HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-10-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125
Minutes, Meeting of November 10, 2011
Attendees: John Frey (Chairman), Gerry Paul, Anne Senning, Jewel Kuljian, and Nell Walker.
David Pinsonneault (Tree Warden), Chris Filadoro, (Superintendent of Public Grounds), and Jane
Beswick (Friends of Trees) also attended. Absent: Karen Longeteig, Jim Wood, Deb Mauger
(Selectman's liaison). Gerry Paul took his turn as scribe.
1. Minutes of the October 13th meeting were approved as amended.
2. Tree Warden's agenda items: David Pinson neault/Chris Filadoro
10/29/11 Storm Report: 600 calls; trees and limbs down across town. DPW working on
streets first, remaining areas later.
a) Tree removal activity under the Bylaw since 10- 01 -01: 778 sites /684 closed; 2358 trees
to be planted /1746 planted; 971 trees to be removed /836 removed. Fees levied for removal
of trees, and collected under regulation of 8 -4 -08, are $38,060 (from 3806 DBH inches of
trees removed).
b) Contractor compliance with Tree bylaw: Dave reported that he had begun discussion with
the Building Inspector on notification when occupancy permits are granted he and Chris are
working on the spread sheet on which Tree Removal Applications are tracked and how to
give it visibility.
Dave will provide his proposed plan at next month's meeting.
Chris has been trying to contact Jason Brickman, the builder at
31 Vinebrook Road to discuss planting of only 3 trees as opposed to 5.
15 Slocum Road to discuss unapproved removal of trees. Chris estimates
that approximately $2000 is required in fees (in addition to $1280 for
approved removals) and that approximately 30 additional trees will have to
be planted as mitigation (in addition to 21 initially required).
c) Nursery: Anne's report of storm damage is as follows:
"I made an assessment of the Tree nursery Monday morning 10/31/11 and did
emergency pruning on damaged trees. The nursery sustained relatively little damage.
Seven trees were injured and corrected; mostly broken limbs or severed leaders. I think
one of the trees may not survive, but I have left that decision to the collective wisdom of
the late winter group of pruners.
The Ulmus parvifolias, both Frontier (3) and Emer II (8) have been bent and in some
instances twisted by the storm's wind."
d) Storm damage to newly planted street trees: Anne reported that 6 of the 16 trees planted
as street trees in the last month were damaged and may be dead. Matt Foti will
remove any dead trees and replant with nursery trees (primarily Ostrya virginiana).
e) Jewel reported that all setback trees to be planted this fall have been planted and she is
now visiting sites in preparation for spring setback planting.
Chris will have setback trees planted this fall mulched (Cost should be less than $100).
f) All street trees to be planted this fall have been cleared for Dig -Safe® including the Jim
Barry Memorial tree.
g) Chris reported that he will be submitting a "program improvement request" for two
seasonal employees for the next town budget).
3. Center Streetscape Presentation
Maryann McCall - Taylor and John Livsey presented plans for partial redesign of Lexington Center
streets and sidewalks to be done in 2014. The focus was on the north side of Mass. Ave where
the sidewalk will be reconstructed. After discussion, the Tree Committee passed the following
motion:
"The Tree Committee strongly recommends the use of structural soil (or improved equivalent) as
the sidewalk subsurface material in order to:
Provide more overall healthy growth of the trees.
Ensure that trees grow to a height which does not obscure business store fronts and signage
Prevent sidewalk damage from tree roots
Provide a better tree canopy
as is the case on the south side of Mass. Avenue."
The Tree Committee is not opposed to removal of the trees currently planted on the north side of
Mass. Avenue in the Center, where many of the trees have experienced stunted growth, as long
as structural soil or equivalent is used to plant the new trees.
Respectfully submitted,
Gerry Paul
Next regular meeting: December 8th, 2011 7:30 a.m. at DPW