HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-11-TREE-minMinutes of the Lexington Tree Committee Meeting April 11, 2013
201 Bedford Street, Lexington MA
Members Present: John Frey, Chair, Karen Longeteig, Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne
Senning, Nell Walker
Absent: Jim Wood, Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden), Deb Mauger (Selectmen's liaison)
1. Gerry Paul was appointed as scribe and the minutes of the March 14 meeting were
approved as amended.
2. Wed. April 17 at 7:30 was set as the next session to evaluate trees at the nursery.
3. Setback and Street Tree planting sites:
Resulting from recent publicity in both the Minuteman and the Colonial Times,
requests have been received for 57 street trees and 39 setback trees. Best
estimates are that:
30 street tree locations can be qualified for spring planting and 30 for fall planting.
20 setback locations can be qualified for spring planting and 20 for fall planting.
3a. Role of the Tree Committee and need for planning support for the Forestry
Division:
The previous discussion then led to a review of whether the Tree Committee has
strayed from its charter to assist and advise the DPW and Selectmen and is now
performing functions that can be in the critical path of meeting tree planting goals. For
example, we are now responsible for qualifying planting locations and getting Dig Safe
authorization -- both of which we have, in fact, volunteered to do but in hindsight may
not be appropriate for our committee.
We are concerned about being in the critical path and about the magnitude of the
tasks potentially making it difficult for us to achieve them, instead of focusing on
rewarding work on which we can add value.
Suggestions were made that the DPW might engage the services of a part -time
contract planner, or consider filling an open staff slot with an individual who can
perform critical planning functions -- asking for Tree Committee assistance as
available, but not depending on the Committee for ownership of these functions.
The Tree Committee can then continue to focus on such items as the Tree
Inventory, Tree Manual, Tree Bylaw, tree related policy, public outreach, and
innovative fund sourcing, as specified in the Tree Committee charter in the Bylaw,
Section 120 -6.
4. Town Hall shrubs replanting design - postponed to next meeting.
5. Nichols Commemorative tree was planted on April 4th.
6. Anne will investigate the issue of better tree tags for both commemorative trees
and nursery trees.
7. Buckman Tavern Walnut tree disappearance - postponed to next meeting
8. Tree removals - 2012 Annual report clarification - awaiting update.
9. 11 Castle Road inquiry about setback trees. Jewel provided information to the
home owner. Awaiting home owner request.
10. Cumberland Farms (Gulf Station) construction. Feedback provided to the home
owner and the ZBA (see last month's minutes). John plans to attend the ZBA
meeting.
11. Tree Manual online - A PDF of the latest version has been sent to Candy
McLaughlin for inclusion on the Town website. The suggestion was made to
provide an additional link in the "what's new box" on the homepage.
12. TMMA email - John made members aware of the fact that as committee
members they can be on the TMMA distribution list. No members chose to be
added.
13. Arbor Day - John has staked the location for the Arbor Day tree, a Kentucky
Coffee Tree donated by Matt Foti, at the base of Belfry Hill on Clarke Street across
from the Cary Memorial Library parking lot. This will be held on Friday, April 26th at 2
P.M. beginning in the Large Meeting Room at the library followed by planting of the tree.
14. Removal of tree in Depot Square for 300th Anniversary town clock - The Tree Committee
requests that the tree to replace the one removed in Depot Square be planted on the Battle
Green to continue to fill out the allees of trees on each side of the Green . We would accept
the replanting of the removed tree (if that is feasible) or planting of a new tree if that is more
economical. If a new tree is planted we are open to a change in species.
Respectfully submitted,
Gerry Paul