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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.