Minutes
Tree Committee · from the Town's website · 3 pages · 204 KB
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Name of Public Body: Tree Committee Date and Time of Meeting: Monday August 24th, 2026 @ 6 p.m. Location of Meeting: DPW Building, 100 Kennedy Drive, Winthrop DRAFT Notes ● Call Meeting to order, attendance 6:04 All members present with the exception of Tim ● Hearing for Tree Removal Hearing for 143 Morton Street Tree on Douglas, petitioners reasoning to cut down the tree, her mom is 80 years old using a cane and has a difficult time using the sidewalk, not safe. The roots of the tree are pushing up the asphalt. Concerned about the mom’s safety. ADA legalities explained that as long as there is access on one side of the street or the other the town is compliant, the owner is very upset and does not agree. We brainstormed ideas and discussed the benefits of trees. The tree is doing carbon reforestation and since it is a mature tree, providing shade, climate resilience, we need to protect our trees at all costs. Kim Dimes, Town Councilor explained that the tree is very healthy, providing shade for the entire street on both sides. She explained that the lack of trees is an environmental injustice, it looks like a concrete jungle. Flood mitigation is also a tremendous issue, storm drainage is also a huge issue, no way to replace the shade tree. A neighbor and an arborist mentioned that there are several people on the street in wheel chairs and walkers including a child in a wheel chair. Perhaps a side walk to go around the tree was suggested but when we went out to look at the tree that had already happened. Perhaps a bypass, owner Halima Elfati is very angry and threatened to sue the city if the tree is not removed. She said it would be impossible for her mom to go out the front steps and therefore must go out the back so the tree must come down. 617-407-7341 Precinct 2 councilors received 4 letters opposing the cutting down of the tree, more emails in support of the tree not being cut down came in while the meeting was going on. Suzanne Swopes, Town Councilor also spoke in favor of not cutting down the tree and explained what happened at Seal Harbor where six mature, healthy trees were cut down to better the residents view. ● Approve prior months Meeting Notes- Don’t have a quorum. ● Tree Warden’s report suggested that we add trees along the Marsh by Morton Street. We need to find places with large yards so we can plant trees. Drew mentioned what if the town plants a tree in someone's yard vs on public property will the town still pay for the upkeep for pruning if it's within five feet of a public walkway, Tom the tree warden says yes, Thornton Park and Woodside Park and Brookfield park are all excellent spots for additional trees. We need to all identify places to put trees and what kind of trees. Joeann asked to be treated with more respect by Tom and then explained about the ivory silk lilac, she is requesting a new tree to be similar so it is not in the way of the harbormaster. ● New Fire station Project update on scheduling hearings not discussed ● Tree Donation & Public Outreach, have new trees been ordered, where will they be planted. Not discussed ● Update on Discussion about Inventory with town GIS Not discussed ● Updated language for Tree Ordinance Having a tree formula for new development ● Next Meeting September 22nd with the City Council 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. Planning Board Meeting after Tree Commission Meeting also on 8/24/2026 at the City Hall Planning Board Meeting Suggest ask for what we want for people doing in the zoning process. Joeann Hillman spoke to the Planning Department to explain that the language of what they have been asked to comment on Councillors and city lawyer, add section G to the code, develop a tree plan that is 12.4 Motion ordinance G it references 12.8 , they need the chapter. The council did not get it in time for the Planning Board to read the information regarding making it a zoning code ordinance vs a tree committee ordinance. Need to study the impact of cbd and its dense population. The Town Council bounced this back to the Planning Board. Outlines tree developer plan and specifics for developers. They recommend that the language is recommended for the zoning department so they suggest a meeting in a week so they can review the information. Perhaps a zoom meeting. Or Kim Dimes can bring it to council and then Tom spoke about our hopes about having them look at our suggestions to see if there is anything nefarious so it cannot be misinterpreted, and to watch out for loop holes. They agreed to do that and meet with us later in September.