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Home My WebLink About2025-03-13-TREE-min Lexington Tree Commi?ee Minutes 3.13.25 1. Mee?ng called to order at 7:32 AM. 2. Present: Gerry Paul, Nancy Sofen, Barbara Tarrh, Gavin Grant, Charlie Wyman, guest, Charles Hornig, guest, Mark Connor, co-chair, Pat Moyer, co-chair and minutes, Alicia Morris, Rachel Summers, David Pinsonneault, head of DPW 3. We were uncertain about approving last month’s minutes, and did not. Pat will discuss with Nancy. 4. Discussion with Dave: a. 250 Trees. Uptake by the community has been robust, most claimed over last 2 weeks, except for 22/25 oaks. We decided to wait to see if more oaks claimed; but Dave and group did not favor increasing number of trees; rather if we use the oaks for another ini?a?ve, Dave oﬀered to replace their number with other sapling species the commi?ee speciﬁes. b. Nancy agreed to be repository for wait list, rather than asking Jonas to add to jo?orm. c. Dave reiterated that he would order fencing, tags, bamboo stakes for our giveaway; and ensure 6 yards of wood chips and 250 bags would be available for residents picking up their trees. Nancy reminded us and Dave of need for the supplies to be available several weeks ahead of ?me so she and LHS’ers can cut fencing to size. d. Dave outlined who will go where on May 10 when the na?ve plant sale will also be occurring at the DPW. e. Dave will be in touch this coming week with Barbara and Gavin re planning the locales for the 70 trees to be planted by DPW this spring. f. Mi?ga?on not yet evident at 21 Crescent, which got a temporary COO over a year ago. The Tree Bylaw speciﬁes that mi?ga?on must take “no later than 12 months a?er comple?on of the construc?on work” g. We broached the idea of using jo?orm with Chris/Forestry as a way to communicate commi?ee/resident/business requests for trees. Dave agreed to hear about it from Jonas. h. Nancy noted that from the 2 tree permits granted this year that she reviewed, both are following new bylaw requirements. There are other permits pending. i. Miyawaki forest: Rachel considering installing one in Lincoln Park. Dave advised she needed to clear with Recrea?on Commi?ee. j. Pat will communicate relevant info from above to Jonas (director of communica?ons). 5. Further discussion of Tree Sapling giveaway. Nancy will keep wai?ng list. Pat will ask Jonas to send a reminder/conﬁrma?on a week or so before the ﬁrst distribu?on. 6. Gavin plans to expand the ﬁ?h grade gradua?on/tree giveaway to a second school (Bowman as well as Harrington) this year. Discussion of hope for one gallon pot-sized trees, which seems to be ok with Dave to order. Species not yet discussed. Gavin to communicate number of grads and species to Dave. 7. Le? unclear was what the Field and Garden Club, and we, might together want for other tree giveaways (last year 500 very small trees ordered from Mass Arborist Assn by Dave.). Maybe need for fewer? 8. Rachel men?oned walking with Dave in the larger parking lot behind shops on the north side of Mass Ave. He men?oned removing asphalt from a few spots and plan?ng Miyawaki forests there. Rachel will not pursue this year, but is interested. 9. Tree hearing re Cedar St sidewalk 3/28 8 AM. Several of us will a?end. There are 2 large trees, including a 41 inch oak, we’d love to save somehow. Nancywill reach out to a concerned North St/Adams St resident to invite her par?cipa?on. 10. Nancy reported from Planning Board mee?ngs. The Planning Board voted to recommend to Special Town Mee?ng passage of Ar?cle 2, which seeks to decrease the acreage devoted to by-right construc?on of housing in town and to exclude the Center as one of those areas. The compromise decreases 227 acres to 90 acres, excluding land already under planning, and excludes the town center as a by right area. It also speciﬁes that the area of each development occupied by housing be under 28% of its total area. She also reported that 3 4 5 Mili?a Dr. proposal: that the Planning Board will not waive the tree bylaw due to the size of the project and planned removal of hazardous trees in the ROW. In addi?on the 7 Hartwell developer wants to remove 6/13 trees in the ROW. 11. Nancy reported for the construc?on of new LHS focus groups Site Safety and Security, and Sustainability. She approves of the landscape architect Mike Dowhan’s desire to preserve the knoll of trees west of the current ﬁeldhouse, which will be enlarged. She reiterated our desire to help choose tree species in the ﬁnal landscape plan, and notes that Mike welcomes our feedback. 12. Charlie Wyman reminded us of the upcoming talk by Basil Camu, next Thursday 3/20 at 7:30. 13. We have two applicants for associate membership. Pat will invite them to the next TC mee?ng. Mark and Pat will interview Ben, and Pat and Alicia, Jon. Pat will plead for an extension of the deadline to communicate our choice to the Select Board. 14. The Sustainability Fair will take place at LHS on Saturday, 3/22, 10 AM-2 PM. Nancy will “woman” our table 10-12, Gerry 11-12, Barbara 11-1, Pat 12-2, Alicia 1-2. Pat will bring our materials. 15. Rachel brought up our perennial desire to alter our bylaw to require a permit from the Town to cut down any tree in town (ie including those on private property). The permit would not stop residents from cu?ng, but no?fy the town (and this commi?ee) of such ac?ons and provide an opportunity for us to educate homeowners. Similarly, currently a permit to build does not stop anyone from building—just serves to keep the town involved. Members of the commi?ee reﬂected and advised on how to proceed with such a plan. Rachel oﬀered to lead such an eﬀort with par?cipa?on from Barbara and Gerry 16. We were reminded that zoom has an AI func?on which could take minutes. Pat will explore. 17. We adjourned at 9:27 AM. Sincerely recorded, Pat Moyer, co-chair. 18.