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Resident asks whether township will remove invasive Bradford pear trees; commission plans outreach and public subcommittee
Summary
A resident asked the Susquehanna Township Shade Tree Commission whether the township has a plan to remove invasive Bradford pear trees. Commissioners discussed forming a subcommittee including members of the public and stepped up outreach about invasive-tree identification and removal; no formal removal plan or timeline was adopted.
A resident asked the Susquehanna Township Shade Tree Commission on May 21 whether the township has a plan to remove invasive Bradford pear trees from public or private spaces.
The question came during the meeting’s opening public comment. Commissioners acknowledged the concern and discussed, under new business, forming a subcommittee that would include members of the public and expanding efforts to get information about invasive trees out to residents. The minutes note discussion of outreach but record no motion or timeline to remove Bradford pears specifically.
Why it matters: Bradford pear (an invasive cultivar commonly planted decades ago) can spread into natural areas and displace native species; residents and land managers often press local governments to coordinate removal or replacement programs. The commission’s steps — outreach and a public subcommittee — would aim to educate property owners and coordinate local action, but do not themselves authorize removal on public property.
What happened at the meeting: a member of the public raised the question about Bradford pears; commissioners responded by placing outreach and a subcommittee on the new-business agenda. The minutes record that the commission planned to "get information about invasive trees out to the public" and to form a subcommittee with public members, but the minutes do not record any decision on funding, a removal contractor, or a schedule for removal.
Next steps: the commission scheduled its next meeting for June 18, 2026, where follow-up on the subcommittee and outreach plans may appear. The minutes do not specify when or if removal actions will be proposed or whether the commission will recommend removal actions for public property, private property, or both.
Votes and formal actions recorded at the May 21 meeting were procedural (approval of the April minutes and adjournment); neither established a removal program for invasive species.
