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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-13-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee Minutes For November 13, 2008 Present: Jeanne Krieger, Gerry Paul, Karen Longetieg, Nell Walker, John Frey, Jim Wood, Anne Senning, Dave Pinsonneault, Susan Solomon, Jewel Kuljian 1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the minutes of October 9, 2008 were approved as amended. 2. Tree Warden’s agenda items and Bylaw Report: 2.1 Bylaw Report: 618 sites visited, 474 closed, 761 to remove, 529 removed, 1836 to replant, 1162 have been planted. $5540 has been collected in fees which goes to the General Fund. 2.2 Application for DCR grant completed and sent on Nov 1, 2008. The request was $3200 for Planting Area Identifcation (Inventory related) and $12971 for tree planting. 2.3 Implementing Town Meetings vote of $24000 to plant trees the following actions have taken place: 34 trees purchased, 24 planted and 10 will need to be planted in a different location than intended due to finding a gas line at the original site. $14000 has been spent to date. 2.4 Tree site subcommittee to meet on Waltham St. on Friday Nov. 14 at 2:30 PM 2.5 Homeowner-Tree Planting Agreement Draft: Dave Pinsonneault is meeting with Town Counsel to draft the appropriate language. 2.6 Herbicide application by licensed citizen: Questions that came up regarded;State license requirement, Insurance requirement, Town equipment use, and the coordination with the Unions for the use of volunteer labor(non- union) The goal for the next year is to develop a program to manage invasive species on all town land tht can be endorsed by appropriate boards and receive general permits (i.e. wetlands) to avoid having to seek permission each time there is a proposal to conduct invasive specie management on town land. Nell questioned if Bittersweet is the only focus? Gerry suggested multiflora roses could be included. 2.7 Tree Nursery: Dave Pinsonneault brought a Lexington Tree Nursery Routine Maintenance Schedule 2009 (which is attached to these minutes). We discussed the proposal and the recommendations for improving our Tree Nursery Project. More discussion needs to take place regarding these recommendations. Small rodent damage to the base of the trees had been noted and plastic tree protectors have arrived to be installed. We established Monday 17 Nov for a Tree Nursery work day with weeding and tree protector installation will be performed. We discussed Tree Nursery plantings next year, incorporating as much of the routine maintenance schedule as possible. We need to set up a special meeting for tree selection and planting sites. John Frey suggested we order only non- grafted trees to improve survivability. 3.0 Friends of Trees 3.1 Gerry reported on the Preston road tree removal- 2 trees posted because they are in the right of way. These were associated with a construction task. 3.2 Maple street-This is a State road and they control how trees are handled. 3.3 We may need to prepare a separate article for tree planting again this year. Town Meeting approved $24K last year. 3.4 Jewel said that the two replacement trees for Emery Park will be done using Garden Club grant money of approximately $410. 4.0 Tree Manual-Nell reported that we have gotten through all text with the exception of re-numbering. Now awaiting new drawings. Will not use structural soil drawing because it may be beyond the scope for users of this manual. Drawings will be done by Thanksgiving and then we can re- convene. Karen will send text to whole committee as done so far. Anne proposed that an article in Arnoldia about girdling roots has implications for our Manual. Should go in “Tree Selection” section. To be taken up by Manual Sub-Committee. 5.0 Tree removal at Turning Mill Road/128 In association with sound barriers, which will be in Right Of Way. Dave is working with State as it is a State highway project. Some trees will be removed but re-planting will be done. Susan reported that some abutters think trees that are tagged for removal are on their property line or property. Advised that abutters should call Bill Hadley to get name of Architect or Engineering firm to protest. 6.0 Tree Warden of the year nomination. Nell will write nomination letter of Dave P. for Tree Warden of the year. Deadline is Dec 1, 2008. 7.0 Web site-Revisions discussed. Need letter to Minuteman Editor about tree Web site. 8.0 Committee Photo-Tree committee went to the corner of Mass Avenue and Bloomfield street for the photo which includes a newly planted green ash “Patmore” in the photo. A remarkable likeness of all was achieved. Items Still Pending 9.0 Tree canopy parking lots: a zoning bylaw amendment? 10. Ledgemont proposal: removal of 81 trees 8” dbh & over. Warrant article postponed until spring town meeting.