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Trustees discuss simpler tree ordinance to seek Tree City USA benefits while avoiding private-property mandates
Summary
Board members said they will rework a previously proposed tree ordinance to focus on public trees (street and park trees) and avoid regulation of private property as they explore eligibility for Tree City USA grants and assistance for removing dead ash trees.
Trustees discussed reviving an earlier effort to obtain Tree City USA-style designation or similar grants to support tree removal and planting on public property. Members said previous drafts had struggled because they were perceived as overly restrictive of private property rights.
One trustee said the earlier drafts had been rejected by advisory boards because they were too restrictive and might be interpreted as limiting private property owners' rights to trim or remove trees. The board signaled it would pursue a narrower approach that applies only to town-owned street trees, park trees and rights-of-way, which would allow the town to pursue grant funding and technical assistance without regulating private yards.
The board asked staff to re-draft a cleaner proposal that would avoid impinging on private property rights and to return with a version that focuses on public landscape and right-of-way trees. Members noted potential grant funds and assistance for removing dead ash trees and maintaining waterways as reasons to pursue limited adoption.
No ordinance was adopted; the board asked for a revised draft that limits scope to town-owned trees and rights-of-way to reduce community opposition.
