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Committee forwards ordinance to create Tree Advisory Board and amend village forester duties to village board
Summary
The committee recommended creating a three-member Tree Advisory Board by ordinance (new municipal code §1.331) and aligning village forester language across code sections. Members discussed board composition and appointment process and agreed to forward the ordinance to the village board while addressing recruitment later.
The Public Works and Highways Committee recommended that the village board adopt an ordinance creating a Tree Advisory Board and amend code language concerning the village forester.
Matt, Public Works Director, said the draft ordinance establishes a three-member board consisting of a trustee appointee, a citizen member and the village forester. The ordinance also cleans up inconsistent language by aligning references to a "master tree plan" with other code sections that use the term "comprehensive tree plan."
Committee members discussed recruitment and terms for the citizen member, whether the forester could be the contracted consultant (Wachtell was discussed in that context), and the practical timing of establishing the board relative to seasonal tree work. Staff noted that approving the ordinance now would allow the village to proceed with this year’s tree contracts and complete recruitment and formal appointments for future years.
A motion to recommend the ordinance to the village board passed unanimously. Committee members asked staff to return with additional discussion on recruitment and board makeup at a future meeting and said they would present tree-contract approvals to the committee in the next cycle so work can proceed this year if needed.
