Planning Board Meeting Minutes 11/09/2023
Planning Board Minutes November 9, 2023
Present: Laura Mensi, Chip Allen, Margy Abbott, Roger Tryon, Mort Solomon
Guests: Kevin West, Maggie Barkin, Wayne Burkhardt
Meeting came to order 7:07 pm
Kevin West, our Tree Warden, has completed a town tree survey and spoke with us about his assessment of which trees need to be taken down. Which trees come down does not require the PB’s approval but as a matter of courtesy and transparency wanted residents to have an opportunity to ask questions.
Tyringham Rd needs the most attention.
Kevin has met Jim Hunt and Kevin Fitzpatrick.
There has been little attention over the past few years to Tyringham Rd except for the National Grid tree trimming.
He has identified 46 trees, almost all ash that are either dead and standing or already sick and in decline and will die within the next year.
Most are on the same side of road opposite power line as National Grid did that side.
Aside from the ash there is one beautiful pine 30” diameter around electric pole 48 (Art School /Mt Hunger…across from Beaver Pond), with the top of tree already down, it’s doomed.
A few other non-ash to come down include a 12” elm and a 17” maple snag (already dying). There is only one that residents might notice that is at #6 Tyringham…an old maple that ¾ dead already.
It is more cost-effective for John Fields, whom the town contracts with, to do the ones in decline while taking down the already dead ones.
Trees that will come down are marked with yellow dots. Kevin also marked several other trees with an orange X that Nat Grid will take down.
The work should be completed over 3-4 days in the first half of December.
Kevin is only looking at right of way trees right now as budget tight but has also begun cataloging “legacy” trees….old, beautiful, large, canopy….many between Art School and Steadman Pond which is a beautiful stretch of road.
He would like to access other town property soon and assess over the year (Corashire Rd, end of Brett Rd etc.– not imminent threat) .
There were a number of questions about the right of way (yellow line in road is not necessarily the center of the right of way…. stone walls often good indicator), the tree budget, other pests besides the emerald ash borer including gypsy moths which weakens oaks (Beautiful oak just before App trail on right side…got stripped by gypsy moth, not doing well, hurt by the last freeze) and about planting replacement trees.
Former tree warden and current PB member Roger Tryon was very helpful with historical knowledge.
If the budget permits or grants become available to replant, Kevin would like to replant and is thinking smaller trees as maples are salt sensitive.
Smaller trees provide visual variety, biodiversity and might include Service berry, Iron wood – Carolina, American hornbeam.
Lindens are also a nice street tree (Gould and Wellman that Roger planted after the tornado years ago).
The current budget is about $49,000 and is for cutting, not replanting currently.
There was no internet so the PB couldn’t continue with the MP implementation discussion.
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday on the 4th Thursday November 23rd there will only be one November meeting (November 9th ). There was some discussion about meeting on November 30th or simply allow for a longer meeting on December 7th, meeting at 6:00 pm instead of 7:00.
December meetings….14th is 2nd Thursday and 4th Thursday the 28th which is a holiday week. A decision has not been made whether to cancel the meeting on the 28th.
Mort Solomon made a motion to adjourn and Chip Allen seconded. All in favor.
Meeting adjourned 8:05