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Township committee approves arboretum restoration and retaining-wall repairs
Summary
A township advisory committee voted to approve a one-time $47,000 repair to the Arboretum outdoor-classroom retaining wall and to fund native-plant restoration at $25,000 per year for six years after a presentation that detailed deer damage and protections.
The township advisory committee voted to approve funding for two Arboretum projects: a $47,000 one‑time repair to a collapsing outdoor‑classroom retaining wall and a request for $25,000 annually for six years to restore native understory plants.
The committee’s chair proposed a single vote covering both project submissions after a presentation by Tedor Whitman, who described damage to the Arboretum’s understory caused by deer and a landscape architect’s repair estimate for the retaining wall. Whitman said, “we're asking for $25,000 a year for six years,” to cover plants, transport and maintenance, and that the wall repair estimate is “$47,000.”
Why it matters: committee members said the work would protect trails and preserve the Arboretum’s outdoor teaching space. Whitman told the group that if the back wall collapses, staff would likely have to reroute a major trail. He also explained that the understory setback resulted from a 2020 storm that damaged the deer fence, allowing several deer into the protected forest and setting back growth by an estimated decade.
During questions, committee member Priya asked about ideal planting seasons. Whitman said spring is best for herbaceous plants such as sedges and that fall is better for shrubs and young trees; he added that nurseries currently supply many spring‑planting species and that temporary fencing will be used around new plantings to reduce browsing risk. On materials for the retaining wall, Whitman said the current railroad ties (in place since the 1930s) have rotted and that replacing them with stone would be a more durable solution.
The group discussed procedural steps for moving funds and contracting. The chair noted the need to confirm whether funds would be transferred directly to the Arboretum or routed through the township purchasing process and said staff would follow the township’s purchasing requirements to obtain quotes and process payment.
Before the vote, member Bria said she would abstain and recuse herself from the decision. The transcript does not specify who formally moved or seconded the motion. Committee members present then recorded affirmative votes in support of both project requests; the committee recorded the outcome as approved. The transcript indicates four affirmative votes with one recusal.
No members of the public spoke during the public‑comment period. The committee thanked Whitman for the presentation and agreed to follow up on logistics and the regular allocation owed to the Arboretum.
