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Millis tree warden outlines responsibilities and rising tree-care needs; committee told town budgets about $25,000 annually with special-article supplements
Summary
Millis’ volunteer tree warden described his statutory role, rising requests for pruning and removal, and the costs of tree work; Town Administrator Jody Kersey confirmed a FY budget of about $25,000 and said a special-article request for additional funds will be proposed at fall town meeting.
The town’s volunteer tree warden told the Finance Committee Wednesday that demand for tree pruning and removal in Millis has increased in recent months, and that tree work is costly — especially for large specimens requiring cranes and police details.
At the meeting the tree warden — who said he has served in the role for 23 years — described the job as a statutorily required position that controls trees in the public right of way and requires permission for removals or pruning of trees larger than two inches in diameter. He emphasized that the tree warden’s jurisdiction covers the public right of way and does not extend to parks, cemeteries or conservation land.
“Before a tree can be pruned or removed… anything over two inches, you have to have permission by the tree warden,” he said, adding that utilities (National Grid/NSTAR) are responsible for line-clearing and are often the right contact for residents with branches on utility wires.
Committee members asked how the town prioritizes requests. The tree warden said he visits properties after calls, assesses whether removal or pruning is needed, documents requests to the DPW, and flags emergency cases that need immediate action. He said pruning can extend a tree’s useful life and is sometimes more cost-effective than removal; larger trees that require cranes can cost thousands of dollars per day.
Town Administrator Jody Kersey told the committee the town’s annual operating budget for tree care (pruning and removal) is about $25,000 per fiscal year. In addition, Kersey said the town has in prior years funded special warrant articles to supplement that line item, typically in the $25,000–$50,000 range; the last special-article funding for tree work, she said, was in 2023. Kersey said a special-article request for additional tree funds will be proposed for the upcoming fall town meeting.
Tree contractor names and routine utility partnerships were discussed; the tree warden said the town has a good working relationship with utility line-clear crews and that contractors on previous bids have included local firms. The committee asked the tree warden to coordinate with the Select Board and DPW on prioritization lists and scheduling for any funded work.
No binding appropriation was voted at the meeting; the committee was informed that an article to fund additional tree pruning/removal will be proposed in the fall warrant process.
