HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-11-TREE-minTown of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of October 11, 2012
A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on October 11, 2012 in the Ellen Stone Room,
Cary Memorial Hall at 7:30 AM.
Members Present: Chris Filadoro (Superintendent of Public Grounds), John Frey (Chair), Jewel
Kuljian, Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jim Wood, Nell Walker
Members Absent: Deborah Mauger (Selectman Liaison)
Guest: Patrick Mehr (Resident and Town Meeting Member)
David Pinsonneault (DPW Manager of Operations).
1. Jewel Kuljian was appointed as Scribe. Minutes of September 13, 2012 minutes were approved
as corrected.
2. Proposals for 300th Anniversary Tree Medallion sales. The Tree Committee approved selling
the 300th Tree Medallions at the Visitor's Center and Crafty Yankee with $5 compensation for each
sale. Karen has $45 from previous sales to deliver to Lynne Pease to deposit in the Tree Fund.
3. Tree Manual Progress. Anne showed the first proof of the Tree Manual, ready to go to Lexington
Graphics next week. All web site addresses are updated. There is new tree planting information
regarding species for planting in spring /fall; other hazard trees not recommended for fall planting.
4. Tree Warden Agenda Items:
a) By -law Tree removal applications and activity. Chris informed the Committee there are several
changes regarding removal applications, close -outs, and occupancy permits. He will forward
updates /current data to members by email.
b) Budget /Forestry division personnel: Review of Gerry Paul's draft of proposed letter to Selectmen.
The content of this draft includes goals for tree planting and maintenance as well as supporting Chris
in his request for additional staff. The Committee reviewed the draft of this letter, made some
changes, and voted to send the letter to the Board of Selectmen. Deb Mauger was sent a copy of the
draft prior to this meeting. Gerry will make the changes and send it to the Selectmen on Monday.
Chris appreciates this support and next week some discussion /action will take place within the DPW
to review the content of this letter. Gerry's letter states the significant progress /accomplishments
since the Tree Committee was established in 2001. He states clear tree planting goals (130 street
and setback trees each year), maintaining trees planted with proper watering, reporting the number
survived from planting in the previous three years, and budgeting /staffing required to meet the goals.
c) Tree By -law amendment proposal for spring warrant article placeholder John Frey has sent in the
warrant article placeholder noting there is still time for any proposed changes.
d) Feedback from letters sent to homeowners after September meeting to modify street tree planting
Town of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of October 11, 2012
procedure /extra work caused by homeowner obiections. letter received no replies. The Tree
Committee voted to establish a hearing for selected planting locations, notifying the homeowner the
date and location of the hearing. The sequence is: Chris will place a stake at each location dropping
the letter about the hearing at the same time giving the homeowner three days to respond back,
failing which he proceeds with the Dig Safe process and planting of the trees. This process will be
implemented immediately.
e) Dig Safe procedure improvement. The Committee noted that there seem to be to delays in sending
out Dig Safe requests. Chris is asked if he can get these expedited.
f) Update: Fall 2012 /Spring 2013 Setback Trees. Jewel sent all Tree Committee members including
Deb Mauger the updated spreadsheets regarding the setback trees. Six trees are ready to be planted
this fall with the Dig Safe process complete. Since many trees are considered as hazard trees /fall
planting they will be shifted to being planted in the spring. Homeowners have been contacted
regarding any change and requested to keep the stake in the ground (placed for Dig Safe). To date
there are eleven agreements for spring ( four Dig Safe ready), two homeowners to re- contact again in
the spring, and one remaining on the wait list. Jewel will be preparing an article for the local media in
the future to once again offer setback trees to Lexington homeowners.
g) Status of three Sourwood trees planted on Meriam Street. The Sourwoods replaced near the Town
Center Parking lot are doing well since being planted by Tree Committee volunteers Jim Wood and
Gerry Paul, delivered by staff to the site. Jewel has committed to watering these street trees with
help from Jim. To protect all the Sourwoods over the winter during snowplowing, Jewel proposed
installing orange mesh fencing. Jim and Gerry will measure the amount of material needed and
Jewel will then request Chris to allocate /place an order for the materials. Gerry, Jim, and Jewel to
install.
h) Street Tree Planting Places. Anne said there are plenty of planting spaces. On an as needed
basis, she will ask Gerry to print maps for the specific locations. Obtaining an IPAD for DPW and Tree
Committee use to speed up the process of tree planting was discussed. Anne will speak with Chris
regarding the suggestion of a Tree Committee member volunteering to stake /mark the street tree
locations for the Dig Safe process.
