HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-11-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee
Meeting Minutes of May 11, 2023
7:30 am via ZOOM
Present: Members Gerry Paul (chair), Mark Connor (vice-chair), Gloria Bloom, Pat Moyer,
Barbara Tarrh, Nancy Sofen; Select Board Liaison Joe Pato; DPW Director Dave Pinsonneault,
Guests: Charles Hornig, Charlie Wyman
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 am.
1. Nancy Sofen was appointed scribe. Minutes of April 13 were approved. Gerry Paul
announced that he is stepping down as chair, effective immediately following this meeting.
Mark Connor will lead next month’s meeting as acting chair. Gerry will continue to look
into financial issues of bylaw enforcement and will present his findings.
2. Tree Committee/DPW Working Group:
a. The DPW feels there is good information in the overall numbers of the Tree Canopy
Report but agrees to drill down more and will request a proposal from UVM for more
detailed analysis of tree canopy data. Funding for this work would be available in early
FY25 (summer 2024).
b. The DPW would like to plant larger trees – 1½ -2” DBH – to make a faster impact on the
canopy. This size is small enough to establish well, though may need an extra year of
watering.
c. They will look into using watering bags for fall planting.
d. Matt Foti will move the elm at the Harrington Rd. triangle – they anticipate a 12’ root
ball.
e. DPW will keep an eye on an elm in Depot Square that tends to lose limbs in storms.
f. Dave P. is open to conversation about a bylaw change that would extend protected status
to trees in the front of any lot, whether or not under construction.
g. IT is targeting Monday, June 5 to go live with Tree Removal Permit on Open Gov
h. Chris is working with the vendor to finalize the Street Tree Inventory.
3. DPW report: Forestry staff began tracking the removal of hazardous public trees on May 1,
and Dave will report on May removals at our June meeting.
4. Discovery Day Saturday, May 27, 10am-3pm
a. Sharing a table with LexTrees.org
b. Pat to manage email coordination, Nancy will be at table
c. Bruce Neuman to transport tent & literature (from Gerry), table & chairs (Pat)
d. Have signup sheet for Tree Statement of Concern
5. The Committee voted to request that the Select Board ask our representatives in the State
Legislature to endorse the Municipal Reforestation Bill and the Public Shade Tree bill, both
currently under consideration. Charlie will draft a letter and Pat will finalize it.
6. The Committee voted to request that Joe remain as our liaison from the Select Board.
7. The Tree Statement of Concern has been endorsed by 24 organizations and has just shy of
1,000 signatures from residents. The group is in the process of finalizing its “ask” of the
Select Board, with a presentation planned for the May 22 SB meeting. Before that date
representatives will meet with DPW Director Dave Pinsonneault, Town Manager Jim
Malloy, Select Board member Joe Pato and perhaps some other members of the Select Board.
8. Permanent Building Committee liaison report: Some members of the Tree Statement of
Concern group met with Lisa Giersbach of the Permanent Building Committee. Lisa is a
relatively new member of the PBC and is a landcape architect; she will advocate for
integrating sustainable landscape practices and tree preservation into the early design stages
for Town projects. She recommends that the Tree Committee make specific formal asks of
the PBC, such as that the design team produce a strong tree protection specification. This
will be revisited at a future TC meeting.
9. Tree Committee chair succession was discussed. Those interested or who want to learn more
should call Gerry.
a. Gerry described the essential tasks of the position and the time typically spent each
month:
i. Develop an agenda for the upcoming meeting (~2 hours)
ii. Post the agenda to the town clerk within the required time, usually Friday
before the meeting.
iii. Run the meeting.
iv. Submit minutes to the town archive (~1 hour to review, correct, and include
attachments)
v. Send position letters as directed by the Committee
b. Desirable skills and characteristics of the chair:
i. Disciplined and organized (GP)
ii. Meeting skills (GP)
iii. Institutional knowledge and understanding of interrelated nature of town
government (BT)
iv. Have TC mission at heart (PM)
v. Be able to spearhead bylaw changes at Town Meeting (MC)
vi. Willingness to Look at Select Board packet and Planning agenda for items
that committee needs to be aware of (GP)
vii. Any of us capable of doing essential tasks and delegating those things that are
not their strengths to others (NS)
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 am. The next meeting will be held via Zoom at 7:30 am on
Thursday, June 8.