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Planning board seeks joint hearing with tree warden after concerns about 'imminent hazard' removals
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Summary
Board members said several tree removals flagged as 'imminent hazard' may have bypassed the public process and asked the tree warden to attend the April 27 meeting to explain mitigation and the town's replanting program.
Planning board members said on March 23 they are concerned that some trees removed under the town’s "imminent hazard" authority may have been taken down without following the notice and hearing timelines in state law and town code.
The chair noted three trees listed in a March 13 email were removed earlier and that one removal date appeared to be more than 14 days before the email — a window that typically would have allowed a public hearing. The board cited Mass. General Law Chapter 87 and Chapter 40, Section 15C and local code chapter 153 as the governing authorities that require coordination with the tree warden and a posted joint hearing when a public shade tree is removed.
Members agreed that a public, joint hearing with the tree warden (Chris LeRoy) and the applicant should be scheduled so the process and any mitigation can be discussed in public. The board suggested that the April 27 meeting would be an appropriate forum to have Chris LeRoy explain the town’s replanting and mitigation approach and to receive proposed mitigation plans for the trees that were removed.
One board member also urged patience for an initial open discussion rather than an immediate letter alleging noncompliance; the board agreed to invite the tree warden in advance and then consider follow‑up correspondence if further action is needed.
Next steps: staff will invite the tree warden to the April 27 meeting and ask applicants to provide plans that show where the removed trees stood and proposed replacement plantings or credits.
