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Residents press Barberton officials to address dangerous trees, ask how rental fees are used
Summary
Residents and councilors discussed a string of large, potentially hazardous trees after a recent tree-related death; speakers urged clearer authority and programs to remove or assess dangerous trees, and asked whether rental-registration fees can fund remediation.
A resident warned Barberton City Council and city staff on Monday that large, rotting trees near rental housing pose an immediate safety risk and asked whether rental-registration fees can be used to pay for removal.
Tiffany Mead, who identified herself as a Barberton resident at 307 Sixth Street Northwest, told the council she photographed several trees at the corner of Fifth Street and Holmes and described one tree ‘‘hanging over a house of a single mother with 4 little children. Her smallest child has a brain tumor.’’ Mead said the tree’s base was ‘‘rotted out’’ when inspected and that she had faced resistance and threats from a property manager when asking for removal.
The concern followed an earlier, brief public comment by Megan Eberhard, who said a large tree at Hazelwood and State streets ‘‘covers almost 3 lanes’’ and ‘‘looks pretty dangerous like it's ready to fall.’’
Councilors and staff said they are taking steps but emphasized limits and next steps. Councilor Taylor Thompson and other members said the city already has authority to act when a tree is ‘‘hanging over the street and is dangerous’’ but not over trees that are solely on private property and do not encroach on the public right of way. The law director and committee members said an intern has drafted a proposed ordinance that would address tree issues and that staff are reviewing it.
Mayor Judge and city staff said they are exploring program options and possible funding sources. Councilors discussed whether Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds or rental-registration funds could be used in a program to assist property owners with dangerous-tree removal, and the mayor said he has asked the finance director to explore a program modeled on the city’s sidewalk replacement program.
Councilors and staff described parallel tenant-protection work: the Akron Community Foundation is developing resources on rent escrow and tenant rights, and city staff said they are coordinating with the county clerk’s office and local agencies to consider informational sessions for tenants.
No council motion or vote to create a program or to order removal of specified private trees was taken during Monday’s meeting. Councilors asked the resident to provide addresses for the photographed trees so staff can inspect the parcels and determine whether the city has authority to act, and staff said they will follow up.
The discussion underscored competing practical and legal issues: city officials repeatedly noted they lack arborist expertise and that some trees can appear healthy externally while being rotten internally, and they said any formal program will need clarified funding sources and technical standards before implementation.
