The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2009-10-08-TREE-min Page 1 of 4 Donna Hooper From: JWFrey2@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 3:05 PM To: Donna Hooper; archives Cc: Carl Valente; Lynne Pease; JWFrey2@aol.com Subject: Tree Committee Minutes for 10/08/09 and 11/12/09 Attachments: TreeMINUTES091008.doc; TreeMINUTES091112.doc Pasted below and attached as Microsoft Word documents are the approved Tree Committee minutes for 10/08/09 and 11/12/09. John Frey, Chairman, Lexington Tree Committee _____________________________________________________________________________________ Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of Oct. 8, 2009 Members Present: John Frey, Chair; Jeanne Krieger, Selectman liaison; David Pinsonneault, Supt.of Public Grounds.. Members: Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longeteig, Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Susan Solomon, Nell Walker. Guests: Keith Ohmart, CLC; Alexandra Kahn, Barb Kent, Friends of Trees 1. Nell Walker appointed scribe. The minutes of Sept.10, 2009 were approved as corrected. 2. Tree Warden’s report: Re: mitigation section of Bylaw, Dave wants to strengthen the language with a few changes at the Spring Town meeting. The new edition of the Tree Manual was accepted by the Selectmen and will be on the web. Check with L. Pease regarding size of typography. a. Bylaw tree removal applications and activity: Total calls:656 Total closed; 537 Total to plant: 1969 Total planted: 1284 Total to remove: 810 Total removed: 629 Total inches removed: 1,351 Fees collected: $ 13,510 since 8/4/08 b., h.,i, Tree inventory: Anne reports no DCR grants available now, but will try in the spring. Inventory to date has completed 6 precincts, with volunteers working on #8 at present. c. Fall street tree planting: 25 scheduled to be planted soon with limited forestry staff. Species are Oaks, Magnolia and Sweetgum. d. Sylvan Nurseries has a Garden Club funded tree (Oxydendrum) ready to be picked up. and then planted in Emery Park. An as yet unspecified species supplied by Matt Foti is due to be planted at 1557 Mass. (white house). . e. The off-berm planting contract has been looked over by Bill Lahey. He sees it as OK in concept, but needs a commitment clarification such as a minimum five years by homeowner. 12/29/2009 Page 2 of 4 f. The first transplants from the 3 yr. old Tree Nursery occurred when two Homestead Elms were planted off-berm on East St., as reported in the Minuteman 10/8/09. Next spring many trees will be ready to be transplanted from the Nursery. g. Commemorative Trees: Two applicants have requested memorial trees, Ms.Haus and the Mandel family. Dave P. will give Jane Beswick pertinent information as to exact text and species of the new plantings. This info may be put on 3” x 5” plaques. Other detailed info should be inserted into the special volume held at the Reference desk, Cary Library. h. Regarding auto injuries involving trees, the DPW is not involved in the process of insurance claims. A procedure is in place to supply new trees. 3. The Committee approved a meeting date change from 12/10 to Dec. 3. 5. Promotion of native species list: Keith Ohmart, CLC reports that: the Planning Board is already fully behind the CLC proposal on landscape standards for Hartwell Ave. Jeanne Krieger suggests expanding this policy in future dealings with development projects in the Town. Other agencies to include in discussion: Karen Mullins, Conservation Commission, Mary Ann Taylor of the Planning Dept., Building Division (brochure?), Design Advisory Committee. School Committee, Board of Appeals and Dick Canale (Planning Committee with Beale and Patriot Partners deliberations coming up in November). 6. Action postponed - Tree Nursery landscape fabric. 7. Battle Green Master Plan: 3 Committee members met with Jim Wood on Green 9/17. Items observed and discussed included whether certain trees should remain or be removed, whether there should be a double row or single row of trees along Bedford Street and how those trees might help define and reinforce the major open greensward, whether mulch should be added around mature trees, and other topics. Further discussion was postponed to the next regular meeting. 8. Belfry Hill weeding project scheduled for 8:15 Oct.15. Thanks to Garden Club for publicity regarding volunteers. 9. Worcester Forestry Forum report: Foresters were invited from around the state to get training on how to deal with ALHB recognition and control. $4,500,000 in stimulus funds through USDA. Beetle threatens the survival of the sub-Arctic forest. 10. The website has been updated and has distinctive tree information, w/ 3 inquiries. 