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Board presses DPW for clearer response plan after ‘imminent hazard’ tree debate
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Summary
Planning board members questioned how the town applies the statutory 'imminent hazard' exception after examples of delays; DPW said it declares hazards and seeks contractor support but is constrained by scheduling and the need to coordinate utilities for large removals. Members urged contract or priority standards that would shorten response times.
The planning board on April 27 pressed the DPW tree warden, Chris, for clarity about how the town handles trees declared an "imminent hazard." Board members said they had seen cases where an imminent tree remained in place for several weeks, and they wanted to understand whether the designation was being applied consistently and whether the town had the capacity to remove hazardous trees quickly.
Chris said DPW staff declares imminent hazards when a tree poses an immediate threat but that the town contracts most heavy work to outside vendors and utilities. He said the department tries to expedite removals and sometimes coordinates with National Grid and other contractors; scheduling, equipment needs and weather can cause unavoidable delays. "The way I view imminent hazard is I'm trying to take it down today," Chris said, adding that in practice it sometimes takes a few days or up to a week depending on resources.
Board members recommended the town define an expected response time in contracts or create priority clauses so that declared imminent hazards receive expedited scheduling. One member suggested setting a performance standard in vendor agreements or creating a pooled municipal resource; another urged clearer public notice when a hazard is identified and when it will be removed.
The board asked DPW to return with options that include contractual remedies, a prioritized response schedule for declared imminent hazards and clearer public communication about scheduling for hazardous removals.
