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Council ordains amended tree preservation ordinance, adds stop-work authority for tree warden
Summary
Following committee amendments, the Somerville City Council ordained a change to the city's tree preservation ordinance that adds a stop-work order mechanism to be administered by the tree warden and returned the measure to the municipal code.
The Somerville City Council voted to enroll and ordain an amendment to Chapter 12, Article 6 of the city's Code of Ordinances to modify the tree preservation ordinance. The ordinance changes were recommended by the committee on legislative matters after more than a year of consideration and included several amendments addressing implementation.
The principal amendment reinstates a stop-work order concept that the legislative committee framed to be administered by the tree warden rather than as a building-code stop-work order. Committee members said the added tool is intended to give staff another mechanism to protect significant trees when appropriate.
The council recorded enrollment and ordainment votes with nine councilors in favor, none opposed and two absent for both steps. The measure will be added to the municipal code and the city will proceed with implementation consistent with the revised ordinance language.
Councilors noted questions remain about practical enforcement mechanics but expressed support for adding tools to protect urban trees.
