HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-16 Town Forest Committee Minutes Off. Of qE�'
Town of Reading ItECE1Vty
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK g
RCADING, MA.
Board - committee - commission - council:
2021 APR 12 AM I I� Ofi U o 6j� "`�`r�P�
Town Forest Committee
Date: 2021-02-16 Time: 7 PM
Building: Location:
Address:
Purpose: Town Forest Management Session:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Thomas Gardiner, Nancy Docktor, Kurt Habel, Jeff Lamson, Bill Sullivan
Members - Not Present:
Rick Wetzler, Brian Scoulen, Dan Ford
Others Present:
Jane Kinsella, DPW; Chris Cole, DPW; Martha Moore, ConCom; Will Finch,
Trails Com; Susan Bowe
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Bill Sullivan
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was held by video conference due to the COVID pandemic.
Pine Tree Die-Off
o Site walk held on 2/10/21
• Observed distinct clusters of dying red pine trees (see attached
Town Forest map).
• Trees are dying from the top down.
• Some dead trees are accessible with equipment, some are not.
• Some impacted areas are within the 100' wetland buffer zone
o Phased removal of dead trees is most feasible as the area of tree die-off is
too extensive to be addressed at one time.
o Replanting varieties will depend on the location —will be determined later
o Engage forestry consultant Phil Benjamin to develop a plan of action
o Seek funding from Department of Conservation and Recreation under
their forestry management program
o Goal is to:
• Seek Town funding for first phase of tree removal at November
2021 Town Meeting
• Award the first logging contract in December 2021
• Complete the first phase of logging in January 2022
• Subsequent logging phases in future years
o Send drone footage link to Reading Fire Department so they are aware of
the potential fire risk.
• Discuss DPW/Conservation Tree Policy at next TFC meeting.
• The 90th Anniversary Celebration was rescheduled to 9/25/21 due to COVID.
• Next Meeting: scheduled for 3/9/21 at 7:00 pm
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Areas of Pine-Die-Oft in orange
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