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.