Minutes

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Town Council R&O Subcommittee Meeting 4/19/2022 
 Call to order 
 Public Comment 
o Correspondence received prior to the meeting from Joanne Hillman, Ana
Leary, Carol Homeyer, Mirim Regan-Fiore regarding Tree Warden
qualifications, 
 Public Comment 
o Joanne Hillman P6 
 Significant trees, follows up on email sent 
 Tree Memorials – should be in concert with Tree Committee and
Memorial Committee 
 Tree protection on private property – aspire to be gold standard of
tree protection like Cambridge and Brookline 
o Jack Dowd, P3 
 Advocate of planting as many trees as possible 
 Looking for budget of planting trees 
 Served as tree warden in the past 
 We have been given money from MassPort in the past to replace
greenery and to his knowledge he hasn’t seen any of it 
o Tom Derderian, P3 
 Concurs with Mr. Dowd’s comments 
 Member of the Tree Committee 
 This is a great start and there needs to be a follow up with the
budget 
 We would need to pay for the money needed 
 Budget is essential follow up 
o Marilyn Regan, P3 
 Concurs with Jack and Mr. Derderian 
 Arborist is $85K a year and we have the PILOT payment 
 Would like “preferably” removed from the Ordinance related to
qualifications 
o Mike DiLuiso, P5 
 Speaking as an individual, not as a Town Employee 
 Not addressing any individual trees 
 Concern: Tree Warden job description being included in the
Ordinance, Definition of Hazardous tree but there is nothing that
addresses the removal of the hazardous tree, costs of removing the
hazardous tree, need to recognize that sometimes there are
instances where 
 Valvoline Oil v Town of Winthrop case law 
o Miram Regan-Fiore, P5 
 Submitted letter 
 Tree Warden’s job “preferably” for arborist license 
o Frank Costantino, P2 
 Refers to Cambridge and Brookline ordinances

 There should be some research and background into what prior
Tree Wardens have done 
 Councilor Ruggiero – funding and budgeting is a separate but related topic. We
are attempting to write a budget neutral ordinance and budget and funding
requests/advocacy should go through the Finance Committee and/or Finance
Commission 
 Job Description 
o Councilor Munson – how much funding is enough? “Preferably” seems
like an adequate term 
 Agrees with the opinions in the room and on zoom that we need
more trees in Town and to restore the canopy. 
 Councilor Belcher 
o There needs to be a mesh what we’re hearing here and what FinComm is
doing 
o DPW is coming into the FinComm and commits to asking about tree
funding 
 Other funding sources – Joanne Hillman 
o MassPort Mitigation Money 
 Winthrop Loves Trees has applied for roughly $69-70K in trees 
o Bill in the works that may allow for municipalities to replant trees 
o DCR Grant 
 Needs matching funds 
 Discussion of Motions – Tree committee 
o Councilor Munson – 9 seems like a lot – maybe we reconsider this 
 Ruggiero: Annual Plan – maybe this is something that needs a little more
guidance? 
 How can we accurately take a tree inventory? Where will this be managed? 
 Ruggiero: utility line clearance - agrees with language as it holds outside vendors
like National Grid accountable to pull permits 
 Munson: Permitting process is a welcome addition to ordinances 
 Belcher: review of all permit fees is being conducted 
 Mr. Dowd 
o A few trees have been cut down in the past without permission 
 Paul O’Donnell, P1, Tree Warden 
o Investigated the Tree issue that 
 Electronic notice vs First class mail – discussion determined language was
adequate as presented 
 Munson – can you report trees on SeeClickFix? – Discussion determined yes 
 Cutting Down of a tree – does not include “hazardous”, appeals would go through
the council – discussion of merits for and against this. Committee to do some
research 
 Hazardous Tree Definition – perhaps this needs to be clarified, will do further
research 
 Tree Committee and Memorials Committee – who has jurisdiction? Discussion
determines that there may be a need to flesh this out

 Tree donation fund – funds are to plant trees, guidelines in the language is clear as
to its use 
 Public Comment 
o Jack Dowd 
 When does new TM start? 
o Paul O’Donnell 
 Should the new TM be involved with this? 
o Mike 
 Page 10, Fines and enforcement, should be tree warden or
designee? 
 Final Comments 
o Committee thanks public for participation and looks to come to an
expeditious yet, thorough conclusion to this project. Will loop in legal
where/when necessary and will meet again in coming weeks. 
 Motion to adjourn, by Councilor Munson, Seconded by Councilor Ruggiero