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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-16-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts 201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125 Minutes of February, 16, 2017 Meeting Attendees: John Frey(Chairman), Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longeteig,.Gerry Paul,Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, James Wood, Chris Filadoro(Tree Warden). Jewel Kuljian acted as scribe for Anne Senning. 1. Minutes of the January 12th meeting were reviewed and approved.. 2. By-law Tree removal applications and activity: Chris to update this information. 3. Tree Management Manual Update. Decision to review this at a later time. The up- dated Tree Manual has to be approved by Selectmen prior to Town Meeting. 4. Chris reported on the 24 trees from the Fall 2016 tree planting. Trees were planted on irrigated town land, primarily at Lincoln Park. 5. Warrant articles for Tree Bylaw changes for Spring 2017 Town Meeting. CLC candi- date question. The warrant article was submitted to the Selectmen. The Tree Committee had already voted on the terms for a proposed bylaw amendment and today’s discussion re-opened that to consider new options. The Tree Committee moved to accept items 1,2,3, and 4 but not 5. The REPLACEMENT TABLE remains the same. Nancy has a question about D. Can the page numbers be changed? There also may be some changes to number 3. The Tree Committee gives Nancy the right to make small changes. See attached: AMEND GENERAL BYLAWS - TREES. 6. Latest on the tree inventory. Can ISA risk assessment for be used for David Rines’ work? No answer today. 7. Approval of removal of pavement squares for Spring tree planting on Mass Ave. be- tween Bloomfield and Percy? No answer to date. 8. Dave Cannon’s Visit at 8:30 am regarding the Pleasant Street sidewalk, Bedford Street crosswalk tree removals. Sidewalk easements on private property to avoid tree removal? Dave Cannon arrived early with maps to share the status of the above projects including, sidewalks, drain work, and trees to be removed and/or up for evalua- tion. Bartlett Tree is the evaluator on this project(formerly belonged to Matt Foti). Pleasant Street: There will be a new sidewalk and grass strip. In some places the grass strip is very narrow. It was suggested that setback trees be used in some sections across from Wilson Farm. Specific large trees were discussed with a request made to attempt to save as many of the large trees as possible, discussing several with Dave. There is a budget to replant trees for this area and Dave will come back to the Tree The Tree Committee would like to see Committee to consult about this situation. some big Oak trees planted when others have to come down . There is also drain work to be done all along this side of the street at the same time. Also near the driveway up to the Wilson Farm parking lot on this side of the street there is a large drain in the roadway that needs changing and this will be a large project to take place at a later time, possibly the following year. Further down Watertown Street at the juncture of Concord Avenue there will be a crosswalk installed and trees at this The Tree Committee would like to loca- tion could be impacted and/or evaluated. have as many of these large trees saved as possible . Regarding another location at Eldred Street/Bedford Street there is approval to install a crosswalk with overhead lights . A sidewalk on both sides of the street is proposed. The owner of the restaurant across from Eldred Street has agreed to have several setback trees planted inside the sidewalk.Town Meeting will need to approve this particular project. 9. Scottish Rite Museum setback planting along Mass. Ave. Nancy and Jim reported about the twelve trees that are scheduled to be planted this spring after consultation/ agreement with the staff at the National Heritage Museum. They will be planted among the existing large Maple trees at this site. The twelve trees to be planted include Pin Oak, Scarlet Oak, Sweetgum, and Black Gum Tupelo. Two beautiful visual views of the tree site and visual effect were presented. 10. Propose tree species for Spring 2017 Tree planting. After conversation with the owner of Schichtel Nursery about the importance of planting right away; Jim pointed out that incoming trees should be planted within two days of delivery. He proposed that the planting be done by a contractor. This will be discussed with Chris. Jewel has reviewed the 2017 list of the bareroot trees available from Schichtel’s Nurs- ery. The following are suggested for consideration: Redbud, Yellowwood, Serviceberry ‘Lustre’, Tulip Tree, Sweetgum, Catalpa speciosa, Ginkgo ‘magyar’, Oystra virginiana and Red Oak. The number and final choices need to be determined. 11. Spring Tree Planting at Meriam Street. Jewel presented options for the Meriam Street site and suggests ordering six trees (all available at Schichtel’s Nursery) to re- place the remaining two Sourwood trees at this site. Four Prunus ‘Accolade’ trees in the center section that are drought and salt tolerant. To the right and left of the entrance a total of two trees(one for each side), Cotinus ‘Grace’, a hybrid combining Cotinus oba- vatus/Cotinus coggygria. Other possible items: Not discussed. Next regularly scheduled meeting: March, 9, 2017, 7:30 AM at DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Room 125.