Residents press Village of the Shore for tree inventory, task force as utility trimming continues

Residents and several longtime members of the village tree board pressed the Village of the Shore board on Tuesday to take immediate and longer-term steps after utility-related tree trimming across the village.

At public comment, Dale Morris, a retired Erie County urban planner who lives at 268 Walnut Street in East Aurora, urged the village to invest in an up-to-date geographic information system and a renewed street-tree inventory. “Good information leads to better decisions,” Morris said, noting other nearby communities use GIS to manage tree inventories and maintenance.

The residents’ pleas followed multiple speakers describing heavy pruning they said was damaging trees. Ellen Neumeier, who said she has served on the village tree board for 20 years, urged increasing the annual tree budget and replacing street trees removed with multiple new plantings. “We should do that or maybe 3,” Neumeier said of replacement plantings, and she and Jeff from the Department of Public Works said the village expects to plant roughly 50 trees this year.

Nancy Smith, a recent tree-board member, urged the board to form a short-term working group to press utilities and contractors on techniques, data and priorities. Smith called it a “tree trimming task force,” saying a small group could meet weekly to coordinate village staff, the tree board and outside stakeholders and to push for a smaller trim perimeter where possible.

Residents and trustees repeatedly discussed the roles of NYSEG, GoNet (referred to in the meeting as Go Net Speed) and contractor O’Connell. Village staff said state law requires NYSEG to permit attachments by companies such as GoNet to poles, and that OSHA and industry standards affect how close crews can work to wires. Jeff, speaking for the Department of Public Works, told the board the village purchased a GIS system about a year ago and that water-line mapping is the current priority; “When water gets done, I believe trees is the next 1 that we have planned,” he said.

Several commenters asked the board to use the village’s paid arborist, Jared Weber, more actively. Jeff said he speaks to Weber frequently and that Weber had reviewed a number of O’Connell crews’ jobs and in many cases “was very satisfied with Stan’s work,” meaning the contractor’s techniques matched what Weber expected.

The board took one immediate administrative action that relates to tree management: it approved a service agreement authorizing the mayor to sign a contract with Bradley Tree for arborist services. Trustees voted in favor by voice vote.

Why it matters: Residents said the intensity of the pruning threatens the village’s canopy, increases future removal and replacement costs and affects heritage trees identified by volunteers. Speakers argued better data, tighter lines of communication and a short-term task force could reduce harm while utilities install new communications infrastructure.

What the board said it will do next: Board members and staff said they will continue weekly coordination with crews, circulate work-week schedules when possible, and that tree inventory work is planned to follow current water-mapping efforts. Several residents expressed willingness to serve on a time-limited task force to coordinate with DPW and to monitor crews.

Article ending: Multiple speakers asked the board to press NYSEG and GoNet for smaller trim zones and to honor localized protections such as designated heritage trees; the board agreed to continue monthly updates and said formal follow-up could appear on an upcoming agenda. The board’s approval of a paid arborist services agreement was framed by commenters as a near-term, practical step while longer-term inventory and policy work proceeds.