HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-02-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125
Minutes, Meeting of August 2, 2018
Attendees: Gerry Paul (Acting Chairmen), John Frey, Jim Wood, Pat Moyer, Anne Senning,
Nancy Sofen, Dave Pinsonneault, Suzie Barry and Chris Filadoro (Tree Warden)
1. Gerry Paul took his turn as scribe.
2. Dave Pinsonneault and Chris Filadoro provided the following information concerning the
Emerald Ash Borer in Lexington
• An EAB infected tree was found on private property.
• To address the concern of further infestation, the DPW has developed the following plan
of action:
o Based on the current in-process tree inventory which is 80% complete, there are
375 ash trees in the right-of-way of which 115 are dead. It is not known if any of
the dead trees are dead because of EAB.
o These trees, and additional Ash trees identified, will be reviewed by DPW staff. If
the tree is healthy and deemed worth saving, the tree will be injected with TREE-
age insecticide. The treatment is effective for 2 years. Other ash trees will be
removed if they present a hazard. Those that do not present a hazard (e.g. in
isolated areas in conservation land) will be left.
o A drop-off area at the Hartwell recycling site has been set up. Wood dropped off
there will be ground down to kill EAB larvae. Private citizens as well as Town
staff can drop off infected wood there.
o A Town-wide mailing will be sent with brochures explaining EAB. The
brochures will also be available at highly frequented locations (e.g. Library, Town
Office Building, etc.)
• The Forestry Budget will be used for these activities. Because of budget and staffing
concerns, the recommendation is to not go forward with the fall 2018 spring planting.
Normal planting would resume in the spring of 2019. A one-time budget increase will be
proposed for FY 2020 to replace removed Ash trees.
• Jim Wood said:
o That it was not fair to ask the DPW to absorb the costs out of its operating budget
for a special unforeseen need. It should be handled in the same manner as School
special situations and Town extraordinary snowplowing are handled -- that an
article should be placed before Town Meeting at our October 2018 Town Meeting
to fund the Emerald Ash Borer initiative.
o That a bylaw should be enacted providing for a penalty of 1 to 5 thousand dollars
for moving EAB infested wood out of Town or in Town to a Location other that
the Hartwell processing site.
o That doubling the 2019 Spring Planting to 140 trees to compensate for the lack of
2018 fall planting should be considered.
• Progress on the DPW activities listed above and funding issues will be discussed at up-
coming Selectmen's meetings.
Next regular meeting: August 9, 2018, 7:30 a.m. at DPW