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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-14-TREE-minTown of Lexington Lexington Tree Committee Minutes February 14, 2013 A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on February 14, 2013, 7:30 -9:30 a.m. at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125. A quorum of six was present. Members Present: John Frey (chair), Karen Longeteig, Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jim Wood Members Absent: Deborah Mauger (Selectman Liaison), Nell Walker Guests: David Pinsonneault, DPW Operations Manager, Sue Rockwell, Eric Carlson, 300 Anniversary Committee The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe, and the minutes of the meeting of January 10, 2013, were approved with one minor correction. 2. Tercentennial Tree Medallion sales: Karen reported she has deposited $90 from sales with Lynne Pease. Plans were made to sell Medallions prior to Town Meeting on 3/18/13. John Frey and Gerry Paul will staff this event. 3. a. Tree Warden items: Bylaw tree removal applications and activity - deferred b. Tree Bylaw amendment proposal: The amendment contains the following key points of change 1. Currently for every 1" DBH of a tree that is removed it is replaced by a tree of 1/2 " DBH. This changes to for every 1" DBH of a tree removed the tree is to be replaced by a tree of 1" DBH. 2. Currently the property setback is 30'm front 15' in back and 15' on either side (30/15/15). This remains the same for residential property, but changes for commercial property to be the larger of 30/15/15 or the zoning bylaw specific to that property. c. Damage to a Town Tree: If any town owned tree is either damaged or removed in a manner that has not been approved the town should recover the actual value of damages. Deb Mauger, Chairperson Selectmen and Norm Cohen, Selectmen have reviewed this policy. d. DigSafe process: Jim Woods will be attending a state wide Dig Safe conference. e. GPS training: Anne Senning reported that the GPS training will be held on Tuesday 4/2/13/ 9 a.m. John Frey, Jim Wood, Jewel Kuljian, Nell Walker, Karen Longeteig, Anne Senning and Jane Beswick plan on attending. f. Arbor Day Tree: Matt Foti will provide the Arbor Day Tree. It will be located on the Belfry side of Clarke Street near the Cary Library. g. 2013 Tree Order: Jim Wood will attempt to order as many bare root trees from Baileys Nursery using the following list as a guide. The list contains a majority of species that can be planted in the fall, a particular need at this point in time. Karen made note that it has few species that are native, which is not in line with one of the Committee's major goals. 2013 Tree Order Scientific Name Common Name Number Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden 15 Gleditsia triacanthos Hone locust 15 S rin a reticulata 'Ivory Silk' Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac 15 Amelanchier laevis Serviceberry 15 Maackia amurensis Amur maackia 15 h. Draft Letter Proposing the Annual Planting of 130 Town Trees: John and Gerry are due to meet with Carl Valente to discuss this proposal. i. Nursery: i. Jewel and Anne have written two articles, one for the Minuteman the other for the Colonial Times, each describing the 2013 street tree and setback planting programs. The articles describe the programs and emphasize how Lexington citizens can participate in each of the programs. ii. Planting methodology 1. As soon as the deep snow recedes take an inventory of the current nursery trees 2. Decide which trees need to be considered `evaluate the root ball for root pruning' and which trees need to be considered `reasonable to plant out' 3. Top prune all trees (Pruning and Inventory may be done simultaneously) iii. Blue Spruce trees (5) These trees were purchased by the Center Committee. John Frey will contact someone from that committee to discuss their disposition. iv. Work Day Date will be set after the snow pack recedes. 4. Installation of Tercentennial Clock at Emery Park Sue Rockwell and Eric Carlson presented the Lexington 300 Committee plan to install a permanent 12 foot commemorative pole clock at the east side of Emery Park in a sidewalk tree cut out. This space is currently occupied by a 4 inch DBH Littleleaf Linden, which will need to be moved to a different location. Discussion explored alternative locations for the tree. Dave Pinsonneault stated that movement of the tree will be contracted out to a professional tree mover. The Tree Committee voted that the tree be removed and be replanted in the town center with as much of a street presence as possible. 5. CLC /Tree Committee Question to all Candidates CLC has decided to support Gerry Paul's letter to the Selectmen recommending an annual planting of 130 trees. It will be phrased "Do you support the goal of planting 130 trees a year as a replacement of the annual loss of public trees in streets, parks, schools and cemeteries ?" 6. Tree Committee /Citizens for Lexington Conservation cosponsor a League of Women Voters forum on "Lexington's Readiness for Climate Change" Tree Committee voted to cosponsor with the Citizens for Lexington Conservation a League of Women Voters forum to be held on February 26, 2013. There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectfully submitted, Anne Senning, Scribe Next regular meeting: March 14, 2013, 7:30 a.m. at Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125