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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-13-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts Minutes, Meeting of September 13, 2007 1. Attending were John Frey, Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, and Jim Wood. Karen Longeteig was appointed scribe. The minutes of the August meeting were approved as corrected. 2a. Dave Pinsonneault was absent, so there was no Tree Warden’s report. 2b. Anne Senning reported on the inventory project, with the bad news that over the Labor Day weekend, our laptop, iPaq, GIS license, and backpack were stolen out of a locked storage unit in the DPW. No sign of forced entry. The police were informed. Thanks to Anne’s meticulous habits of backing up, no data were lost. She is re-grouping, but may not have the time to organize further data gathering this fall, while she copes with equipment replacement. (Agenda Item 2c postponed) 2d. Dolberg Scarlet Oak. It has been sprayed for insects, and donor is satisfied. (Agenda Item 2e postponed) (Agenda Item 2f postponed) 2g. DPW budget for tree planting for FY 2008: Gerry proposed that we ask for the same budget as last year ($24,000) with the same reasons. Jim thought we should have a specific project to suggest. Nell wondered if we were at the point where we could suggest a Norway Maple removal and restoration project on a specific street. Jim and Karen noted that we should factor in watering and maintenance costs. Gerry will ask Dave to put $24,000 in the budget, like last year. Or double that amount. 2h. Attorney General’s approval of changes in Tree Bylaw: The AG has approved, with the caveat to discuss with Town Counsel. Markus Pinney has indicated his willingness to follow up. 3. Friends of Trees: Gerry noted again that it needs a bigger board, 9 or 11. They have brainstormed names, but need suggestions. 4. Reappointment of Jim Wood and Markus Pinney: they have both indicated they wish to continue. The committee voted to forward their names to the Selectmen for re-appointment. 5. The committee agreed to encourage Barbara Kent to join the Friends of Trees board, as there is no opening right now on the Tree Committee. Minuteman 6. Publicity: We got a good article in the in the ‘Scene and Herd’ column on 8/30/07, as well as a two-page color spread “Trees Count” article about the Lexington tree inventory and the summer interns in the Aug- Colonial Times. Sep/07 issued of Lexington’s There was also an article about Citizen Forester. our tree farm in the state’s 7. (Old business) There was no report on “pending” agenda items, with the following exceptions: A. Logo and stationery: Nell has developed a design. It will cost $60 for 500 sheets or less to print it, so Nell was advised to get pre- approval from Dave and take it to Wales Copy, the designated town printer. B. The matter of the construction technique used on the Mass Ave sidewalk trial, now complete, was raised by Jim Wood. He noted that the brick sidewalks on the north side of Mass Ave, even though laid 20 years ago, are still more even than the heaved concrete on the south side. So even though structural soil was used, he is disappointed that the layer of impervious asphalt was laid beneath the bricks. The landscape architect, Clarissa Rowe, will be contacted to find out if it can be done differently in the future. John Frey declared that we must be more proactive, and insist that there be no asphalt layer in at least one of the future trials or installations. 8. New Business: A. Nell Walker gave a liaison report from the Lexington Field and Garden Club. The Garden Club is going to plant six trees -- 2 Yellowwood, 1 Magnolia ‘Centennial’, and 3 Sourwood -- at the Meriam Street/bikepath/parking lot intersection. Jewel Kuljian has been working on this. B. Karen Longeteig reported that the Lexington High School PTSA Landscaping Sub-committee and their student volunteers had planted 7 small Red Maple ‘October Glory’ on an island in the north parking lot – hopefully the first of an entire row of trees to visually break up the bleak parking lot and shade cars and asphalt surface. A continuous underground perforated tube was laid 12” below surface with both ends rising above ground, making it possible to water all seven trees at once. During the summer the subcommittee used a special gift from Selectman Peter Kelly to plant a Scarlet Oak by the Fieldhouse, replacing an oak dead and gone, and added two more Tuliptrees to one planted last year in the Senior Quad. C. Drought: nearly rainless summer is causing tree stress. John Frey received a call that new trees on Harrington School were dying. There was nothing at that moment we could do to help. D. For Next Month’s Agenda: we will attempt to discover, after the School/Town reorganization, exactly who is now responsible for watering and maintenance on school property.