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Off. Of qE�' <br /> Town of Reading ItECE1Vty <br /> Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK g <br /> RCADING, MA. <br /> Board - committee - commission - council: <br /> 2021 APR 12 AM I I� Ofi U o 6j� "`�`r�P� <br /> Town Forest Committee <br /> Date: 2021-02-16 Time: 7 PM <br /> Building: Location: <br /> Address: <br /> Purpose: Town Forest Management Session: <br /> Attendees: Members - Present: <br /> Thomas Gardiner, Nancy Docktor, Kurt Habel, Jeff Lamson, Bill Sullivan <br /> Members - Not Present: <br /> Rick Wetzler, Brian Scoulen, Dan Ford <br /> Others Present: <br /> Jane Kinsella, DPW; Chris Cole, DPW; Martha Moore, ConCom; Will Finch, <br /> Trails Com; Susan Bowe <br /> Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan <br /> Topics of Discussion: <br /> Meeting was held by video conference due to the COVID pandemic. <br /> Pine Tree Die-Off <br /> o Site walk held on 2/10/21 <br /> • Observed distinct clusters of dying red pine trees (see attached <br /> Town Forest map). <br /> • Trees are dying from the top down. <br /> • Some dead trees are accessible with equipment, some are not. <br /> • Some impacted areas are within the 100' wetland buffer zone <br /> o Phased removal of dead trees is most feasible as the area of tree die-off is <br /> too extensive to be addressed at one time. <br /> o Replanting varieties will depend on the location —will be determined later <br /> o Engage forestry consultant Phil Benjamin to develop a plan of action <br /> o Seek funding from Department of Conservation and Recreation under <br /> their forestry management program <br /> o Goal is to: <br /> • Seek Town funding for first phase of tree removal at November <br /> 2021 Town Meeting <br /> • Award the first logging contract in December 2021 <br /> • Complete the first phase of logging in January 2022 <br /> • Subsequent logging phases in future years <br /> o Send drone footage link to Reading Fire Department so they are aware of <br /> the potential fire risk. <br /> • Discuss DPW/Conservation Tree Policy at next TFC meeting. <br /> • The 90th Anniversary Celebration was rescheduled to 9/25/21 due to COVID. <br /> • Next Meeting: scheduled for 3/9/21 at 7:00 pm <br /> Page 1 1 <br />