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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-13-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee Town of Lexington, Massachusetts 201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125 Minutes, Meeting of July 13, 2017 Attendees: Nancy Sofen, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, John Frey (Chairman), Karen Longeteig and Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden). Tom Shiple attended as a private citizen. Jim Wood and Jewel Kuljian had served notice in advance that they could not attend. Karen Longeteig took a turn as scribe. Meeting commenced t 7:35 a.m. 1. Approved June’s meeting minutes, as they had been sent out in advance. 2. Tree removal activity. Chris showed us an 18” stack of bylaw tree permit sheets, but there is light at the end of the tunnel – he is getting a volunteer to help put them in order. Some permits are on-line on the Town website now, in the Building Department site. https://www.lexingtonma.gov/building-department/pages/building-permit-activity. Further directions are: C lick on the box showing text: Access the View Permit Online Permitting System; then register (anyone can register). After selecting a permit, you'll be able to see Chris's tree permit form, plot plans, etc. (Thank you Gerry for bringing this URL to our attention.) 3. Tree Inventory: Chris said he is gathering a few more spec items and the RFP will go out in August. It will be funded under the $50,000 line item of “new money” in the Town Budget and will include the identification of hazard trees. 4. Tree Management Manual update: Anne presented a section of the manual including numerous regulatory references, and the sketch of setback limits. There was some disagreement about this sketch, and some confusion between town permitted building setbacks, and our more informal setbacks applying to “setback trees” that we will have planted on private property. It was resolved that John and Anne will revise language for the August meeting. Some suggestions were that it be clear that this is residential property, mention be made of commercial property’s different requirements, and that there be a definition of “property line.” 5. Spring 2017 planting: the suffering tree in question (a Tuliptree, not a Sassafras) has been put on the watering list. 6. Update: Selectmen’s annual Goal Setting. It was reported that our three goals submitted didn’t make it very far up the Selectmen’s selection of goals, but we are glad that we brought these items up, and perhaps they will get farther up the list in the future. 7. Tree losses, drought 2016: Chris reported that they had replaced many of these dead trees with this spring’s allotment. 8. Citizen and frequent walker and biker, Tom Shiple, reported that there are numerous dead trees and dead limbs overhanging the paved pedestrian path from the end of Clark Street to Merrett Road. This is a Town responsibility, although street tree care comes first. Chris and he will meet and walk the site and plan the action. 9. Policy on tree planting locations and best practices: the subcommittee met on June 28 and reported that one of their suggestions would be to meet, where possible, with neighboring town tree wardens. The whole committee approved, and Chris Filadoro will also attend when the press of business allows him. 10. Fall planting strategy. See #9 above. Also, Nancy later noted that fall tree planting was suspended in 2016 due to the extreme drought. The trees chosen for Fall 2015 were Fort McNair Horse Chestnut, Pin Oak, London Plane Tree, Yellowwood, American Sentry Linden, White Fringetree, and Purple Leaf Catalpa. We may not need to find setback sites this fall; if the Town plants enough trees in the East Lexington project (see #11), it may meet our goal. We also have 50 sites for setback requests on a waiting list from spring 2017; we may not have to advertise for more requests. 11. Sidewalk reconstruction Bow St to Fottler St.: Four Committee members had a useful site visit/walk with Erik Gitschier from Engineering. He said that he plans to construct continuous planting strips between the sidewalk and the street, and that his first obligation is to make a 5’ wide sidewalk, so planting strips may vary in width. Chris noted that he prefers a 4’ wide planting strip, not 3’, to favor tree growth. He also noted that strip maintenance is a problem, as abutters will often not maintain these strips and they go to unsightly weeds. The Committee may be able to help with publicity to encourage abutters to take responsibility for maintenance. Chris would therefore prefer that the spaces between tree pits be paved. It was agreed that the Committee and Chris need to identify tree planting sites by mid-September. We can identify tree sites and species and turn it over to Chris. Gerry suggests getting a full-size map from Engineering. 12. Tree species for new Mass Ave construction: Gerry looked at the Commonwealth’s revised plans online. The trees we advised against, such as Redbud, were removed from the plan. The tree species we advised were not always included. The new plans show Japanese Tree Lilacs and Zumi Cherries instead of the Silverbells and Prunus ‘Accolade’ that we recommended. We will let it lie at this point. Anne said there was new research that showed that Japanese Tree Lilacs might be invasive. She will research it further as soon as she can. 13. Preventing soil compaction after tree planting: this item postponed, as Jim Wood had that information gathered. Other: Joel has an active TABLET in his truck, which is synched with the work order system. The committee could not sufficiently express their joy that this is now happening. Adjourned 9:45 am. Next regular meeting: August 10, 7:30 a.m. at DPW.