HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-12-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee
October 12, 2017 Meeting Minutes
Members Present: John Frey (Chair), Anne Senning, Jewel Kuljian, Jim Woods, Nancy
Sofen, Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden).
Guest: Erik Gitschier(Highway Superintendent)
• Nancy Sofen acted as scribe. The minutes of the September 14,
2017 meeting were edited to state
"7. Forestry budget/spending. Nancy and Gerry reported on a meeting with Dave
Pinsonneault on Aug. 21 to discuss the budget and actual spending for tree
planting and care of trees.
Gerry presented a chart of the Forestry Division and Tree Mitigation Fund budget
and spending from FY2014 to FY2017. Money is budgeted for the Forestry
Division for tree planting and maintenance of 130 trees each year as approved by
Spring Town Meeting in 2014.
From FY 2015 to 2017, the Forestry Division contract services and overall budget
was significantly underspent with the underspent money transferred to the snow
removal budget; the Tree Mitigation Fund money was essentially spent to the
limit allowed. Dave committed the following:
-to contracting in the fall for tree planting/maintenance for both the fall and
spring to encumber funds so as to avoid any of these funds being transferred
to the snow removal budget.
-that no money would be spent out of the Mitigation Fund without approval by
the Tree Committee."
Chris Filadoro displayed Lexington's first Tree City USA Growth Award, for 2016.
• Tree Inventory. Chris reports that a RFQ was sent to Judy
Baldasaro, Dave Pinsonneault and Mark Valenti for their approval, after which it
will be sent out, next week.
• Tree Bylaw Removal Applications and Activity. Data on Tree
Bylaw removal activity is attached. When asked by John whether Chris had
visited 48 Summit Road recently, where a large house is being built, Chris said he
had not. The plan may have been approved earlier, or been signed off on in the
office. He will check into whether permission was given for tree removals.
Chris has not yet finalized information for builders on the changes to the Tree Bylaw.
He has only enforced a couple of removals of large trees since the change took effect.
The higher fee has gotten little pushback because the fees are still cheaper than
replanting.
• Tree Management Manual Update. Anne and John presented
figure 14, which defines the setback area for the tree-planting program. Bruce
Walker will re-create the drawing for printing. Figure 14 was approved after
removing the words "tree bylaw" from the title, and is attached to these minutes.
It will be placed between the pages currently numbered 23 and 25, between or
next to sections C and F of public tree planting sections.
The committee decided that it is not necessary to include the full text of the general
law governing setback areas.
Approval was voted to include, inside the front cover, a dedication to Nell Walker
(attached to these minutes.)
Chris will print an addendum with the new bylaw to put in the 3rd edition of the
manual. Anne will send him the text.
• Fall tree planting. Chris has sent out 2 RFQs — one to supply bare-
root trees (Schicktel, Site 1, Foti) and one for planting (Foti and 2 others), and
will finalize decision tomorrow. Goal is to have all sites identified by first week
in November. Digsafe requests are to go to Chris. We have red oak and London
plane trees available for setback plantings. Nancy will email the map of E.
Lexington planting sites to Chris for staking.
• Update on East Lexington Mass. Ave. sidewalk project. In
response to concerns raised by Gerry Paul, Erik Gitschier explained why paved
area of sidewalks on northeast side of Mass. Ave. seem wider than the 5'
required by the Town. Erik explained that the town owns only 8�/z feet from the
curb, so the widest planting strips are 3�/z feet. Where the sidewalk appears wider
than 5', the pavement is extending onto private property, at the owners' request.
Arlex owner Jack Maloney requested that the planting strip in front of his
business and the adjacent 2-family home be paved over to facilitate snow removal
using large equipment, and the Town Manager approved this request. Mr.
Maloney will plant a tree in the front yard of the 2-family house. It was suggested
that the Tree Warden/Tree Committee (which??) reach out about planting on
Arlex property,perhaps proposing that the Town plant these trees as setback trees.
Anne voiced concern about narrow planting strips. Chris says that he advocated for
48" minimum planting strips but that the town will not budge on a 5' minimum width
sidewalk. Chris does report that he sees physical damage to adjacent trees when
sidewalks are less than 5' wide.
Erik will ensure that the contractors follow the plan and that they correct any mistakes
that they make.
• Jim presented samples of plastic tree grates that can be filled with
soil, grass or gravel, can be driven on and are wheelchair-compliant. Chris feels
that it's a great product to spread load, for new construction or to provide
emergency vehicle access on grassy areas. But it limits cultural practices such as
deep tine aeration. Jim will schedule a time for he, Jewel and Chris to meet to
find specific areas to experiment with their use.
• Web site. Nancy has taken no action.
• Chris will replace the dead striped maple in Nell's grove.
• Draft of Tree Committee report for town Annual Report. No
action taken.
• Lincoln Park Granite Forest request. John had a conversation with
David Williams, and the projected cost is more than $110,000. The Town has
funded $30,000 from the CPC, and they anticipate needing $60,000 more. Out of
respect for Nell Walker's commitment to Lincoln Park, the committee voted
unanimously to furnish from the Tree Fund two trees for the Lincoln Park Granit
Forest grove.
• Grove Street development. The loss of trees from this one
development is more than we would plant in 9 years. The Tree Bylaw stands
silent on developments, and the TC should consider amending the bylaw to cover
dense housing developments. There need to be multiple groups at the table:
traffic, trees, schools,planning. Chris notes that this developer did a nice job
replanting in another development.