11. Friends of Trees: A CPA grant (deadline 11/1/09) is being sought for Invasive Species control of the Bittersweet vine. The plan is to use a prominent place that has easy access for control work. The Minuteman Bikepath, a linear park, has hideous infestations. Plan is to start at the Bikepath in the Town center and go to the Bedford St. 12. The Garden Club, spurred by the loss of an Arbor Day tree (Liriodendron 2004 @ Visitors’ Center near Meriam St.) now has a complete list of Arbor Day plantings. The Tree 12/29/2009 Page 3 of 4 Committee voted unanimously to replace the tree. A letter from John Frey will be sent to the families of the honorees (Burdine and Gschwendtner). Next Meeting is 7:30 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009 at Samuel Hadley PSB, 201 Bedford St. ___________________________________________________________________ Lexington Tree Committee Minutes-November 12, 2009 Members Present-John Frey, Chairman, Jeanne Krieger, Selectmen Liaison, David Pinsonneault, Tree Warden. Members-Jewel Kuljian, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, Jim Wood, Friends of Trees, Jane Beswick, Guest, Keith Ohmart, Emeritus member, Sue Solomon. 1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe. The minutes of October 8, 2009 were approved as corrected. 2. Tree Wardens report: 2.1Bylaw tree removal applications and activity: Total calls:660 Total Closed:539 Total to Plant:1982 Total planted: 1295 Total to remove:821 Total removed:637 Total inches removed:1478 Fees collected:$14,780 The total inches removed and fees collected are from 8/4/08. 2.2Anne Senning reported that 6 of 9 precincts have been completed. In Addition a summary of the Tree Inventory data to date was presented and provided to John Frey for our records. Further, the State of Massachusetts has no money for grants on the horizon. 2.3 a. Status of Fall 2009 planting: Jewel Kuljian, reported that the LF&GC planted sourwood at Emery Park. Dave Pinsonneault said that 18 trees have been planted and 8 more are scheduled to be planted. Matt Foti will plant a tree where the Zelkova died at the “White House” 1557 Mass Ave; funded by Matt Foti and the remainder of funds from the 2007 LF&GC grant. 2.3b.Off Berm Planting Contract with Homeowners: Dave Pinsonneault said the Concept is approved and the Towns attorney is drafting the appropriate contract language. A five year maintenance requirement by the homeowner is required. 2.4CPA funds for Tree Preservation i.e., Bittersweet removal: The project is on hold and will be submitted next year. 2.5Future Tree Committee Meetings-The Tree Committee established that Future Meetings would be held at the new DPW building, in room 125, at 7:30 AM. 2.6Native Species List- Dave Pinsonneault commented that the list was good in that it eliminated invasive species but was concerned that if used as an absolute list would be restrictive. Other members of the committee agreed with this comment. Keith Ohmart presented the feedback of the Design Advisory Committee. Note that the Native Species List was developed as a Ad Hoc Collaboration by members of :Conservation Commission, The Tree Committee, Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC), Design Advisory Commission (DAC). Motivation for the list development is to require commercial developers, and the Town of Lexington in our replanting efforts to plant from an approved Native Species List. 2.7 Commemorative Trees-Sandra Mayo is interested in planting two more trees in Lincoln Park. 3.Tree Committee Photo-Photo will be taken on Thursday, Dec 3 at 9:30AM. 4.Tree Nursery-Members of the Tree Committee and Friends of Trees completed the Landscape cloth installation on Nov 17, 2009 at the Tree Nursery. 12/29/2009 Page 4 of 4 5.Battle Green Master Plan-Jim Wood presented the “Draft”Battle Green Master Plan to the Tree Committee and went over the rationale for the comments and conclusions . The next step is for the Tree Committee to approve/revise the plan and forward to the Selectmen, with a courtesy copy to Dawn McKenna. 6.Belfry Hill Tree Restoration Project-Anne Senning wrote and presented the report to the Community Preservation Committee, for inclusion in their report and to the Tree Committee on Nov 12,2009. 7.Web site update-No action pending Karen Longeteig input 8.Friends of Trees (Distinctive Tree Project)-No action pending Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig inputs. Attachments: 1.Native Species List 2.Keith Ohmart notes from Tree Committee Meeting 11/12/09(Subject Native Species List) 3.Lexington Tree Inventory 2004-2009( Summary report-one page) 4.Belfry Hill Tree Restoration Project report. Respectfully submitted, James C. Wood, Jr. 12/29/2009