Town arborist recommends removal of four trees; council approves removals

At a special Somerset Town Council meeting, the town arborist presented recommendations to remove four trees — three owned by the town and one on private property — citing disease and decline. Council members moved to accept the arborist’s recommendation and the motion was adopted without extended discussion.

The arborist described one tree as 48.5 (a diameter figure referenced in the presentation) with visible dieback, noted a cherry tree that was declining, and pointed to other trees at street corners that he said “don’t look good.” He asked the council to approve removals and to replace removed stock where appropriate.

Council members questioned whether the council’s approval was necessary if the arborist supported removal. The council president and others said the town code requires council action and that public objections sometimes require the matter be decided in a public meeting. After brief discussion, a council member moved to approve the arborist’s recommendations ‘‘to remove the 3 town trees and 1 private tree.’’ The motion was seconded and accepted; the transcript records no roll-call tally and no recorded formal amendment to the motion.

The action as discussed directs staff to proceed with removal and replacement planning according to the arborist’s recommendations. The transcript does not record a planting plan, replacement species, timeline, or cost estimates; those details were not specified in the meeting record.

The council then moved on to other business and did not revisit the tree item during the meeting.