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Council reviews urban forestry funding as members raise stump removal and notification concerns
Summary
Council discussed a proposed appropriation from the New Jersey Forest and Urban Community Forestry program for tree planting and management; council members and residents raised concerns about dead trees, stumps, sidewalk damage and the need for improved neighborhood notification before work.
The council reviewed a temporary emergency appropriation from the New Jersey Forest Service for urban and community forestry and discussed how the funds will be used to manage and plant trees across the city.
Council members said they wanted assurance that funds would not only pay for planting but also for tree management and removal of hazardous or dead trees. Councilman Calvary (sic in the transcript — referred to as Councilman Kelly and others) asked specifically whether the appropriation would pay for removing stumps; Business Administrator Eric Pennington said the funding is intended for tree management (including removal of dangerous or dead trees) and could be used in some cases to remove stumps when that removal is part of a planting plan, but that general stump removal is not the intended primary purpose. Pennington said the city has other funds to address stump removal as a longer‑term program.
Council members and the administration discussed notification of residents prior to planting or sidewalk work, homeowner responsibilities for sidewalks and how the city coordinates with Department of Public Works and sustainability staff. Pennington said sustainability and DPW have an urban forestry plan and had completed roughly 500 plantings in the planting cycle referenced; he also reported the city’s tree superintendent responds to requests for hazardous trees and that utility companies are involved where lines are affected.
Council members pressed for more direct, door‑to‑door notification and suggested an expanded role for community meetings. A council member reported an internal count of about 715 tree stumps in the system that the administration said it is working through.
Ending — further coordination requested
The administration said it would coordinate more targeted notifications with sustainability and DPW and to follow up with council offices about problem locations; council members asked sustainability to provide a clear plan for balancing new plantings with removal and homeowner notifications.
