HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-20-TREE-min Minutes of Tree Committee Meeting
June 20, 2019, 7:30AM
DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Room 125
Lexington, MA 02420
Attending: G. Paul (Chair),Anne Senning, Gloria Bloom,James Wood, Nancy Sofen, Pat Moyer
Select Board Liaison: Mark Sandeen,Tree Warden, Chris Filardero, Gary Larson, Landscape Architect
The numbering sequence tracks the Agenda for the meeting. A number not covered means the
Agenda item was not covered.
1. Jim Wood was appointed as scribe and the minutes were approved as modified.
Tree Warden Updates
2. Bylaw Tree Removal applications and activity will be sent out by Chris Filadoro after the
meeting.
3. EAB Update: More than 15 trees will be treated using$2000.00 of product TREE-age.
4. Spring planting for 2019 was completed a couple of weeks ago. 73 trees were planted.
We transplanted a White Fringe tree from the Farmers Market area to the Lincoln Park,
and planted a Sweet Gum in its place at the Farmers Market.
5. Inventory Status and Tree Keeper Demonstration:Davey Resource Group says that a 2 meter
accuracy or less is what can be achieved. Davey has a process to achieve this.
Chris Filadoro demonstrated the Tree Keeper Program(cost is about a $2000.00 per year).
When you click on a tree all the information that has been inputted regarding that tree
comes up.lnputs will come from the Forestry Staff and the Davey Resources Group.
6. Chris Filadoro will provide a list of the remaining (outstanding) setback tree requests.
7. The DPW Tree Planting Policy is still being generated.
8. Chris will discuss with Mike Cronin the amount of tree at DBH planted vs. removed at Public
Facilities.This discussion will include the Visitors Center and schools in his discussion.
(Where and when?)
9. Working with Sustainable Lexington: It was noted that Mark Sandeen was the founder of
Sustainable Lexington. Sustainable Lexington is considering priorities for the Sustainable Action
Plan, and the Tree Committee was asked to contribute recommendations for topics to be included.
A general discussion took place where various topics were noted and included here.
9.1 Canopy Survey
9.2 Fix Natural Gas leaks in Lexington(we have over 200)
9.3 Salem, MA is getting State money to develop a sustainable plan
9.4 Lexington DPW should buy a gas leak detector
9.5 Increase the number of trees planted in Lexington, focusing on large shade trees where
possible
9.6 Use the Lexington Town Information Process to inform the residents on the benefits of trees
and tree canopy.
9.7 Jim Wood had brought a Tree Manual Bylaw change to discuss (agenda item 12) but it was
suggested It be discussed here.
Purpose:That a new Tree Bylaw be introduced for the Fall 2019 Lexington Town that
requires the Town of Lexington, as a minimum maintain the existing tree canopy, a
canopy increase GOAL(to be defined) over the next 10 years.
Background: Small towns are limited in how they can significantly contribute to
alleviating Climate Change. Maintaining or improving their tree canopy is one way to
make a significant improvement.
10.Tree Management Manual Update:The Tree Committee complimented Anne Senning for her
excellent work and requested that the fonts in the update be uniform.
With that change the Tree Committee voted to approve the Manual Update.
13.Mass Bill H 853 Alternative Energy incentives-Mark Sandeen requested that we support an
amendment to remove biomass heating.This turns out to be a 'jobs bill"for Western Mass that would
result in the reduction of Mass State Tree Canopy. Professor Moomaw, Emeritus Professor Tufts
University has written extensively about CO2 capture as a function of tree diameter as it ages.The
improvements as a function of tree diameter are dramatic, suggesting that larger trees need the most
protection because of their value to CO2 sequestration.
16. Visitors Center Landscape Plan: Gary Larson reviewed with the Tree Committee the Visitors Center
landscape plan. Landscaping is scheduled for completion by May 2020. Gerry Paul commented we would
hope to see this type of plan earlier in the process.This was a 1 and %year project and the landscape
architect was brought on board at the start. Gary Larson said that changes could still be made to the
plan as long as they were modest.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Wood
Next regular meeting:July 18, 2019 7:30AM at DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Rm 125