HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-12-TREE-min Lexington Tree Committee
Minutes
201 Bedford St.
9/12/19 7:30 AM
Present: Gerry Paul (chair), Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Gloria Bloom, Jim Wood,
Mark Sandeen (Selectmen Liaison), Pat Moyer (scribe); Absent: Chris Filadoro (Tree
Warden), Jewel Kuljian
Minutes: of July 18, 2019 were read and accepted as amended.
Tree Warden Update: Via email, Chris let us know that now 6 ash trees have been
injected for EAB. He is working on a list of requests and planting for the setback tree
planting program.
The Committee requested that Chris provide a monthly update of town EAB work, bylaw
activity, and status of requests and trees planted in the setback program --preferably
electronically to save paper.
Tree Canopy Assessment Update: Nancy and Gerry reported that Dave Pinsonneault
indicated that he will submit a program improvement request for funds for a tree canopy
assessment in the budget request for next year. We would also like this assessment to
include information about the rate of change in the town canopy.
Citizen Engagement: we discussed ways to involve the community in supporting a
stronger tree bylaw to help preserve trees, especially large trees, in the face of ongoing
private construction, disease, damage etc. Ideas raised included Minuteman letters,
widespread attendance at Town Meeting, ditto at a Selectman's meeting, or holding a
hearing open to all, explaining the bylaw, finding out what people support in terms of
change, and then crafting a bylaw amendment. Mark pointed out that there are two
potential constituencies preservationists, and people who are concerned about
neighborhoods and loss of character.
We suggested that we find out what would incentivize builders to keep large trees.
Tree Bylaw: Jim Wood wishes to draft a portion of a new bylaw to be introduced at
spring Town Meeting to maintain the tree canopy, specifically by preserving large trees,
which are geometrically more effective at removing CO2 from the atmosphere than small
ones. The committee agreed that we support town policies that maintain or enlarge our
tree canopy. We did not yet agree to a new bylaw or an interaction with Town Meeting.
Best Practices: Nancy and Gerry have met and reviewed the committee's document on
Best Practices with Dave Pinsonneault. This meeting engendered productive revision of
the document. Two items requiring information from Dave about industry standards on
planting locations are awaiting Dave's input. The document was tabled pending this
input. We agreed we needed to integrate the upcoming Tree Manual with the final Best
Practices document. It was the sense of the group that the Best Practices should live
somewhere within the upcoming edition of the Tree Manual. A motion was proposed
and passed that a subcommittee, consisting of Anne and Nancy, look at areas in the Tree
Manual and in the Best Practices document which do not agree, and find a way to make
them consistent.
Tree Manual Update: Anne Senning presented updates to the Tree Manual on the
following: acknowledgements, preface, title page, ALB policy. Minor corrections were
made and the documents were accepted.
Membership: Jim Wood will renew his membership. Jewel Kuljian will be resigning as
of the end of this month. We are searching for a seventh member.
We concluded at 9:30 AM.
Pat Moyer, scribe