Minutes
Tree Committee · from the Town's website · 3 pages · 228 KB
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Name of Public Body: Tree Committee Date and Time of Meeting: 6:00 PM Monday June 1, 2026 Location of Meeting: Public Works Department AGENDA Call Meeting to order 6:03 Review and Approve prior meetings minutes May notes approved Tree Warden Report Out Planted trees last spring at Brookfield, of 18 trees, only 2 are not leafing out. Dogwood is not looking super good. Red maples are doing well as well as the tulip tree, trees at Hannaford park are all doing well except for one plus the five across the street are all doing well except for two scarlet oaks that did not make it. Swamp Oaks are also doing well, volunteers dumping woodchips really helped. Tree Warden needs our help putting trees around the playing field of the high school, the school committee were not prepared for Tom so they were confused as to why we would put trees in a field. Our Council president thought erroneously, that since the site used to be a dump, trees would not grow, this is incorrect. The superintendent is in favor of this idea. It is very hot for both players and guests watching the game and trees would be an excellent idea. Wetland trees for Lewis Lake would be excellent for habitat. We have nursery credit from cars hitting our trees, approximately one tree for each inch in diameter. We have three trees coming. We can then plant the trees in other locations. Used to have a line item on the annual yearly budget for tree budget, if it has been removed, this needs to be addressed for the annual budget that will begin July 1st. Winthrop Working Together has been awarded a grant for $2000 to purchase trees, and the town is offering a watering tank. Donated money for trees must be used for purchasing trees. We need to know what is in the town's budget for purchasing trees, maintenance, watering systems, etc. The grant that was given to Winthrop Working Together was specific for trees, our town manager said it should be used for portable water, that was not what the grant was given for nor will that be allowed. The money for portable water will need to come from another fund. Looking at our tree pan, determining how in the next five years things should look. If more money is used initially, then less over the time. In the past, the committee went down streets and figured out where trees were needed. A good point person on the council is Suzanne Snopes and Kim Dimes Discussion of hearings for trees to be cut down Legally there is a process that must happen per Chapter 87 and it must be followed, public notice and a hearing even the fire station and even if national grid wants a tree down unless the tree is in a dangerous situation, eminent danger but maybe not for a state highway project like on Revere St. It was requested that we speak in front of the council in Kim’s last email to the town. The tree on Sunnyside that is slanted is being told by their insurance company that the tree must be cut down, it is actually not a danger per tree warden Tom. Update on Discussion about Inventory with town GIS - The Tree Commission needs to bring this up to the Town Council and Town Manager. Not totally complete around schools and cemeteries. In order to update the GIS we need an initial $600 and then a yearly $400. We have written the Council and received no response. Drew will try again. I will again ask Jill if we can get on the agenda as soon as possible. At Seal Harbor they took 6 Pine trees down though they were healthy just to benefit someone's view. We need to get our ordinance on the agenda for the City Council. New Language for ordinance Storm damage Tom has a list of the damaged trees from Saturday’s storm, needs to be documented on GIS. Money, I will check further but I know of the following donations for trees. Undesignated, $250, $250, $1050, $1950 total of $350 for fall planting. $350 for Bartlett Road Winthrop Foundation request for $2000 supported by Town Manager and Director of Public Works. There is no designated/appropriated budget in the town for trees, but it is a floating part of the DPW budget subject to change against other needs. Revere St Planting week of June 13. We will have credit with a nursery for about 18 trees provided by insurance companies for drivers of cars that crashed into town property trees. Wood Chips at Brooks Park and Hannaford Park delivered by DPW front loader and placed around trees by volunteers. Would you look at the tree inventory on the town website? It is fascinating. Go to properties and click on layers to the right and see the tree button. You can see how they were recorded in 2023. Not all town trees are in this but you can look at the number of doomed ash trees in the center of town. I didn’t see any on Point Shirley. All of the ash trees will eventually have to be removed. That will be a strain on the DPW budget and we have to be sure that does not come from money that could be spent on buying trees. Tress sound schools and cemeteries are not included. Winthrop would be well served by maintaining an updated tree inventory. Would this committee lobby the town manager to do this? There should be a public record of trees and not emails, texts, and my notes that are not accessible to the public. Meeting adjourned 7:15 Next Meeting July 6th This listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.