HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-10-TREE-min
Lexington Tree Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Hall Annex
Minutes, Meeting of December 10, 2015
Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig, Jim Wood, Anne Senning,
Nancy Sofen. Chris Filadoro (Superintendent of Public Grounds), Suzie Barry, Selectmen
Liaison. Absent: Jewel Kuljian. Karen Longeteig took her turn as scribe.
1. Minutes of the October 8 and the November 12 meetings were reviewed and approved with
minor amendments and one abstention.
2. No updates on tree removal numbers under the Bylaw. Activity: There was a tree hearing at
90-92 Grant Street attended by Chris, Gerry, John and Karen. Chris marked even dead
trees; others may be hazardous, so the appearance was that there were a lot of trees
marked. There was one objection. A compromise has been reached with the neighbor and
builder – however, the permit is still in process. Chris stated that the tree re-planting should
benefit the neighborhood, not other distant neighborhoods.
3. Lex Center Tree Planting: Chris reported that 7 or 8 trees were planted; 4 on the south side
and 4 on the north -- six elms and two lindens. Matt Foti Co. did the planting, much of it by
hand; old root balls were dug out.
4. Fall 2015 Tree Planting: Only ten or 11 trees are left unplanted as of date, out of 70
ordered. Foti planted 40 of them. Planting is continuing today 12/10/15, thanks to mild
December weather.
The hardest part of the planting is site selection and Dig Safe work. Chris said that the TC
members’ work make this possible. Jim returned the compliment to Chris and his crew.
Rick, the watering employee, has listed any newly planted trees which died, and most have
been replanted.
5. Status of bid for tree inventory: No final proposal has been received from David Rines;
Chris will call him. He needs a $ number or a “not to exceed”. He also needs two more bids
to put in a purchase order; as he has had difficulty getting tree companies to respond or bid,
he is allowed to note these instances as part of the three bids.
6. Mass Ave (between Percy and Bloomfield): Some stakes are in the ground marking sites.
Chris has met with homeowner who possesses ideal site for planting, but due to personal
conflicts, the homeowner would prefer to plant in the spring. Chris also looking at the
abutting house and the next building, which is a church. This topic has come up in an effort
to get trees planted in the area of the new sidewalk, as tree pits were inexplicably not
included in the construction of the sidewalk.
7. Trees removed at 11 Slocum Road: The trees were White Pines, and may have been in the
Right of Way and thus illegal takedowns.
8. WebPage revision: Nancy has made some progress and will continue to work on it. She
needs some linked documents in Word for Windows, as some old items need editing.
9. Commemorative Tree Plaque: The Dolberg commemorative tree is growing into its plaque,
which was attached with screws, and damaging it. Karen noted that a similar tree she cares
for has to have the screws loosened every year. Jim and Gerry volunteered to go see the
plaque and take care of it; if it is too badly damaged they will get a new one. Karen will ask
the vendor in Waltham who made the 300 th anniversary plaques if they make metal tree
plaques.
10. Protecting trees in Farmers’ Market lot: Various methods were discussed of protecting the
root zone of these trees from vendor parking. Fencing would be ugly, and we would have to
look at the fencing by itself for 6 days a week. Chris said he is arranging for better cultural
practices and tree care at that site: air-spading, the use of “Vertiquake”, which is a subsoil
decompacter using knives. The TC agreed that the Farmers’ Market is something the Town
wants, but that the heavy usage has consequences.
Other: a) Harrington Print Shop – Suzie Barry reported that the Print Shop can print our next
Tree Management Manual. They charge materials cost only, not labor. (Color is 15 cents more
per page). They need an electronic .pdf, and turnaround is relatively quick. Binding is not
spiral, but is glued (such as in Town Meeting’s “Brown Book”). Suzie recommended we get
three quotes before the next printing, but that the Print Shop could be one of them.
b. Jim has supplied information to Lynne Pease about the Marge Battin tree plaque, but hasn’t
heard a response yet.
c. Winter protection of Sourwoods on Meriam St: done.
d. Tree City USA application due 12/31. Chris said he’s aware and will submit it.
Other: Agenda item for January meeting: targeting the most prominent streets for additional
street and setback locations.
Other: Chris said they would take down the large European Beech (mostly dead) in front of the
Visitors’ Center, probably this winter.
Other: Chris and Suzie both felt that the “Recommended List” of canopy/noble trees would be
very helpful to builders. Suzie also asked the TC to hold an open meeting to inform them about
this new initiative.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Longeteig, Scribe pro tem
Next regular meeting: Thursday, January 14, 2016, 7:30 a.m. at the DPW