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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-10-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts 201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125 Minutes, Meeting of April 10, 2014 Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jim Wood, Karen Longeteig, and Jane Beswick. Absent: Nell Walker, Deb Mauger (Selectman’s liaison) Chris Filadoro, (Superintendant of Public Grounds). Karen Longeteig took her turn as scribe. Agenda items: 1. Minutes of the March 13, 2014 meeting were approved as presented. 2. Bylaw Tree removal activity – postponed. Chris Filadoro was attending a playground safety seminar out of state, and could not attend the meeting. 3. Town Tree Inventory plan – postponed. 4. Interns – postponed. 5. Spring 2014 Tree planting – t a. Article extolling street trees went to Minuteman and will hopefully be printed today (it was.) b. postponed 6. List/mapping of trees planted last fall – Anne will follow up with Chris to get the list. 7. Concord Avenue new sidewalk: Jim will call Dave Cannon (Assistant Town Engineer) to see if an arborist has been chosen yet. 8. Arbor Day plans: Jim talked to Matt Foti, who offered to donate a tree for planting for Arbor Day. We wanted a Swamp White Oak, Tuliptree, or Sugar Maple. Given the severe winter and late spring, Matt’s Swamp White Oaks in the New Hampshire nursery are still covered with a foot of ice. If he can dig it, he will, but if not, he will have to use two Tuliptrees which are here “down below”. 9. a. Norway Maple status in Tree Maintenance Manual? Gerry moved that we leave Norway Maples as “protected” in the Tree Management Manual. It passed 5 to 1. b. Discussion of Karen’s question, “Does the Town have an obligation or duty to clear volunteer invasive tree species such as Norway Maple and Tree of Heaven from Town Rights- of-Way, when such trees are negatively impacting abutting property owners?” The Committee came to the consensus, but didn’t vote an official policy, that: a.Invasive volunteer trees are prevalent in Lexington. While they are a nuisance, and often harmful, in many places they serve normal, helpful tree functions such as shade, oxygen generation, rainwater runoff amelioration, etc. b.Any intentional tree removal must include replanting, because bare ground will only generate more invasive tree seedlings. c. The Town has neither the manpower nor the funds, at this time, to remove volunteer invasive tree species and replant with suitable species, in every location where the invasives occur. d. Nevertheless, if abutting property owners wish to submit to the Tree Warden a removal and replanting plan for invasive trees on Town property, to be undertaken at their own expense, theTree Warden will then call a public hearing and if there are no objections will grant permission. If there are objections, the homeowner can appeal to the Board of Selectmen. Another question of Town responsibility came up in the case of Bowman Park, which has not been maintained for at least 20 years and is full of Norway Maples, downed trees, Japanese Knotweed, Bittersweet, etc. What is the history here and why is it not maintained? There are conservation areas, but no formal parks in Precinct 2. 10. Commemorative Trees: One new commemorative tree is to be planted, a Linden in front of Cary Hall, sponsored by the Nickles family. (Note: it will be an American Linden, not a Littleleaf Linden.) Jane Beswick will evaluate the health of the two commemorative Tuliptrees in Lincoln Park, but as of now, they are still dormant. 10. For Arbor Day, we recommend planting two trees at Buckman Tavern: a Swamp White Oak and a Sugar Maple. If the Swamp White Oak is not available we recommend planting a Tulip Tree in its stead. 11. Other: Asphalt encroaching on tree trunks: Karen noted that the sidewalk construction workers will pave an asphalt sidewalk right up to the base of a large tree, which she believes is not conducive to the tree’s health. She will write up a memo asking that the practice be amended to leave 4” of soil, to be mulched, between tree bole and sidewalk. Gerry noted that we could/should produce a comprehensive document on tree and sidewalk interactions, including such items as mandatory notification to the Tree Committee to give their input on tree placement, tree wells and other concerns. Next regular meeting: May 8, 7:30 a.m. at DPW.