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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-09-TREE-min A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on March 9, 2017, 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125. A quorum of seven was present. Members Present: Chris Filadoro, (Public Grounds Superintendent, Tree Warden), John Frey (chair), Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Jim Wood. The meeting acted on the following items: Note: The paragraph numbers in Anne’s notes below reflect the order of items as they were discussed at the meeting. 1. Anne Senning was appointed as scribe: The minutes of the meeting of February 9, 2017 were approved. 2.8 Sherborn Road: Gerry Paul reported that following construction at 8 Sherborn Rd boulders were piled around the trunk of the one existing tree. Chris Filadoro will follow up. 3. Parking Under Town Trees within Root Zone: Gerry Paul raised a question as to whether the bylaw has a prohibition against parking under town trees within the root zone. There is no such prohibition in the bylaw. After discussion Chris Filadoro pointed out that it is more effective to call the police if one observes this infraction, than to place this in the town bylaw. 4. Tree Manual Report: John Frey and Anne Senning presented the introduction to the fourth edition of the Tree Management Manual, Titled “From the Editors”. The tree committee voted to approve this section of the fourth edition. 5. Town Tree Inventory Report: Chris Filadororeported that six contractors had placed bids to complete the town tree inventory for precincts seven, eight, and nine. Seeing that the Town will have allocated funds in the budget to complete an inventory for the full town using ISA risk assessment for hazard trees, the tree committee voted with 1 dissent to discontinue further tree inventory efforts to hire contractors. 6. Warrant Article for Tree Bylaw changes for 2018 Spring Town Meeting: Nancy Sofen updated the committee on plans for the tree bylaw warrant article. She is shepherding the tree by law through numerous public hearings before it goes to spring 2018 town meeting. 7. Dave Cannon revisit postponed: The meeting with Dave Cannon from the engineering department has been postponed. It will be rescheduled on an as-needed basis. 8. Scottish Rite Museum setback tree planting: Jim Wood secured an additional planting area adjacent to the Scottish Rite Museum at the Grey Nuns facility for 12 set back trees. The species for all 24 will be a mixture of scarlet oak, pin oak, sweet gum, and tupelo. 9.Arbor Day: The tree committee discussed numerous locations where an Arbor Day tree might be located without coming to a decision. Chris Filadoro will find a location. 10. Tree City Growth Award: Chris Filadoro reported that the town of Lexington DPW had applied for the tree city growth award. If successful this will allow the DPW to be awarded additional funds. 11. Spring 2017 Setback Planting: Jewel Kuljian reported on the publicity for the spring 2017 spring planting program. The plan is to plant 70 trees; 20 setback trees in front yards, 24 setback trees at the Scottish Rite Museum and Grey Nuns, 6 trees on Miriam Street leaving 20 trees for Chris Filadora to locate in public places in town. Jewel Kuljian, and Nancy Sofen with help from John Frey will run the setback program. Karen Longeteig will place some trees if possible. Anne Senning will make setback maps for those who wish. Continuation of notes/minutes of Tree Com meeting of 3/9/17 by Karen Longeteig: Note: The paragraph numbers in Karen’s notes refer to the item numbers of the Agenda for the meeting. 5. Approval of chart included in Town Meeting warrant article #37: an objection at the Planning Board presentation was that the chart does not have an upper limit. The committee approved the warrant “as is”. At the Town Meeting, any adjustment or ‘friendly amendment’ could be framed by Gerry or Karen (TM Members), with Nancy’s input. As for PR materials, the Committee’s preference was that all of Nancy’s documents (power point, the motion, and addenda) be available at the TMMA information session and on the foyer table outside of Battin Hall. 12: Arbor Day. Discussion resumed with Jane Beswick’s arrival. She noted that she, along with Ashley Rooney and Anne Lee (incoming Presidents of the Garden Club) will confer with Jordan McCarren of the Conservation Commission about combining proposals. We agreed that an Arbor Day tree should be planted elsewhere (not at Cotton Farm), a picture be taken and displayed at the Arbor Day ceremony which will be held at Cotton Farm on the Saturday April 29, not the Friday April 28. Jane will call Matt Foti to ask him to donate a tree to be planted, and Chris Filadoro will select the site. One suggestion was at Fletcher Park (site of Farmers’ Market), or in front of one of the Town office buildings. Nancy has made an attractive brochure about the setback program. The TC approved its printing and distribution to those attending Cotton Farm celebration, as well as to first graders along with their donated saplings. We estimate 600 first graders. Nancy will ask Chris to cover cost of printing. 11. Meriam Street. Jewel has a plan for the area, including moving and transplanting one Sourwood. The Committee asked Jewel to make all relevant decisions and work with Chris to make it happen. \[John wanted to clean up some of the “Other” items at bottom of agenda\] a.Marge Battin tree marker: Although Jim had mentioned this item orally to Selectmen, the Committee felt that a written request was warranted. Jim will draft an item for John, who will then send it to the Board of Selectmen. Salient facts are that other trees in area have commemorative plaques, and Marge’s tree does not. A matching plaque is about $600. b.Turning Mill: it was a request for information only; done; omit in future. c.Web Page: Postpone at least a month; warrant article work takes precedence. d.Google docs: “ “ e.Tree losses and damage in 2016: waiting for information from Forestry Department. Request that Chris request/remind his staff to work it up. Gerry suggested that “opening dates” be noted with each item, so we will be reminded to move things along. New ‘Other’: Karen reported that the Town of Provincetown, MA, has chosen to use the Lexington Tree Management Manual as a basis, in large part, for their own. A tailored Tree By-Law warrant, based on our, will go before their Town Meeting in April. Their leader, Margaret Murphy, telephoned Karen Longeteig on Tuesday to express appreciation and thanks, saying “You saved us three years of work.” Note 1: Ms. Murphy is aware of requirement to acknowledge the work of the artist, Bruce Walker, who did our line drawing illustrations. Note 2: Ms. Murphy is also Chairman of the Board of Trees New York, a New York City 40-year old non-profit to benefit trees. Trees New York runs a training program on pruning for members of the public, who can thereafter be designated as “Citizen Pruners” and are then allowed to perform minor work on public street trees. There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectfully submitted, Anne Senning and Karen Longeteig, Scribes Next regular meeting: April 13, 7:30 a.m. at Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125