HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-15-TREE-min Minutes of the Lexington Tree Committee
Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125
3.15.18
Members Present. John Frey, chair, Gerry Paul, Jewel Kuljian, Pat Moyer (scribe),
James Wood, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen.
Guests. Suzie Barry, selectwoman, Dave Pinsonneault, DPW
Tree Planting Finances. Dave Pinsonneault explained that both the budgeted line
items for tree planting (Forestry Landscaping Maint and Forestry Landscape Supplies)
in the Forestry budget, and the Tree Mitigation Fund (TMF), are under DPW control, to
fund spring and fall planting. The TMF is mandated to be for tree planting, but Dave
stated that the TMF was never under the purview of the Tree Committee. The Selectmen
delegated that responsibility to the DPW. He stated that his guiding principle is to plant
trees that can be maintained and whose site nourishes the tree. The first planting of the
fiscal year is funded by Forestry budget, and the second uses TMF funds. Dave is
committed to spending $45,000 from the Forestry Budget on tree planting, and he
welcomes our input. Town Meeting has appropriated up to $45,000 to be spent on tree
planting or on special plantings from the TMF; actual amounts may vary depending on
how much the TMF accrues.
Dave expressed his willingness to work with with the Tree Committee about what trees
are planted where. He will provide us with planting locations and species for the
upcoming 2018 spring planting.
Dave related to us that in the third quarter of FY 2017, $24,000 was taken from the TMF
to fund snow removal in the town. This action was reviewed with the Selectman. Dave
stated that in the future, no funds will be taken from the TMF for other purposes.
Dave let us know that Davey Tree has been hired to do the town tree inventory starting in
May, 2018. This spring, they will do the first half of the project (which is all that is
currently funded). DPW will solicit funds for the second half of the inventory from
Town Meeting this year.
Gerry requested that the Town Annual Report catalog: 1) tree numbers and species
planted, 2)tree numbers removed, and 3) survival statistics for trees planted. Dave
committed to doing this.
The tree inventory will realistically be done by summer, 2019. It will come to us and to
Town Meeting, among others.
Sidewalks. Dave P. suggested we work with Erik Gitschier, Town Highway
Superintendent. We expressed our concerns about sidewalk width v. space for optimal
tree health. Width of sidewalks is on a case by case basis due to the inputs of many.
Minutes for February were approved as written.
Tree Management Manual. Anne passed out changes that she and John have worked
on. Previous manual (third edition) was published 2012. We are supposed to update
every three years. Page 34 was approved. Page 36 was tabled until Anne can clarify
Item 2. Page 38, VIII A 2, line 2 we remanded three back to six inches and otherwise
approved. Page 40 approved as amended. Page 43 approved up to IX.
Dense housing development was moved to a future meeting. We may want to propose
changes to the Tree Bylaw for 2019 Town Meeting.
Best Practices was felt to be our next best subject. We agreed that we need to synthesize
the results of the Committee's research, adopt what meets our needs, and then to meet
with Chris and/or Dave, before fall planting begins.
Possible agenda items: should we expand the tree committee? Should we have
landscape architects on the committee? What is our charge, and should it expand? (I
would also add—let's brainstormstrategies for best relationships and info sharing with
DPW, Tree Warden, and others.
Next meeting is April 12, Thursday, 7:30 AM, same location.
Respectfully submitted, Pat Moyer