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Board orders review of funds and work plan after safety concerns about trees near school playground
Summary
Select Board members raised safety risks from hanging limbs and missing fencing at the elementary school, directed staff to compile a list of funding sources and carry-forward budget items and tabled related budget decisions to June 16 to ensure hazard removal before heavy summer use.
Bridgton Select Board members said June 2 that hanging limbs and removed fencing near the elementary school present an immediate safety concern for young children and recreation users, and they instructed staff to identify funds and plans to address the hazards.
The school superintendent told the board about a previous case in another district in which a child was fatally struck by a falling limb in a similar situation, and urged prompt action on limb removal and fence restoration. Board members discussed potential funding sources including cemetery, public-works, and hazard-tree line items and said some funds may be carried forward from FY25-26 to cover needed work.
Because the board did not have a line-item list available, members voted to table the formal carry-forward warrant until the June 16 meeting and requested that staff prepare a specific list of accounts and dollar amounts for review. One board member emphasized the urgency given upcoming summer programs and community events.
The board also tasked the manager with checking whether public-works can perform the tree work or if a private contractor is needed; if fence removal is required to remove limbs, the board said the fence should be replaced afterward.
Next steps: staff will assemble a line-item list for carry-forward requests, identify available hazard-tree funds, and return with recommendations at the June 16 meeting so removal and fence repairs can be scheduled before peak recreation days.
