fall under the
bylaw and logically determines which trees can and should be removed and which trees can and
should remain on the site.
b. 30 Woodcliffe Road site: He met the builder on site and reviewed the site and the plans.
Various configurations for the new construction were reviewed but it was not deemed logical to
change the orientation of the new house. The double stemmed oak tree could not be saved due to
construction impacts. It would have been compromised. The property owner is required through
mitigation to plant 10 trees. David Pinsonneault has worked with this builder successfully prior
to (working on) this site.
The bylaw has worked successfully over the past 5 years encompassing over 500 sites. Many
trees have been saved while others have been allowed to be removed with replanting occurring,
which has resulted in a better project. Changes to the bylaw were approved at this year's Town
Meeting, which will strengthen the bylaw. The Tree Warden needs to maintain flexibility to
make this work.
c. Inventory: Anne reported training schedule for interns at UEI, 6/5 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Role
of Urban Forest, 6/6, 9-2 Why Trees, John Walkey & Catherine Walsh, 6/7 & 6/8 12-3 at DPW
Robin Evans, UEI: GIS and Computer Maps, Tree Committee, 5/29/-6/4, ‘on the job training’.
Anne reported discussion with Peter Karalexos, engineering about possibility of adding a third
intern, paid for by engineering department to count telephone poles. Committee voted not to add
third intern, due to short preparation time, complexity of task and DCR mandate. Committee
voted that two interns could help the engineering by identifying disparities in property maps,
where houses had be enlarged, and enlargement is not reflected on the computerized property
maps in the hand helds.
Karen Longeteig asked for help with branches for the volunteer tree identification
training May 23, 2007, 7:30 at the DPW.
Anne Senning asked for help with contacting volunteers. She reported poor response to an email
sent to the last two years volunteers. Susan Solomon agreed to call people.
d. Tree City USA Forum rescheduled to May 24, 2007,Haverhill at Winnekenni Castle,
9-3. John Frey, Dave Pinsonneault, Anne Senning planning to attend.
e. Mass Ave sidewalk construction. Jeanne Krieger reported that construction would
begin ‘soon’.
f. Tree Nursery: Jim Wood reported on April 28, 2007, 22 volunteers: Tree Committee,
Friends of Trees and High School students working with the Town planted 125 trees. Guy Doran
donated watering system. Barbara Kent, a neighbor volunteered to water trees through season.
Jeanne Krieger invited members of the Tree Committee to present the Tree Nursery to the
Selectmen: Jim Wood, John Frey and Karen Longeteig to present on 5/ 21 at 7:45. Anne Senning
to write article for talk, basic publicity and Colonial Times. Nell Walker to provide photos.
Gerry Paul will email the contact person at the Colonial Times.
g. Winter Moth: Still in evidence, spotty, but not as bad as last two years.
h. Commemorative Tree in Lincoln Park: David Pinsonneault will send a name of donor
to Tree Committee members via email.
i. Pruning of Walnut Tree at Buckman Tavern: Further status unknown.
j. Zelkova: Planted at the School Administration Building lawn by Matt Foti. John Frey
will call Matt to get a photo. Susan Solomon will call the Minuteman.
k. Arbor Day Tree: River Birch planted April 27/07 at Belfry Park.
4. Friends of Trees: Meeting in Ellen Stone Room 5/24/07. New Members are joining. Sharing a
table at Discovery Day 5/26/07 with the C LC. Bittersweet Day 6/2/07, 9 -12, Lincoln Park.
5. Eastern Bank: Alex Grinis of Eastern Bank, Lexington interested in sponsoring a ‘tree related
project’. The committee approved that John Frey & Susan Solomon visit him and later writing a
letter to his board focusing on requesting funds to support the Tree Nursery.
6. Stationery Logo; Nell Walker presented 5 variations of the original design for the Tree
Committee stationery logo. The committee chose a combination of two.
NEXT MEETING: June 14, 2007 7:30 a.m. Room 111