HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-12-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee Minutes
6.12.25
1.Meeting called to order at 7:31 AM. Present: Nancy Sofen, Pat Moyer (co-chair and minutes),
Gerry Paul, Gavin Grant, Barbara Tarrh, Ben Fein -Cole, Charles Hornig, Joe Pato (Select Board
rep), Kathleen Lenihan and Charlie Wyman, community guests. Absent: Mark Connor, Alicia
Morris.
2. Communication to and from Dave Pinsonneault, head of DPW—all via email. Dave's replies
italicized.
a. Discussion of adherence to revised bylaw -1 would like to meet with a small group of
the committee (2 - 3 people)to discuss.
b. Spring planting -The list is attached. (see appendix)
c. Should we do another 250 trees - We would be open to this for next year.
4. Rachel question on conflict of interest –Rachel will be doing some work for DPW this year.
5. Gavin -elementary school tree initiative - The trees have arrived and will be distributed.
8. UFMP coming up; what are the Tree Committee goals? -1 would like to meet with a
small group of the committee (2 - 3 people) to discuss.
3. Gavin presented information about the approximately 180 1 gallon pot trees to be handed
out at Harrington and Fiske fifth grade graduations. These were ordered, paid for, and taken to
the schools by the DPW. Species included swamp oak, redbud, dogwood and river birch.
Principals know to help children whose families live in apartments plan how to place their trees.
4. Rachel (see above) had a question whether her being hired to water new town plantings at
the new police station was a conflict of interest. Joe Pato and others clarified that if issues
regarding care of those plantings came up. (eg installing irrigation), she would need only to
recuse herself from voting on those issues.
5. Discovery Day was rainy but still effective. Nancy suggested this was to date our most
effective tool for reaching the variably informed Lexingtonian. Discussions with people about
arborists, the availability of Basil Camu's publication, benefits to the environment and
sustainability that our committee offers and that individuals can embark upon, information
about the setback planting program all felt useful.
6. Further reflections on repeating the 250 tree giveaway. We should try to be the only game in
town at the DPW—not overlapping eg with the wonderful LLL plant sale. Aim for late April.
7. Out of her own interest, Nancy recently went to all construction sites for which permits have
been pulled since 1.1.25. Her goal: to survey compliance with recently revised bylaw provisions.
About % of the sites received an "A", including one notoriously flagrant violating developer.
Common errors on the rest included:
a. no written confirmation from arborist that tree protections in place. (this part of the bylaw
aims to take a load off the TW)
b. no clear documentation on hazard trees in the setback (for which mitigation will not be
required
c. disagreement between arborist v. surveyor estimations of tree size.
d. protection fencing in place but too close to trunk.
8. Elaine Tung, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, contacted Pat with concerns about all the
trees on the Lowell St. site on which a 30+ unit set of apartments will be built. Concern was the
surveyor/arborist expense. It was suggested she call Nancy for a better understanding of the
bylaw requirements (not nearly as onerous as she thinks.)
9. Tree Committee Website Revision. Barbara and Nancy want to take this on. A meeting with
Julia Flood, communication specialist of the town, is planned for June 24, to get started.
10. Should we try to assemble pictures of some of the 250 trees? Encourage recipients to send?
No consensus on this; perhaps include some pictures of these on next year's 250 promo?
11.13arbara and Gavin reported on the spring panting. Wagon Wheel is planting. Many planted,
not all. However, plan is to be done with all 70 sites before end of June. WW will install stakes
as needed, and water. The use ofjotform to communicate between residents, us, and Forestry
(Joel/Chris) again desired, not taken up. Barbara and Gavin to continue discussion of this.
12. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Moyer, co chair
Appendix: from Dave Pinsonneault
Of old HT-PU F.Min q &-i i
Address
Number of
Species
Trees
22 Suzanne
1
Honey locust 'Shademaster'
4 Burroughs
1
Aesculus x carnea
7 Dover Ln (in Island)
1
Aesculus x carnea
306 Woburn st
1
Tulip
(Countryside Island)
42.44922 N, 71.19985 W
20 Hancock st
1
Malus'Prairifire'
Bridge School (Path by fields)
2
Gleditsia 'Shademaster'
42.4388 N, 71.24411 W
Talia Americana 'Frontyard'
Bridge School (by Backstop)
1
Gleditsia 'Shademaster'
42.43853 N, 71.24497 W
11 Douglas
1
Aesculus x carnea
Bow st @ Bike Path
3
2 -Tulip
(Park)
1- Aesculus x carnea (closer to
bike path)
Lincoln Field
7
1- Honey Locust
(Between front and rear
'Shademaster'
parking lot. Flags are labelled)
1- Nyssa Sylvatica
3 - Aesculus x carnea
1 -Tulip
1-Talia Americana
Marvin Park
2
1 -Tulip (Right corner)
1- Talia Americana 'frontyard'
Estabrook School
5
2- Aesculus x carnea
(4 are by parking lot on the
2- Honey locust
left. Flags are labeled)
1-Talia Americana
(1 is on the right by walking
(on right side on hill by path)
path/fields)Fina
Across from 241 Marrett rd.
1
Tulip
(Path leading down to
baseball fields)
Kinneens Park (on Burlington
1
Nyssa sylvatica
st)
Page Total: 28
11 Angier rd.
1
Talia Americana 'Frontyard'
Diamond School
1
Tulip
(near baseball field behind
backstop)
34 Shade st
1
Tulip
2 Hilltop Ave
1
Nyssa Sylvatica
(Left Side of House on Kendell
road side)
Park dr (Near Labb Entrance
1
Tulip
behind orange barriers)
201 Bedford st
1
Dogwood
Westview Cemetery
5
1 -Tulip (Main entrance, turn
left tree is on the left)
1 -Dogwood (Island)
1 -Dogwood (Left of building)
1-Malus 'Prairifire' (right of
Building)
1-Aesculus x carnea (far right
corner of cemetery near
bench)
Tower Park
1
Quercus rubra
Lexington Community Center
1
Cercis canadensis
(on hill near building)
Munroe Cemetery
2
1-Malus'Prairifire'
(go straight into cemetery as
1- Nyssa Sylvatica
far as you then turn left,
location will be on your right)
Robbins Cemetery
1
Malus'Prairifire'
(left of 447 Mass Ave)
8 Park st.
1
Cercis canadensis
Rindge Park
1
Cersis canadensis
Page Total: 18
Address
Number of
Trees
Species
24 Coolidge ave
1
Malus'Prairifire'
18 Cary ave
1
Malus prairifire
2 Muster court (side closer to
East st)
1
Talia Americana 'Frontyard'
6 Muster court
1
Dogwood
Adams at East
42.46041 N, 71.22113 W
1
Talia Americana 'Frontyard'
19 Seaborn PI
(side yard)
1
Dogwood
4 Maureen rd.
1
Talia Americana 'Frontyard'
755 Mass ave
1
Nyssa sylvatica
763 Mass Ave
1
Nyssa sylvatica
8 Ross rd
1
Malus'prairifire'
87 School st
2
Malus'prairifire'
26 Butler
1
Malus Prairifire'
17 Pearl st
1
Dogwood
40 Wood st
1
Nyssa sylvatica
10 Bernard
1
Malus'Prairifire'
7 Adams
2
- Flowering Dogwood (front
yard)
- Malus'Prairifire' (backyard
off of Juniper place)
2 Grey Oaks circle.
(Left Side yard, Tree is on
Lincoln st)
1
Talia Americana ' Frontayrd'
19 Childs
1
Tulip
2001 Mass Ave
(Left Side of building)
2
Malus'Prairifire'
195 Burlington st
2
Malus'Prairifire'
5 Munroe rd.
2
Cercis Canadensis
Page Total: 26