Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-13-TREE-minTown of Lexington Lexington Tree Committee Minutes June 13, 2013 A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on June 13, 2013, 7:30 -9:30 a.m. at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125. A quorum of seven was present. Members Present: Chris Filadoro, (Public Grounds Superintendent, Tree Warden), John Frey (chair), Karen Longeteig, Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Jim Wood Members Absent: Deborah Mauger (Selectman Liaison), Guest: Jane Beswick: (Friends of Trees) The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe, and the minutes of the meeting of May 9, 2013, were approved. 2. New tree plaques /tags for commemorative trees and nursery street /setback trees a. Anne Senning showed a proof of the nursery tag for the street /setback trees. She will work with Jane Beswick to have new commemorative tree plaques printed. b. Jane Beswick reported that a previous client would like another Commemorative tree. After reviewing the Commemorative tree program, a vote was taken to continue it. 3. a. Tree Warden items: Bylaw tree removal applications and activity 48 School Street 906 0 0 0 3/15/2013 142 Marrett RD 907 0 0 0 3/20/2013 61 Solomon Peirce 908 2 48 8 3/25/2013 59 Hancock Street 909 4 77 13 3/20/2013 31 Highland Ave 910 0 0 0 3/27/2013 63 Sherburne Rd South 911 1 22 4 3/27/2013 11 Grandview Ave 912 1 60 10 3/25/2013 123 Maple Street 913 1 20 3 4/23/2013 137 Grant Street 914 2 36 6 4/30/2013 181 Grant Street 915 4 i 5 5/10/2013 78 School Street 916 0 0 0 14 Tavern Ln 917 1 12 2 75 Simonds Road 918 4 38 6 9 Calvin St 920 0 0 0 4 Essex St 921 1 15 3 51 Bridge Street 922 0 0 0 9 Gleason Road 923 1 12 2 10 Blodgett Road 924 0 0 0 11 Calvin 925 1 24 4 38 Adams 926 0 0 0 15 Fremont Street 927 0 0 0 40 Grove St 928 18 206 34 545 Tarbell Ave 929 14 122 20 1432 10645 3481 Inches Trees Removed Removed Trees to be 1432 10645" Planted 3481 Totals Pending 2081 Trees Totals After Closing 975 Removed 722 Close Out Planted 6/25/2013 b. Tree Bylaw: Chris Filadoro reported that Linmoor Terrace and 0 Hillcrest were approved. Chris reviewed both properties prior to renovation on each site. c. Fall Tree Order: Jim Wood requested that the order for the fall planting be reduced from 60 trees to 50 trees. There was discussion but no vote. Chris Filadoro approved the purchase of 50 trees. d. Granite Marker: Jim Wood requested a granite marker be placed the base of the red oak on the Battle Green indicating that it was planted as a 300 memorial tree. There was discussion but no vote. e. Requests for tree removals: Chris Filadoro described the process when homeowners request a street tree removal. He reported that only about one tree removal per year goes to a Selectmen's hearing. L Requests for pruning: Chris Filadoro described the process when homeowners request pruning of town trees in front of their homes. g. Implementing Tree Bylaw: Chris Filadoro stated that reasonable judgment governs his implementation of the Tree Bylaw. He analyzes the lot size as well as the size and number of trees that have been removed to come up with a combination of a number of trees to be replaced and a mitigation fee. h. 2013 Spring Tree Planting: Chris Filadoro stated that the Forestry staff is working to get all the trees planted this spring- summer, along with other duties. They have one summer staff, Nicholas Eisenhower. Joel Custance is crew chief, now that Chuck Walton has retired. 4. Town Hall Shrubs: Chris Filadoro stated that he plans to re- landscape the Town Hall and the Brown House with new shrubs. 5. Tree Removals -2012 Annual report clarification: Chris Filadoro clarified that the number of trees removed as stated in the 2012 Town Annual Report is for the full fiscal year. There was a question of whether it was just for the storm of Oct. 2011. 6. Tree Requests a. Street and Setback sites. Anne Senning reported that she and John Frey placed 11 street trees and 23 setback trees. Of the 23 setback trees, 20 were large shade trees. b. Setback tree sites. Jewel Kuljian reported that she placed 3 street trees and 48 setback trees. She stated that some setback trees had been on the wait list from the fall 2012. Jim Wood agreed to work with Jewel placing trees on an individual request basis. The total between both teams is 14 street trees, 71 setback trees, a total of 85 trees. c. Dig Safe. Jim Wood reported that he had completed all Dig Safe requirements for all 85 trees. d. Summary and recommendations for future tree site location and planting 1. Tree Committee member cooperation, 2013 mandate fulfilled, large number of trees: There was good cooperation among Jewel Kuljian - setback trees, John Frey and Anne Senning - street and setback trees, Jim Wood - Dig Safe of all trees, Gerry Paul - maps of Jewel's setback trees and Anne Senning - maps for setback and street trees. The mandate to move trees out of the tree nursery to avoid them becoming too large to plant was fulfilled successfully. Eighty -five trees is a large number of trees for the current staffing level in the Forestry Department to plant in the spring season. 2. First come, First Serve Request System Successful: The open request, first come, first serve system implemented for the first time this spring, by placing stories in the Minuteman and Colonial Times was very successful. It generated close to 100 requests from homeowners for trees. 3. Future changes; additional staff, waiting lists, and /or alter tree planting goals: Additional staff will be required to satisfy the needs of client's requests, if the demand remains the same. More residents will need to be placed on longer waiting lists. If the goal remains to plant enough trees to replace those lost for a variety of reasons, more trees will need to be ordered. Jewel Kuljian and Anne Senning said that they would take fewer clients' requests than they each processed this spring. They each have people currently on waiting lists for fall 2013 and spring 2014. 4. Tree Issues: Reduce the number of oaks in future shade trees orders, as oaks were not popular with spring 2013 clients. Consider ordering salt tolerant shade trees for both street and setback situations. There was discussion but no vote on either tree issue. 7. Tercentennial Tree Medallion sales: Karen reported that 91 Medallions have been sold. These sales cover half the production cost. A motion was made and passed to continue to sell whatever Medallions could be sold and to place the remainder on the street trees that are planted during 2013. 8. Request for Donation from the Garden Club to the Tree Fund: Jewel Kuljian requested that the incoming President of the Lexington Field & Garden Club, Susan Spicer and the outgoing President, Ann Webster ask the Board to give consideration of a donation to the Lexington Tree Fund based on the efforts to plant trees in the community consistent with the founding purpose of the care, planting, and protection of trees in the Club's Constitution in 1876. The Board voted to donate $1,500 to the Tree Fund, stipulating that the funds be used for "planting a diverse group of trees and the pruning of trees ". There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectfully submitted, Anne Senning, Scribe Next regular meeting: July 11, 2013, 7:30 a.m. at Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125