HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-08-TREE-min
LEXINGTON TREE COMMITTEE
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125
Minutes, Meeting of May 8, 2014
Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, Anne
Senning, Nell Walker, Jim Wood, Jane Beswick(Commemorative Tree Program) and
Chris Filadoro(Superintendent of Public Grounds). Absent: Deb Mauger(Liason for
Selectmen) Jewel Kuljian is acting as scribe.
Agenda items:
1.Minutes of the April 10 meeting were approved as voted.
2.Bylaw Tree removal applications and activity. Chris will send this updated the current
information to the Tree Committee by email. Chris wants people to be aware of
situations for tree removals. The public can be advised to check with the Building
Inspector regarding any specific cases.
3.Town Tree Inventory plan. Anne Senning would like to see the Tree Inventory
completed for all precincts. It is recommended for community accreditation (Lexington is
#90 in the community out of 19,800, DPW wide). She proposes the completion of the
inventory(precincts 7,8 and 9) linking the graphics and software already done with the
$25,000 from the Tree Fund, $45,000 allocated for tree planting. Financing could come
from a mix of money from the Tree Fund and the Budget. Updating would come at a
later date for “continuous complete”. Anne proposes we not hire interns for this purpose
as it would require a great deal of time, physical energy, training and on-site
supervision. A Contractor price is requested. Chris and all present see great value in
having all this information available on a tablet to be able to immediately identify
planting sites and other uses. GIS is widely used for various purposes in Lexington and
state wide(see article in Lexington Minuteman, 5/8/14).
4.Hiring of Interns(See above).
5. Tree Inventory Completion(Incorporated in #3 above).
6. Spring 2014 Tree Planting. Twenty requests have been processed for
Dig Safe. More are in process. Jewel reported she has 17 trees in process. All agreed
we continue to order the black metal tags from Lexington Graphics. Anne will place this
order. Thirty B&B trees(Tulip, Redbud, and Sweetbay Magnolia), some ready to plant
from the Tree Nursery, and others ordered locally as needed will make up this season’s
planting. Some pre-digging of holes may occur.
7. List/mapping of newly planted trees.Karen Longeteig will get the list today from Chris
so she can place the remaining 300th tags on the trees.
8. Concord Ave. sidewalk. Assessment by Arborist of Trees? Jim will contact Dave
Canon and Matt Foti regarding the tree removals and analysis of trees to obtain a
‘condition report’, also including Robinson Road where 23 trees are to be removed.
9. Arbor Day/Tree City USA. Arbor Day was very successful. Matt Foti donated the
Sugar Maple. He will also plant a Swamp White Oak once he can free the tree from
the frozen ground. This event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Tree City USA for
Lexington. First grade students in LPS will all be given a demonstration about tree facts
in an active approach as demonstrated at the ceremony and a tree seedling to take
home to plant.. A copy of the Lexington Minuteman article about requesting street
and/or setback trees was not sent home in the packet with the students this time
because of the short notice.
10. Status of Tree Nursery. Winter Losses. Limited Number of species for Spring
Planting? Many trees identified for Spring 2014 planting from the nursery were lost over
the winter. Chris would like to renovate the nursery, remove root balls, reduce the
number of trees, perhaps include specialized trees, consider an easy maintenance
overhead watering system, and generally restore the area. This will be kept on the
agenda for planning after spring planting.
11 Early Ordering for Fall 2014 Bareroot Trees. What is Needed and Early Planning
Ahead for Spring. It is urgent to have the lists of bareroot trees available for both fall
2014 and spring 2015 planting plans. The Committee would like to identify species as
soon as possible to reserve/place orders. The goal is to plant 65 trees in the fall and 65
trees in the spring. Jim will contact Schichtel and Bailey Nurseries and will forward
availability information to all Tree Committee members.
12. Selectmen Goal Setting due May 30. The Tree Committee thanks the Selectmen
and Town Manager for their continuing support and, in particular, for the increase in
funding for the Forestry Division in the 2015 Town budget. This funding will allow the
DPW to meet the goal of planting 130 trees per year to replace the 130 street trees
removed on average per year.
We look forward to your support in the future.
13. Trees requested by Garett Burke 46 Brandon St. to screen lights from Toyota from
bikeway. Consider a plan on that side of the Town maintained bike path this spring. A
site visit is required to specify this planting. No objections raised to pursue this as a
plan.
14 . Fern Street trees.In stone wall; taken care of.
15. Norway Maple Discussion. Previously discussed.
16. Asphalt around trees. So that trees are not directly surrounded by asphalt, Karen
will speak with Dave Canon regarding the Tree Committee’s protocol of putting a 6”
area of mulch around each tree as protection. So voted.
17. Commemorative Trees. John, Jim, and Jane will stake for the planting of the
American Linden Tree in front of Cary Hall today. Jim will check about ordering a 2”
caliper tree. The two other Commemorative Tulip trees in Lincoln Park need to be
checked at the time of a rainstorm to determine if they are viable.
18. Other/New Item: Commemorative Tree for Nell Walker. Choice of Species and
Location. So Voted. Nell would like to have a Striped Maple planted in a visible
location in/near Lincoln Park. Specific location to be specified. Congratulations to Nell
from members for all she has achieved at Lincoln Park, other endeavors in the
community and for her work on the Tree Committee.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jewel Kuljian
Next regular meeting: June 12, 2014, 7:30 AM at DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Room
125.