Completing the street tree inventory takes time. It needs staff time, interns, and possibly funding from
the Tree Fund(at $12 /hr. or $4- $5,000. per person per season) for a paid intern.
Anne can set up GPS training after the fall street tree planting and completion of the Tree Manual.
i) Tree Management Manual 3rd Edition progress. Discussed in #3 above.
j) Annual Report due October 26th. John still needs some facts and figures to complete the report.
Tree Committee members have reviewed the draft. The photo taken at the dedication ceremony on
the Battle Green will be sent in for the Report as forwarded to the Committee by Jewel.
Town of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of October 11, 2012
k) Nursery All agreed the tree order should be from a different nursery next year based on the poor
experience at Sylvan Nursery this year. Jim will request tree replacement from Sylvan Nursery for
the ten Carolina Silverbell trees that died soon after being planted at the nursery, ordered for street
and setback tree planting.
The Tree Committee voted to recommend that the DPW plant spring trees in their dormant state prior
to April 1st in the future, i.e., prior to Patriot's Day, playing field and Park preparations, the DPW's
busy time.
Jim and John have completed the irrigation work at the Tree Nursery.
Revisiting Larchmont Tree Planting: Jim and Gerry will speak to Chris and Dave regarding the
planting of the six Colorado Spruce trees in the spring. They will also once again propose planting six
Bur Oak trees on Larchmont Lane because of lack of interest in planting Oak trees as street trees this
fall. There is not a plan to compost these trees. They can be planted as street trees in spring 2013.
1) Commemorative Tree for Sandra Mayo. It was suggested that the re- planting of the Tulip tree be
nearby in Lincoln Park but in an area with more moisture. This needs to be confirmed with the family.
m) Guest Patrick Mehr to revisit 36 Woodcliffe Rd. tree removals, discussed at Sept. Tree Comm.
Meeting Anne Senning commented we spent 45 minutes on this issue at the last meeting. The Tree
Committee reached a consensus on the issue of supporting Chris Filadoro's decision in the handling
of #6 Woodcliffe Rd. but did not take a vote. Discussing it again does not make sense. It does raise
the issue of process. Should there be a system in the town to handle appeals from committee
decisions?
In Chris' letter to Patrick on 10/2/12, the DBH of the oak is 91 ". Chris said trees were measured by
him on site, not from the plot plan. Therefore, the contractor will be responsible for paying based on
91".
Patrick said he also wanted to speak to the Tree Committee about the basic aim and thrust of the
Tree Bylaw. The The Bylaw's Preamble is to preserve the tree canopy of the Town. But in present
practice, "builders design a home, they want to take out trees to make space to pile the topsoil, and
the Tree Warden approves as long as all procedures are followed and mitigation done ". Patrick would
like to turn around the logic in the Bylaw to absolutely protect trees in the setback, and not allow a
tree to be cut unless it is an "unreasonable burden ". For example, a $50,000 value would be placed
on protected trees, and that amount would have to be paid if the tree was removed, even with an
approved removal. The purpose would be to #1 cause builders to more carefully calculate costs
before they cut, so #2 it would save some major trees. The owner could appeal to the Tree
Committee.
Comments by Dave Pinsonneault: In developing the tree Bylaw, the intent was not to allow
indiscriminate cutting followed by paying a fine. The majority of builders today follow the principle to
protect trees during construction. The goal is to look at properties in a holistic way, and with the
changes that have been made in the Bylaw over time. He does not feel we should sweep away the
Town of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of October 11, 2012
present Bylaw and replace it with one that puts the onus on the builder to prove that removing a tree
would be an undue burden. He will review the issue of soil stockage at 36 Woodcliffe with the
Builder.
Much discussion ensued regarding "undue burden" of tree protection. In the Bylaw, Section
120.8(8)2, Patrick pointed out today's requirement is to replant, i.e., meet the mitigation
requirements, not to keep the tree. This could be an agenda item for another meeting. John
suggested Patrick write a draft. He said he will try his best.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30AM.
Respectfully submitted, Jewel Kuljian
Next regular meeting: November 8, 2012, 7:30 AM
Samuel Hadley Public Services Bldg., Rm. 125