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Municipal Electric Department wins approval for 2025 scenic-road tree trimming plan
Summary
The Wolfeboro Planning Board approved the municipal electric department's plan to trim and remove trees along several scenic roads in 2025. The department said work will prioritize safety, remove multiple dead ash trees, and use aerial trimming on several roads; public commenters sought protections for historic canopy trees.
The Wolfeboro Planning Board voted Feb. 11 to approve the Town of Wolfeboro Municipal Electric Department's 2025 scenic-road tree trimming plan covering several designated scenic roads.
Jeremy Mitchell, representing the municipal electric department, said crews will perform aerial trimming and selective removals on Pleasant Valley Road, Port Hill Road and other scenic-designated segments under RSA provisions the department quoted in its presentation. The department said most work will be done during daytime weekdays and that crews will remove dead or hazardous trees and trim branches that encroach on wires.
Mitchell told the board the plan proposes removing 37 trees on Pleasant Valley Road (roughly one-third of those are dead ash), and aerial trimming along about 20,938 linear feet on that road. On Port Hill Road the department proposed removing 37 trees (26 of them dead ash) and aerial trimming of about 8,181 feet. On Stoneham Road, Janesse Farm Road and Cotton Valley Road the department said it would perform aerial trimming only and would not remove trees with a circumference exceeding 15 inches at four feet above ground (the scenic-road measurement cited in their presentation).
Residents at the hearing urged caution. A letter from Suzanne Ryan urged the town to preserve canopy trees and to follow the statutory notice requirements for scenic roads; public speakers asked the department not to "open up" the canopy and to protect long-lived shade trees where possible. Board members acknowledged the public's concern, noted that the town's tree warden had inspected the lines and that the municipal department intends closer supervision of any contracted crews.
The board approved the plan by voice vote. The motion on the floor accepted the presented trimming plan with discussion and assurance from the electric department that the work would be supervised and limited on scenic roads. The board recorded no roll-call dissent during the motion; planning members in attendance voted in favor.
