HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-08-TREE-minTown of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes
August 8, 2013
A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on August 8, 2013, beginning at 7:30 AM,
at the Samuel Hadley Public Service Building, 201 Bedford Street, 02420, Room 125. A quorum
of 6 was present.
Members Present: John Frey (Chair), Chris Filadoro (Superintendent of Public Grounds, Tree
Warden), Karen Longeteig, Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jim Wood.
1. Jim Wood was appointed as scribe and the minutes of July 11, 2013 were approved as
amended.
2. ByLaw tree removal applications and activity will be emailed separately by Chris Filadoro
to the Tree Committee.
3. DPW Tree Forestry Staffing -Chris reported that advertisements have been published for
one new and one old position. He is looking for one man with experience and one that
can be trained in the Lexington system.
4. Cary Hall Tree Removal -An old Linden was removed and the Tree Committee
recommended that the replacement tree come from the nursery if possible.
5. Two tree marking proposals for the 300 anniversary tree planted on the Battle Green
were suggested. A granite marker and hanging tags. The desired outcome was to have
a lasting identification of the Red Oak we planted. By a 3 to 2 vote with one abstention
the Granite Marker was selected. Jim Wood will take the Granite Marker proposal to the
Historic Districts Commission for their approval, and following this Chris Filadoro will
take the proposal to the Selectmen for their approval.
6. Regarding the 50 tree fall planting, we changed the Honey Locust cultivar from
Shademaster to Skyline. Jim Wood will coordinate with Schichtels Nursery to have each
tree dipped in hydrojell and individually wrapped in plastic for shipping.
7. Toyota Dealership,Screening Tree's Removal- George Grey. Toyota Dealership owner
called Chris Filadoro and represented to Chris that he was going to remove some private
trees. Chris thought it would be all right as the building changes were not such to trigger
the bylaw requirements. Grey also mentioned a letter written by the Tree Committee
some 10 years ago. This discussion is of no consequence as Mr. Grey failed to mention
to Chris the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decision of February 12, 1988 when as a
condition granting a Special Permit, stated "The planting of trees along Massachusetts
Avenue and landscaping of a buffer along the residential zone to the west and along the
MBTA right of way to the north will substantially minimize adverse impacts of this
commercial use upon the residential land adjacent to the property and across
Massachusetts Avenue, as shown on Scheme D." Scheme D shows both the
Landscaping (Trees and Shrubs) which have been completely removed in violation of
the Special Permits conditions.
Scribes Note- The trees ( 12 Bradford Callery Pears ) and shrubs were cut down
on /about July 13, 2013.The ZBA Bylaw requires the Building Commissioner to take
appropriate enforcement action if timely compliance is not forthcoming, and it also
provides for a fine of $300.00 per day for the violation of "any condition of a special
permit"
Source: Letter Bartenstein to Dempsey(Acting Building Commissioner) dated August 12,
2013.
8. -12. Agenda items 8 through 12 were not addressed.
13A. Anne Senning said a street tree had been taken down at 35 Reed street. Anne will
provide Chris a map showing the tree(planted in 2012) location. Chris will follow up on
this.
13B. Tarbell Ave(address ?) Two demolitions are going on. David Burns represented to Chris
that he was not taking down any trees on the form which Chris signed off on . Chris will
investigate if this representation was adhered to.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 AM to proceed to the Battle Green for the Tree Committee's
annual report photograph.
Respectfully Submitted
James C. Wood, Jr.