HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-15-TREE-min
Lexington Tree Committee, Lexington, MA, Minutes of January 15, 2009
1. Attendance: John Frey, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Karen Longeteig, Jewel Kuljian, Jeanne Krieger,
Gerry Paul, Jim Wood. The meeting was called to order at 7:42 a.m.
Scribe: Karen Longeteig was appointed as scribe. The minutes of the December 4, 2008 meeting were
approved with two minor corrections.
2. Tree Warden’s Report: Dave Pinsonneault could not be present so he reported the following statistics
by an email to Chairman Frey:
(a) Tree City USA application has been submitted.
(b) Tree Bylaw statistics: 624 sites/481 closed, 775 trees to be removed/537 actually removed,
and 1862 trees to be planted/1177 planted.
3. Town Engineering Division Report: Dave Cannon from the Engineering Department visited the
meeting to ask for input on the Spring Street sidewalk project, and to answer questions about ‘protocols’
for making trees and sidewalks co-exist.
(a) Spring Street project: Mr. Cannon presented plans showing three alternatives for the sidewalk
placement on Spring Street, along with statistics showing how many existing trees would be impacted
under each plan. He judged Alternative #3 to have the least impact on trees and property, while best
serving pedestrians. He walked the site with Tree Warden Pinsonneault. Where trees may be impacted,
they will approach individual homeowners to try to resolve issues while saving the tree if possible. There
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will be public hearings on the Spring Street project on January 22 , Clarke School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
The Tree Committee voted unanimously to endorse Alternative 3 as the first priority.
(b) The Committee had prepared a long list of tree/sidewalk items to ask Mr. Cannon, but given
the time already spent, resolved to limit the questions to two: 1. Is there a policy of systematically paving
over tree pits where a tree has been removed? 2. Is there a possibility of re-opening sidewalk areas for
tree planting? Taking the items together, Mr. Cannon said there was no policy of paving over; it was on a
case-by-case basis. Others having input on a site might be the Highway Department , Water Department,
etc. as well as the Tree Warden. However, after a long hiatus the Town now has a new head Engineer,
John Livsey, who has just come on the job but who can be expected to address such questions in a
systematic way. He agreed that discussion of options is necessary, especially in tree-deprived areas.
Jim and Gerry suggested that we could develop a plan for a whole street in East Lexington, including
retrofitting the closed-up sidewalk areas. A subcommittee was formed on the spot of Gerry, Jim, John &
Anne. They will meet on a date to be decided by email.
In answer to another question, Mr. Cannon said that his division has adopted the structural soil
system as a standard detail. It is cheaper than a coffered treeway, and is more of a self-sustaining,
natural system.
4. Tree Nursery:
a. John reported that the response to the Town Manager’s query about the nursery was sent out
with copies to all Tree Com members.
b. Jim reported that the species selection subcommittee had met and developed a draft list. He
searched for nursery sources amongst four nurseries: Baileys, Weston, Bigelow and Sylvan. Bare-root
trees are not a common item and Baileys has the most. Jim distributed a list of species and numbers of
each, totaling 220 trees. He will continue to look for sources; presumably some trees on the list will not
be found, and others will be pared down as necessary until we purchase about 130 trees for spring
planting.
5. Tree Budget Meetings:
Gerry has been meeting with the Town Manager and the Selectmen as they develop their budget.
He noted that, as of the last draft, tree planting was proposed for $14K (out of our request for $24K), as a
Program Improvement item. There is still a gap of $2.3 million in the Town budget. Gerry got enough
signatures to put a warrant article on the Town Meeting. The Committee’s sense was that the $14K was
acceptable, but if we get nothing we will go to the floor of the Town Meeting. Jeanne noted that the $14K
represents the income that was generated from the tree removal permits. The Committee thanked Gerry
for his time and trouble in presenting our case to the Selectmen.
6. Tree Manual: The subcommittee of John, Karen, Anne & Nell reported that the revised manual is
nearly ready for publication. The selling price of $5.00 will continue. Dave P. is trying to get the
necessary permission to use our printer of choice instead of the town-designated printer. The Manual will
go to the Selectmen for review and approval before it is printed; Jeanne said we should ask Lynne Pease
how she suggests it be printed for the Selectmen’s meeting.
7. Friends of Trees: We have asked two new people to try out the FoT Board.
8. Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for Bittersweet removal: Gerry said that recent CPA
projects have indicated to him that Bittersweet removal might be cast as preserving trees on conservation
and recreation land. The Tree Com was receptive to this idea and several members will pursue it further.
9. Belfry Hill: The first phase of Norway Maple removal was completed on December 9 and 30. Anne
reports that it makes a visible difference; the Town Green is now visible from the Hill. Two hundred small
and 31 large Norway Maples were removed by Matt Foti. Permission to poison the stumps with herbicide
to prevent re-sprouting will need to be addressed in the spring. Dave P. should pursue this.
10. Winter Moth, and response to citizen email: The Tree Com does not agree with Mr. Tom Todd’s
premise that trees in Lexington are at great risk of dying from Winter Moth this year. John will draft a
reply to the letter indicating that we are monitoring the situation.
11. Website: Karen has received new pictures of our activities from Anne and will update the website
this month.
12. Buckman Tavern Walnut Tree: Following on the Garden Club’s letter of March 2008, requesting that
the walnut tree growing in the back of the Buckman Tavern be removed, the Tree Committee has
received a similar request from the Lexington Historical Society. While the Tree Com disagrees with their
premise that the tree compromises the roof of the Tavern (it has been pruned up considerably), we refer
the matter to Dave P who was to ask an arborist to examine it. Nell recommended that the arborist
evaluate the canopy of all the trees around the Buckman, including the very large Linden and Tuliptrees
in front. A minority opinion was that since the Society and Club have responsibility to manage the
building, they should be allowed to take the Walnut down, as it is also a problematic tree in other
respects.
13. Arbor Day Tree Location: It was agreed that this should be in the general vicinity of the Buckman
Tavern grounds where the Sugar Maple was taken down this year. Tree Com members and Dave P
need to walk the area in March and choose a site. There was no objection to this being a Sugar Maple,
even knowing that this species is one of the hosts for the Asian Long-Horned Beetle that has infested
Worcester areas.
14. DEM (Eric Seaborn) request for Lexington info to add to state clearing house: Karen already sent
him our website address. Eric is also talking about a Forestry Management Plan. Anne thinks we can
take our present Tree Management Manual information and re-cast it into Eric’s blank form.
15. Committee Photo and Annual Report: these have been submitted.
18. Asian Long-Horned Beetle: Jim will draft a flyer with photo about the A L-H B to send to Jeanne for
inclusion in town mailings. The Tree Com felt it was important that citizens know what to look for.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Longeteig, Scribe