HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-13-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee Minutes of October 13, 2022
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 AM via ZOOM
Attendees: Tree Committee Gerry Paul (Chair), James Wood, Pat Moyer,
Gloria Bloom, Barbara Tarrh, Mark Conner, Nancy Sofen, Joe Pato
(Selectboard Liaison), Dave Pinsonneault (DPW Director); Guests: Dan Miller,
Richard Reibstein.
1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the meeting minutes of September
15, 2022 were approved.
Forestry Department
2. Spring Planting List-Dave P said he would provide the list tomorrow.
Dave P. also said that there will not be a fall planting this year because
money was needed from the Tree Fund to cover the $140K planting plan for
the areas where 24 of the 37 white pine trees were removed. Dave
committed to provide financial reports for the Tree Fund and Forestry
Department. When asked about tennis court construction he said this
would not harm or interfere with the tree planting project.
3. Tree Inventory Status. Dave indicated that there were still some things to
work out before the inventory was made available to the public.
4. Tree Canopy Assessment Report – Dave said it was difficult to connect
with the UVM but expected to meet with them in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
5. Removal of public shade tree at 149 Adams-Tree Company called Tree
Warden who agreed the tree was a hazard tree and gave permission to
take it down.
6. Article 33 Implementation- IT Status. The implementation should be
ready in two weeks, some changes in program-final review underway.
Then the Tree Committee could review and sometime after that a
meeting would be scheduled with developers.
7. Solution to the problem of developers removing trees after permit is
issued (additional tree removal fee is now lost). This was discussed last
May. Dave will look into it and report back.
Items 8, 9,10 and 11 relate to collection of monies owed to the Town
because of irregularities in enforcement of the Tree Bylaw. The DPW has
been made aware of these irregularities over the past year.
8. Open Sites - Collection of monies owed by developers due to mistakes in
permits issued by the DPW
9. Open Sites - - Collection of monies owed by developers due to mistakes
in permits issued by the DPW
10. Closed Sites - - Collection of monies owed by developers due to
mistakes in permits issued by the DPW
11. Was there follow up 19 Locke Lane, 198 Bedford St, 82 Spring St.
Dave P. said he send something by tomorrow on items 8, 9, 10, and 11.
12. How can we understand the controls on fees/mitigation payments?
Dave explained that mitigation payments were delivered to the DPW where
they were entered into the “cash control sheet”. He will provide us access
to the cash control sheet on request.
13.Commerative Tree Program is still active. Gerry will send Dave an
outstanding request from Priscilla Meriam so he can investigate.
Tree Committee items
14. 2023 ATM proposed articles were discussed and changes suggested
1.Change in look back from 1 to 3 years
2.Clarification of process for the removal of Town Trees
3.Added the language “in consultation with the Tree Committee”.
4. Add associate members to the Tree Committee as a pipeline for filling
Tree Committee membership positions. Could invite people from the public.
Consensus from the Tree Committee to move forward on these.
15. 2 Wheeler Road- not discussed
16. 18 Ingleside - plot plan does not reflect the number of trees removed
from the site.
Town Counsel says you cannot go back and collect additional funds after
permit has been issued.
It was suggested that Gerry Paul write a summary memo to Joe Pato and Jill
Hai on the various issues (see attached) that the Tree Committee has been
observing.
General discussion on this topic.
• Bar developers from building in Lexington after two plot plan
failures. Joe Pato will check with Town Counsel to see if this is
possible.
• Another suggestion, was to report to the licensing board the names
of surveyors who signed off on false plot plans.
• Nancy S. said she has noted high number of losses of young street
trees (2-3 years).
17. Issue tracking spread sheet - not discussed. Gerry sent the latest version
to all attendees.
Meeting closed at 9:15AM
Respectively submitted October 29, 2022,
Jim Wood