Trees in Lexington

The Tree subdivision, plant and maintain trees on Town property. The Tree subdivision maintains an undetermined number of trees on town streets, in parks and on conservation lands, and numerous shrub bed plantings on park, cemetery and properties along public ways. The objectives of the tree maintenance program are to identify and reduce hazardous conditions that threaten public and private property, to resolve requests for service and emergencies in a timely fashion and to increase the health of the urban forest through planning and a proper maintenance program. Trees are planted annually, but too few to balance the number of trees removed. The subdivision works closely with the Town’s Tree Committee to determine priorities for a reforestation plan including optimum placement and species selection of new trees.

Budget Issues

• Increased funding has been requested to cover costs for the rental of a bucket truck and not supported by the Mayor’s budget. The sign truck used by the Department in past years has been grounded due to unsafe conditions.
• No funding for planting has been included in this years operating budget; future funding will be submitted with in the capital budget framework
• Historic funding levels have not met demand and annual appropriations have fallen short; level funding FY05 with the assistance of a tree climber, as proposed, would have allowed funding to more accurately cover costs.

Goal:

Reduce the Town’s liability by identifying and significantly reducing any existing hazardous tree conditions

Objective

· Through a regular process of inspection, identify and eliminate public shade tree hazards that could threaten the public and/or private property, pedestrians and vehicular traffic. One-third (1/3) of the town should be annually inspected.

Goal:

Enhance the Town’s street tree canopy by planting trees to replace those removed.

Objective

· Find alternative funding sources to provide tree stock for division staff to plant and/or in-kind services, including grants and Utility betterments