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Chichester cemetery trustees decline to combine tree-removal projects, keep $9,000 cemetery request
Summary
At their Jan. 5 meeting, the Chichester Cemetery Trustees decided not to combine cemetery tree-removal work with the Road Agent's roadside project and retained a $9,000 cemetery tree-removal request after a contractor estimated full removal would cost about $50,000.
The Cemetery Trustees of Chichester, meeting Jan. 5, 2026, decided not to combine cemetery dead-tree removal with the Road Agent's roadside tree-removal project and will retain a $9,000 request for cemetery tree removal in their 2026 budget proposal. Present were trustees Ruth Hammen, Fred Shaw and Secretary Brenda Boswak.
The trustees told the Selectmen and Budget Committee at a Dec. 9, 2025 meeting that they planned a $7,000 general expenses request and a separate $9,000 line for tree removal. The Board and Committee asked the trustees to obtain an estimate to remove all trees endangering the cemeteries and to consider combining that work with the Road Agent's list of dead roadside trees for a single warrant article. Joseph Beachy of Extol Tree Care provided an estimate of about $50,000 to remove all such trees.
After meeting with Road Agent Joe McDaniels on Jan. 5, the trustees concluded that merging the two projects would not be feasible and would place a larger financial burden on taxpayers. The trustees voted to retain their $9,000 cemetery tree-removal request and agreed that the Road Agent will retain an $11,000 roadside tree-removal request. The trustees said they will continue addressing the deadliest trees in town cemeteries as funds and resources allow.
The trustees did not create a single warrant article seeking the larger estimate; instead, they kept separate budget requests so each department's needs remain discrete for the 2026 town meeting.
