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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-10-TREE-min A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on March 10, 2016, 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), Jewel Kuljian, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Jim Wood Members Absent: Karen Longeteig, Suzie Barry (Selectman Liaison) The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe: The minutes of the meeting of February 11, 2016, were approved. 2.Bylaw tree removal applications and activity: Chris Filadoro presented a report of all sites for the months of 9/2015 through 1/2016, showing number of trees removed, inches removed, inches to be replanted and trees to be replanted. Gerry Paul agreed to work with Chris to organize a report into periodic aggregate figures. 3. Trees for Spring 2016 planting, bare root and B&B: Jim Wood reported that the following selection of 70 trees are available for planting this spring following the subcommittee recommendation. Schichtel Nursery can provide bare root 20 Ostyra virginiana, 10 Platanus x aceriflolia ‘Bloodgood’, 10 Tilia americana ‘American Sentry’, 10 Quercus palustris and 10 Quercus rubra. Wagon Wheel Nursery can provide 10 B&B Cornus alternifolia. 4. Plan for finishing the Town Tree Inventory: Chris Filadoro reported that he had put out five requests for quotations (RFQ) for the Lexington Tree Inventory precincts 7, 8 & 9, due back in mid March. These were sent to Bartlett Tree Services, Lexington Lawn Care, K&R Landscapes, Rines ArborWorks and Stony Brook Landscape. 5. Center Streetscape Design Review Ad Hoc Committee: John Frey and Gerry Paul agreed to be the two Tree Committee representatives proposed to the Board of Selectmen to serve on the Center Streetscape Design Review Ad Hoc Committee. The Selectmen will choose one of the two. 6. 2016 Arbor Day Celebration: Jane Beswick joined the meeting as representative of 2016 Arbor Day committee from the Lexington Field & Garden Club. A proposed site was chosen in Lincoln Park along Lincoln St. Susie Barry, Selectman will emcee the event. Matt Foti will donate a tree. The Lexington Field & Garden Club will organize and host the event on April 29, 2016. 7. Warrant articles number 32 & 33: Warrant article 32; the Selectmen requested that ‘large canopy trees’ be listed. It was decided to create a new table, which refers to canopy trees in the Tree Management Manual IV, which is currently under revision. Warrant article 33; the Selectmen postponed the article indefinitely. The Tree Committee decided that articles 32 and 33 should be combined into one article with two parts. The Committee will get advice from Lexington’s town councel on this issue. Ginna Johnson, Planning Board Residential Policy Ad-hoc Committee gave a statement to the Tree Committee expressing her disappointment that Warrant articles 32 and 33 had been withdrawn. 8. Tree Committee Web Page Revisions: Nancy Sofen reported that she had sent revisions to Kathy Santos, Town of Lexington Webmaster. Revisions that she sent have not been seen. Nancy will follow up, including the set back tree article. 9. Commemorative Tree Plaques: Old and new plaques need attention as the trees are growing around the some of the plaques. John Frey, Jim Wood, Gerry Paul and Nancy Sofen will make a report about the extent of this problem and remediation. 10. DCR Urban Forestry Grants. No action. 11.Farmers Market Site: Protecting Trees From Root Damage : Tree Committee discussed how to protect trees from root damage due to vehicle parking around the trunks and under trees during the farmers market. Gerry Paul will contact Cathy Severance in the Town Manager’s office and ask to be part of the farmers market planning committee. 12. Mass Ave reconstruction in East Lexington: No report. 13. Failed Beech tree on Hancock St: Chris Filadoro reported that the maintenance errors in the Beech tree at Hancock Street have existed for over four years. He gave a history of interactions with the homeowner/ contractor and efforts to remediate this problem. However there is still soil piled up too high on trunk of this large attractive but failing tree. 14. Beech Tree at the Visitor Center: Chris Filadoro stated that the beech tree at the Visitor Center would be removed this spring. The condition of the beech tree is not in question; it is a hazard. It will be removed by in-house staff. The disposal of the wood; trunk and stump has not been determined. There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectfully submitted, Anne Senning, Scribe Next regular meeting: April 14, 7:30 a.m. at Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125