HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-13-TREE-min
Lexington Tree Commi?ee Minutes 2.13.25
Present: Pat Moyer, Mark Conner, Gerry Paul, Nancy Sofen, Gavin Grant, Rachel Summers, Alicia
Morris, Joe Pato.
1. The mee?ng was called to order at 7:33am via the applica?on Zoom. A quorum was
present.
2. Minutes of the 1/9/25 and1/28/25 mee?ngs were approved.
3. Dave Pinsonneault was not present and sent responses to ques?ons via email.
a. A mee?ng about spring plan?ng will be set up in the next 2 weeks.
b. DPW has heard nothing from UVM and will issue an RFP for another canopy
survey a?er Patriot’s Day.
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c. The 250 tree giveaway pickup will be held May3 and May 10, 8-11AM on the
front lawn. The DPW will order tags, lawn bags, fencing and bamboo stakes, and
will provide a load of wood chips. Pat to ask that fencing (and tags?) be ordered
in advance so that fencing can be cut to size, and tags prepared.
d. 21 Crescent has had a temporary CO for a year now. Dave to provide update.
e. Follow-up mee?ng re: large shade tree list will be scheduled a?er Patriot’s Day.
f. Rachel to meet with Dave, Conserva?on today re: pocket forest.
g. Fine to use Jo?orm as a way we could give you input on possible sites for trees.
Pat to nail down clearer answer.
4. Ross Morrow has offered to host a walk to look at trees that are slated for removal for
the new Cedar Street sidewalk. Many (smaller, or Norway maples) are not of major
concern, but there is a 41” oak in the ROW at 48 Cedar that should be saved if its
condi?on warrants (described in the inventory as a swamp white oak in fair condi?on).
Pat will respond to Ross that several members are interested in walking the project area
before the Feb 28 tree hearing. A larger discussion of how to preserve or re-cons?tute
tree canopy during sidewalk projects included
a. Can the default posi?on of the Engineering Dept. be to ask homeowners to allow
an easement on their property for the sidewalk to go around large trees?
b. Can incen?ves be given to homeowners for easements?
c. What are alterna?ves that the town is willing to consider? (narrowing sidewalk
width, narrowing street width, changing paving materials near tree)
d. What happens at the nearby u?lity pole?
e. Does the project include new tree plan?ng, on private property if necessary?
5. Pocket Forests. Former tree nursery may be available, but Rachel thinks Lincoln Park is
preferable because it’s more public. Mee?ng with Dave and Conserva?on Commissioner
later today. She will talk to Recrea?on Dept.
6. Pat met with LHS Envirothon representa?ves. Their focus this year is trees & climate.
Pat will create a sign up for these willing volunteers for the pocket forest plan?ng and
250 tree giveaway pickup.
7. Jonas Miller and Julia Flood (town IT) have landing page and Jo?orm sign-up form for
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the 250 tree give-away nearly ready. Comments and edits for the landing page should
go to Julia by end of day.
8. Spring plan?ng. Pat will talk to Dave about using Jo?orm for residents’ setback or street
tree requests. If he is willing, TC agrees that as soon as tree species & number are
confirmed we should ask Jonas to set that up and we will start promo?ng the program.
Other poten?al loca?ons for plan?ng:
a. The Liber?es, Bedford St. – Nancy approached property manager Tom Wood,
who will ask the condo board
b. Masons near Ba?le Green – Nancy to ask Jim Wood for contact there.
c. Elks on Waltham St.
d. Police Sta?on / Fletcher Park? May wait for solar panels and outcome of ci?zens
ar?cle asking for playground
9. Planning Board has been receiving many applica?ons (deadline March 17 when ATM
votes on zoning amendment) for defini?ve subdivisions, which freeze zoning for 8 years
for any later applica?on. Public Hearing for Ar?cle 2, ci?zens ar?cle to scale back MBTA
Communi?es Act zoning, a?ended by 290 people. The town has hired a consultant to
project the number of units that may be built, and the financial and service impacts of
that growth.
10. Other business.
a. Gerry pointed out that in earlier versions of the bylaw the Tree Commi?ee had
spending authority from the Tree Fund and on loca?on consulta?on for public
tree plan?ng.
b. Discussion of what ac?vi?es have the highest value. We want and need to put
our efforts into educa?on outreach. We can leverage Jonas Miller to bring the
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Tree Commi?ee into the 21 century. What does the town expect of us?
c. We will have a table at the Sustainability Fair on March 22. Details to be
discussed next mee?ng. Rachel also will have a table promo?ng pocket forests.
11. The mee?ng adjourned at 9:10am.
Respec?ully submi?ed,
Nancy Sofen