HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-12-13-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125
Minutes, Meeting of December 13, 2012
Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longeteig,
Jim Wood and Nell Walker (Tree Warden). Also present was Keith Ohmart (Citizens for
Lexington Conservation). Absent: Chris Filadoro, (Superintendant of Public Grounds), Deb
Mauger (Selectman's liaison). Gerry Paul took his turn as scribe.
1. Minutes of the November 8, 2012 meeting were approved as amended.
2. Karen estimates that about 40 300 anniversary medallions have been sold. Additional
locations for sale of medallions suggested were: Buckman Tavern, Spring Town Meeting and
Crafty Yankee.
3. Anne updated us on the status of the Tree Management Manual: the illustrations are blurry
and are being redone.
4. Tree Warden's agenda items:
a) Tree removal activity - Chris's summary is attached.
b) The DPW program improvement request for an additional arborist was presented to the
Selectman.
c) Gerry and Jim presented potential warrant articles for spring town meeting. Gerry will
update list with agreed changes.
d) Karen will call the High School athletic director and possibly the Town Recreation director
to determine why a London Plane tree was cut down at the high school Fitzgerald athletic
field.
e) The Dig -safe process is now being handled by the Tree Committee. Jim Wood will be
making the Dig -safe calls.
f) Jewel updated us on the Setback Program status. We agreed to continue to limit the
number of trees per site to one. The Committee expressed their appreciation for Jewel's
outstanding work.
g) For the fall street tree planting, 11 street trees were planted. Additionally, 6 Blue Spruces
were planted at Larchmont Inc.
h) Judy Seppala will train volunteers on the use of the new tablets (with GPS and camera) to
be used for the tree inventory. Tentative dates are: Tues 3/26 9:00 am with Tues April 2 as
alternate.
i) Suggested Arbor Day planting locations are: Belfry Hill (across Clarke Street from
driveway into Cary Library parking lot) and Hastings Park.
j) Jewel conveyed the suggestions of the Tree Committee to the neighbor of the possible
site of private tree removals at 38 Somerset Rd. This issue is now closed with the Tree
Committee.
k) The fencing of the Sourwoods on Merriam St. was completed by the DPW.
1) Suggested species for planting at the Nursery include: Honey Locust, Linden, Maackia,
and Tree Lilacs. Other species may be added. At least 50 trees will be ordered. The trees
will be planted "bare- root'.
Jim turned off the water at the Nursery and disconnected the feed -line. He will check if the
lines have been blown out.
m) It is not known if the Nickles commemorative tree has been healed in and if so where.
Jim will call to Dig -safe the planting site on the traffic island at Mass Ave and Harrington
Road.
n) No update on the status of the Tree City USA application.
5. It was suggested that the Lincoln Park Committee /Recreation department apply for an
available grant from NEPA ($1500) for a project involving tree planting at Lincoln Park. Nell will
contact David Williams /Karen Simmons.
6. Karen will see if the Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC) will jointly publish a question
from the Tree Committee for Selectmen /Town Meeting candidates as part of the candidate
questionnaire.
7. As presented by Keith Ohmart, the Tree Committee voted to co- sponsor, along with the CLC,
a League of Women Voters forum on "Lexington's Readiness for Climate Change" to be held
Feb 26
Next regular meeting: January 10, 7:30 a.m. at DPW