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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-12-TREE-min Town of Lexington Lexington Tree Committee Minutes February 12, 2015 A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on February 12, 2015, 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125. A quorum of six was present. Members Present: Chris Filadoro, (Public Grounds Superintendent, Tree Warden), John Frey (chair), Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Jim Wood. Members Absent: Jewel Kuljian, Peter Kelley (Selectman Liaison). The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe: The minutes of the meeting of January 8, 2015, were approved. 2.Selectmen approved appointment of Nancy Sofen as Tree Committee member: Nancy was welcomed. 3. Tree Warden items: Bylaw tree removal applications and activity: Report deferred. 4. Plan for finishing the Town Tree Inventory: Report deferred 5. Trees for Spring 2015 Planting: Review of Current List: Baileys has no product worth considering for 2015. Schichtel’s has a substantial list. Jim Wood will check with Dr. Nina Bassuk at Cornell University to see if she knows of any other sources for bare rootstock. Several Species were discussed from the Shemin list, among them Amelanchier x grandiflora‘Autumn Brilliance’, Quercus rubra, Quercus bicolor, Ulmus x ‘Accolade’ and Cladrastis kentuckea. Jim Wood will compile a list of species and email them to Tree Committee members for finalization in the next meeting. 6. Tree Management Manual: John Frey and Anne Senning are working to up date the Tree Management Manual at the request of Dave Pinsonneault, Manager of Operations. The update is to include procedures for the removal and disposal of infected and/or diseased public and private trees. 7. a. Decision of proposed tree removal at 16/18/Homestead St: Postponed b. Draft of policy statement on requests for removal of Town trees for Committee review: Postponed. c. Concord Ave Tree Hearing, Friday 2/20/15, 8:00 a.m. at the corner of Barberry Rd and Concord Ave: Chris Filadoro reported that there will be a hearing on 78 trees on Concord Ave. Matt Foti has reviewed all 78 non-hazardous trees. Some of the issues discussed were the difficulty of currently evaluating any trees due to the high snow depth, the community concerns, referral of deputes to the Board of Selectmen and fair notice. 8. Proposed joint meeting with Center Committee 3/12/15 9:30, Parker Room, re trees on Mass Ave south side Lexington Center: Request to postpone meeting until snow pack diminishes and parking situation eases, possibly to 4/9/15. Committee decided that all green ashes should be removed, both because of their current infection with lilac borer and the presence of Emerald Ash borer in Massachusetts. They should be replaced with London plane Platanus × acerifolia, ‘Bloodgood’). The Silver linden, (Tilia tomentosa), ‘Bloodgood’, ( which has died should be replaced with another Silver linden, and all should receive regular watering during the 2015 growing season and future seasons as needed. “Gator” bags with routine maintenance were proposed. The current alternating pattern, should continue. 9.Thoughts of planting plan to evaluate/replace Beech Tree in front of the Visitors Center: Discussion postponed until snow level is reduced. 10. Follow up: Sidewalk replacement policy with respect to tree planting areas: Discussion postponed due to snow. 11. Selectmen action on tax-title lot 107 Laconia Street: No action. 12. 14 Gleason Rd: Chris Filadoro reported the builder is in non-compliance in numerous respects. The aspect that concerns the Tree Committee is that he piled construction dirt 5’ high on the trunk of a town tree. There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectfully submitted, Anne Senning, Scribe Next regular meeting: March 12, 7:30 a.m. at Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125