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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-03-08-TREE-minTown of Lexington, Lexington Tree Committee Minutes of March 8, 2012 The Lexington Tree Committee met at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building, Room 125, on March 8, 2012 from 7:30 to 10:00 AM. Members present: John Frey, Chairman, Nell Walker, Anne Senning, Jewel Kuljian, Jim Wood, constituting a quorum. Marie Roberts and Jane Beswick, (Friends of Trees) were present.Chris Filadoro, Public Grounds Superintendent was present. Absent: Deb Mauger, Selectmen's liaison, Gerry Paul, Karen Longeteig. The Committee discussed the following items. • Scribe /Minutes: Jim Wood was appointed scribe and the minutes of February 9, 2012 were approved with minor changes. • Tree Warden Items: Chris F. provided the Tree Removal application and activity status. Included here by reference. Jim Wood took an action to contact Rob Adelson to determine how mitigation fund money can be used as this question was raised as a result of discussion during Chris's report. In addition we need to check how the $10.00 an inch fee was determined when trees are removed. Chris Filadoro will continue to work with Garry Rhodes to insure the Tree Warden signs off on building permits. Jewel K. asked about the status of the two trees at 12 Merriam Street. Why were they taken down? The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has a software package available for $600.00. Chris F. and Dave P. will look in to the merits of this package. Tree Manual: A "word by word" review is underway by the Committee and they are on page 5. Dave P. would appreciate a review of the recommended changes by the complete Tree Committee. Tree Nursery: Pruning continues at the Nursery. We have a goal of removing all trees from the even numbered rows to allow sufficient spacing between the remaining odd numbered rows for maintenance machinery operation. This approach will be revisited. On March 20, 2012 Chris F. will visit the Nursery and review spacing needs. Matt Foti has commented that he believes we should plant bareroot without the In Ground Planting Bags Chris F. has applied for Tree City USA certification again. Arbor day- Friday April 27 Peg Bradley will chair for the LFGC. The LFGC will be honoring Garden Club members that died in the previous year. It may be held at Hastings Park. Interns: Person at Minuteman interested in applying for Seasonal Work. The Town of Lexington will send something out to UMass. July 1, 2012 is the start date. Chris F. could see Interns helping with the Nursery, watering /maintenance of past and currently planted trees and Inventory. 1 • Tree Nursery 2012 Planting. Saturday April 28 at 9AM is the planned planting day with Sunday April 29 as the rainday. Jewel K. will send out notification and request for planting assistance to all the people that participated last year via email. Planting process: Jim W. recommended we plant all trees in the nursery without using the "In Ground Bags" . This recommendation was based on several considerations. 1. Our own experience at the nursery shows that after 3 years all the trees have either circling or girdling roots. That the maximum we can leave them in the bags is two years. Both Bartlett and Cornell(and our own Matt Foti) recommend planting bareroot trees directly where you want to have them eventually. Trees not in bags do not have a time constraint to remove from the Nursery. More roots are salvaged when transplanting. The Nursery would still be used for smaller speciality trees which need several years to reach an appropriate outplanting size. After discussion, the Tree Committee(TC) concluded this year that we would use a larger "In Ground Bag" (the next size up is 18 inches wide and 14.5 inches high) planting half the trees using bags and the other half directly in the ground. We would observe the results and make further decisions as to how to proceed in future years. • Setback Program: Jewel K. said she wanted all the planning done before she left on vacation. One couple had opted out and she updated the list appropriately. Still has an additional open slot. • Battle Green Specimen Tree: After additional discussion the Tree committee selected a Sourwood to be planted as part of Lexington's 300th Birthday. Marie Roberts will call Foti and obtain an estimate of cost to plant /buy and what sizes might be available. How this will be paid for also needs to be determined. • School Tree Selection for 300th Birthday; The TC added the American Sycamore to the list of recommended trees. • 300 tree challenge planting: The TC will provide the 300th Birthday committee a listing of recommended trees for both the 300 tree challenge and for use by the schools. In addition we will provide a do not plant list. This information will also be sent to Anne Webster, President of the Garden Club. • Commemorative Tree Dedication: Dedication will be at 11 AM, on Mar 24th next to the bench at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. • Planting Bags: Jim W. will provide Chris F. the required information needed to order the new bags. There was no remote participation. The meeting was not recorded. Respectively submitted. Jim Wood 2