HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-15-TREE-minDecember 31, 2011 Draft 2
Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of Special Meeting, December 15, 2011 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 or fail to
make a timely application for a tree removal permit.
Attendees: Deb Mauger, Selectman's Liaison,John Frey, Chairman, Karen Longeteig, Chris
Filadoro, Superintendent of Public Grounds, Gerry Paul, Nell Walker, Jim Wood
• Jim Wood volunteered to take the meeting minutes.
• Deb Mauger offered to chair the meeting and John Frey concurred.
• We started by defining what is perceived as a problem(s)
• Large trees are cut down, due to trees becoming Hazard trees, and
Demolition Permits requiring mitigation per our By -Law.
• Some Builders /Homeowners do not follow, or adhere to the
agreements reached with the Tree Warden or fail to make a timely application for
a tree removal permit. How do we tighten up the process?
• Gerry Paul suggested the following agenda items:
4.1 Visability: Front End - permit -Copy of Surveyor Prepared and Signed off Tree Site
plan to Town Hall(Building Commissioners file)
Back End - Occupancy permit -As noted in the previous meeting by Dave
Pinsonneault, he is working with Garry Rhodes, Building Commissioner, to have the Tree
Warden sign off on the Occupancy permit as of February 2012. Jim Wood said that Garry
Rhodes noted in a previous meeting with Paul /Wood that the Occupancy Permit requirements are
established by State Statute.
Removals (by Town of Lexington) open
4.2 Process: Short term
Site Plans
Mitigation exceptions
4.3 Problem Sites: 31 Vinebrook, 15 Slocum, 2 Braemore, 2 Frost
4.4 By -Law Changes
5. Discussion and Action items identified:
5.1 Chris Filadoro suggested the Tree Committee establish a single point of contact to
take issues to the Tree Warden. Gerry Paul volunteered to be the single point of contact and the
tree committee agreed.
5.2 Chris Filadoro said he would re- examine 31 Vinebrook's Tree Permit compliance.
The Permit allowed removal of 3 Setback trees, 2 hazard trees and 10 trees not covered. He
noted that he adds Hazard trees to the bottom of the Tree Permit form now. This is part of the
working agreement with the contractor /builder.
5.3 Chris Filadoro noted that the required Surveyor signed off tree plans are maintained in
the Tree Wardens office. It was recommended that two sets of the Surveyor signed off tree plans
(this plan identifies all trees over 6 inches in diameter) be prepared, one to be maintained at the
Tree Wardens office and one in the Building Commissioners permit file.
Chris agreed to provide a section of the spreadsheet with which sites are tracked each by email to
the Tree Committee members.
Deb Mauger volunteered to contact Garry Rhodes to request that two copies of the Surveyor
signed off tree plan be prepared, which shows baseline conditions, with one copy to be
maintained in the Tree Wardens office and one copy to be maintained by the Building
Commissioner.
5.4 Visability -Town Removals:
Karen Longeteig and Gerry Paul raised the question how do we know when the Town removes a
hazard tree, or trees for other reasons, so that it can be entered into the Data Base of Public trees
that is maintained by Anne Senning. This would modify the Tree Inventory, which is now
complete except for precincts 7,8, and 9. Chris Filadoro said he would look into how best to
provide timely email visability to the Tree Committee for Town Removals.
5.5 By -Law Mitigation Requirements: We discussed the By -Law mitigation requirements,
noting for example that 50 inches of unmitigated tree replacement would produce 50 inches x
$50 /DBH inches or $2500 which would be deposited in the Lexington Revolving Tree Fund.
Trees to be planted elsewhere in Town will no longer be accepted as a mitigation.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Wood
Next Regular Meeting: January 12, 2012, 7:30 AM at 201 Bedford Street, Room 125, Samuel
Hadley Public Services Building.