HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-14-TREE-min
Town of Lexington
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes
April 14, 2011
A meeting of the Lexington Tree Committee was held on April 14, 2011, 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Samuel
Hadley Public Services Bldg, Rm 125. A quorum of seven was present.
Members present: John Frey, (Chair), Jewel Kuljian, Karen Longteig, David Pinsonneault, (Operations
Manager), Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Nell Walker, James Wood. Also Jane Beswick, Friends of Trees and
Commemorative/Memorial Trees. Member Absent: Deborah Mauger, Selectman Liaison.
The meeting acted on the following items:
Nell Walker was appointed as scribe, and the minutes of March 10, 2011, were approved as corrected.
Tree Warden David Pinsonneault’s report:
2a.
There has been the following Tree removal applications and tree activity as of April14, 2011
Total calls: 742 Total closed: 641
Total to plant: 2263 Total planted: 1531
Total to remove: 939 Total removed: 767
Since 08/04/08, a total of 3211” in permitted tree diameter was removed and total $32,110 transferred to
the General Fund.
Tree Inventory:
2b. The inventory will most likely not use college interns this season. There
has
Been no word from the DCR at this time. We plan to continue the inventory of public trees using
Tree Committee Members and other volunteers.
The inventory will use a hand-held computer with a GIS database. Each eligible tree will be recorded
establishing: location, species, common and botanic name, date planted, accession number and also a FID
number.
Nursery:
2c. April23 is the big day for new trees. Preparation includes removing pipes and weed barrier
to allow new holes to be dug; finalize planting day guidelines for volunteers; trunk cones are particularly of
benefit to reduce trunk and bark wounds from animals; make tree tags with common and botanic name,
date planted in nursery and FID #. The final order shows ninety native species from Bailey’s Nursery:
Species Qty Price Total
Acer sac Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple PP11,119 Wh 6' 10 $18.55 $185.50
Carpinus caroliniana Blue Beech 5' 10 $23.90 $239.00
Cercis canadensis MN Strain Redbud 4' 10 $16.10 $161.00
Halesia carolina Silverbell 1" 10 $29.15 $291.50
Magnolia Moonglow® Sweet Bay PP12,065-white Ct #5 Cl 10 $29.25 $292.50
Platanus x acerifolia Bloodgood Planetree OR 6' 10 $18.30 $183.00
Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak 6' 10 $26.75 $267.50
Quercus rubra Northern Red Oak 5' 10 $22.50 $225.00
Ulmus americana Valley Forge American Elm OR LB 6' 10 $18.60 $186.00
TOTALS 90 $2,031.00
This new stock will spend three years in the nursery with each root ball in its special grow bag.
Volunteers
2d. : Planting day requires a number of volunteers, since there is a protocol of
guidelines to plant a bare root tree and many hands are needed. Three rows out of 20 will receive
final prep: (root pruning, Hydrogel root bath, check of correct i.d.tag and proper planting
Warrant Article 31: The Tree Bylaw
2e. Gerry Paul, who successfully guided the Bylaw
change through 2011 Town Meeting, described the campaign to have the Bylaw apply to all
development sites. He demonstrated how, when a lot goes up in size, the protection for trees goes
down.
Commemorative Trees program:
2f. 2 new Commemorative Trees are proposed in E.
Lexington. The honorees are Eugene Beauchemin and Jim Barry.
Rerun of Dave’s Tree Lecture
2g. : There was general agreement that Dave should give this
lecture on a date in May.
Grounds Superintendent interviews:
2h. There are 26 applicants for Tree Warden. John
Frey, as chair of the Tree Committee, is included in interviews. Time and room are to be selected.
124 Maple St. (teardown?):
2i. While selecting tree placements in suitable berm area along
heavily traveled Maple St., it was determined that the removal of a large tree(s)on the property
was OK with the Bylaw. Tree was considered a hazard.
Tree City USA award:
2j. Dave Pinsonneault will receive the award in Springfield on May18.
Town of Lexington has received this award 22 times. The Lexington Garden Club organizes a
parallel event - Arbor Day Celebration, scheduled for Friday, April 29 at Hastings Park. Matt Foti
will donate a special disease-resistant Elm on the Worthen Rd. side of the Park. The Tree City
award permits the Arbor Day ceremony, honoring deceased members of the LFandGC.
Off berm planting promo:
It was decided that the word “Berm” was confusing and hard to
define. Using “front yard” instead of “berm” seemed more inviting for the homeowner to
consider. Time pressures postponed further discussion.
4. Boston Tree Party:
John and Karen advised against participation as it duplicates our
efforts.
5. Friends of Trees:
See Agenda item #2f above. One Memorial Tree for Jim Barry, a long
time Town Meeting Member and one Commemorative Tree for Eugene Beauchemin in honor of
his many years serving the East Lexington Community Association.
There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded.
Respectfully submitted, Nell Walker, Scribe
Next regular meeting: May 12, 2011, 7:30 a.m., at Samuel Hadley
Public Services Bldg., Room 125