HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-08-TREE-min
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes Of December 8, 2011 Meeting December 8, 2011
201 Bedford Street, Samuel Hadley Public Service Building, Room 125
Attendees: John Frey ,Chairman, Deb Mauger Selectman’s representative, Dave
Pinsonneault, Tree Warden, Chris Filadoro, Superintendent of Public Grounds, Anne
Senning, Jewel Kuljian, Nell Walker, Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig, Jim Wood and
Interested Citizen, Kathleen Lenihan
1. Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the minutes of November 10, 2011 were
approved as modified.
2. We established an additional meeting at 7:30 AM, on December 15, 2011, Thursday to
discuss how best to satisfy the tree removal/mitigation requirements of the Tree By-Law
given that not all Contractors/Homeowners meet initial agreements established with the
Tree Warden.
Dave Pinsonneault met with Garry Rhodes, Building Commissioner and established a
process where the Tree Warden will be included on the occupation permit sign off.
3. Tree Removal Activity under the Tree By-Law: Chris Filadoro will email this
information to John Frey and the rest of the Tree Committee for inclusion in the
Minutes.(686 closed, 1753 planted, 843 removed)
4. Chris F. said that the 45 tree Street Planting was completed last week. In addition 21
Setback trees have been planted. Further, he believes we should develop new tree
planting methods.
5. Dave P. said most of the Primary Storm Clean Up was completed but they were still
finding “hangers”. Nell W. noted a tree was down at Worthen Road and the paved start of
the bike path, blocking entry to the bike path. Dave P. said that citizens need to call
problems into the DPW rather than alternate places.
6. Karen L. asked how we will update the Inventory. Dave P. said that the DPW has put
in the budget for two seasonal employees to perform inventory and tree planting. This
budget has been presented to the Selectmen.
7. Annual Report: Dave P. and Chris F. will review John Frey’s draft. Deb M. noted that
committee reports are limited to 350 words.
8. N Star Pruning: Dave P. said the Massachusetts Tree Warden association was pushing
for a law revision to require Utility Companies to put in a pruning Plan for Towns to
approve. Its focus is to make N Star (Utilities) to achieve a more scheduled or regular
basis of pruning in Towns.
9. Underground power lines: Dave P. noted that underground lines are costly, difficult to
install and when they fail, it often takes weeks to fix.
10. Jim Barry’s memorial tree has been planted in Bow Street Park.
11. Agenda Item 2d: Will be discussed at the special meeting on December 15, 2011.
12. Item 2e: Jewel K. reported that 31 setback trees had been planted this year. 10 from
the Spring and 21 from the fall. She is starting work on the Spring 2012 setback planting
process.
13. Consulting Engineer did consider in the Concord Ave redesign how it would affect
the existing trees.
Dave Cannon, Assistant Town Engineer-Need to get his input on the status of replanting
on the corner of Oakland and Meriam Street.
14. Briefly discussed the bylaw, sequence of steps for Demolition & Building Permits to
insure identification of the total number of trees, diameter of trees, what is to be cut
down, and what trees are to be left. Partial agenda was discussed by Gerry P.
15. Nursery: Anne S. noted 76 trees from 2010 have been tagged, 81 trees from 2011
need FID numbers added. In addition we need to verify where the 45 trees just planted
were actually planted.
Established Nursery work day, Dec 9, 2011 at 9AM to put back the plastic weed barrier
disrupted by tree removal and other tasks as needed on the work day.
16. Tree Planting Selection for 2012: Selected Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9AM at
DPW room125. Anne S. suggested candidate streets Simonds,Concord Ave., Meriam at
blocked off area of parking lot., Winthrop Rd. East St. and Grant St.
17. Jim W. brought up the need for new planting guidelines.
For example: only two years in an in ground bag, potentially direct bare root planting,
larger in ground bags, Nursery might focus on specialty trees, and clarification of the
planting role of the Tree Committee and Volunteers.
18. Karen Longeteig suggested we pose questions to Town Meeting and Selectmen
candidates:
Draft questions: 1. What additional Tree related initiatives should the Town take?, and
2. Should the Town of Lexington restore the two positions cut from the
Tree department, bringing it back to 6 positions?
19. Street Scape- The Tree Committee felt it was very important that persons involved in
Street Scape planning understand that Tree Ways and Structural soil would allow for
optimum tree survival.
20. Gerry P. quoted from a summary conclusion by Rory A. Cooper, authority on
sidewalk surfaces, that the clay paver surfaces “yielded results that were similar to the
poured concrete sidewalk and should be considered acceptable as a pedestrian access
route for wheelchair users”
21. Karen L. noted that the Tree Committee Web site has been updated with new
information on the Winter Moth.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Wood
Next meeting: Special meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 9AM to discuss
Nursery Tree Selection for 2012.