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Carbondale Tree Board approves up to $250 for giveaway tree, signals policy review
Summary
The Carbondale Tree Board voted to authorize up to $250 from its budget for a tree to be purchased for a drawing winner and agreed to develop clearer procedures for future giveaways and plantings on public versus private property.
The Carbondale Tree Board voted to authorize up to $250 from its tree-board budget to purchase a tree for one of this year’s drawing winners, Jen and Brent Moss, and agreed the board will revise procedures for future drawings and clarify whether trees should be planted on public or private property.
Board members said the decision resolves an outstanding commitment while the board conducts a broader review of the program’s goals and spending rules. "I would say for me or for us, a motion, I think $250 seems reasonable," said Noah Sakamoto during the discussion before the vote. Town arborist Carl (last name not specified) told the board the tree-board budget for the year is $1,000 and that no funds had been spent yet: "I know the tree board has a thousand dollars in its budget. For this year, nothing's been spent." The motion passed on a voice vote with three ayes.
Board members debated whether trees awarded in the drawing should be planted on private property or in public rights-of-way. Several members favored public plantings to ensure "right tree, right place," public visibility, continuity of watering/maintenance and broader community benefit. Others noted that handing winners a tree and planting responsibility to the homeowner is a common, lower-effort model; that approach reduces liability and logistical complexity around planting day.
Members also discussed size and cost standards for giveaway trees. Board members said past giveaways used a mix of in-hand inventory and purchases; one earlier donated tree was valued at about $85, while retail prices for 5-gallon container ornamentals were cited in the discussion at roughly $249 before any dealer discount. The board asked Carl to use his nursery discount and to seek fall-sale pricing; the $250 cap approved by the board is for this year only and will not set the long-term format without further review.
The board agreed to keep this year’s winners’ arrangements in place and to form a subgroup or return to full-board discussion to develop a documented process that includes: cost caps, how funds are spent (town staff must make purchases and purchases cannot be made privately and later be reimbursed), whether plantings go on public vs. private land, and public-education elements such as planting demonstrations and take-home care guides.
Votes at a glance
- Motion: Authorize up to $250 from the tree-board budget for purchase and planting of a tree for drawing winners Jen and Brent Moss. - Mover: not specified in the public record; second: Vanessa Harmony. - Vote: passed (3 ayes recorded).
