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Commission members raise concerns about aggressive state tree trimming and request clearer qualifications
Summary
Members reported examples of aggressive or inappropriate trimming by state contractors and suggested asking state representatives to require certified tree experts on state crews; commissioners said local staff and volunteers have had to call crews back to correct work.
Commission members reported repeated problems with tree trimming performed by state crews and urged pursuing clearer qualifications and oversight.
A commissioner described a site at the southwest corner of Deal Road and Route 35 where state contractors “were hacking away” and the response from crews indicated they considered the area state property, prompting a claim that local volunteers and town staff were being told they were trespassing when they questioned trimming. “I believe Jean was at a site that Bill told me about… they were hacking away and it was kind of like… this is state property. You're trespassing,” the speaker said.
Members suggested asking state representatives to require that people trimming state rights-of-way include certified tree experts and to create a better process that gives municipalities clearer authority to question state work. One commissioner said Bill has called crews back and that the state’s board of tree experts had engaged about the issue, but the transcript records no definitive change to state procedures.
The commission discussed follow-up steps: documenting problem sites, identifying the relevant state contacts or board members, and asking the township’s representatives to pursue a process change or minimum qualifications for contractors working on state-managed trees.
No formal votes or official directives to staff were recorded in the transcript on this matter; commissioners agreed to follow up and to try to obtain contact information for the state board representative mentioned during discussion.
