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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.