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Select Board approves removal of diseased spruces at Old Town Center, funding to be confirmed
Summary
After an arborist found disease in a cluster of spruce trees on the Town Common, the Select Board approved removing the trees and asked staff to work with the Finance Committee to identify funding; quotes place removal at about $3,700 for five trees and roughly $4,300–$4,400 for all six.
DPW reported an arborist assessment that found internal decay or disease affecting a cluster of spruce trees at the Hill Road–Middle Road intersection on the Town Common. DPW (Ed Kukla) recommended removing the diseased trees to reduce public-safety risk and presented contractor estimates: about $3,700 to remove five trees and approximately $4,300–$4,400 to remove all six.
Homeowners at 429 Hill Road said a prior tree failure last year had already damaged a house and urged removal. Board members discussed stump grinding, replanting options (estimated at roughly $200–$300 per replacement tree) and the operational costs of stump removal (staff estimated stump grinding around $2,000). Several members suggested using a reserve fund transfer now and budgeting replanting or stump work in next year’s capital plan.
A motion to approve tree-management work at both the Hill/Middle Road location and the Depot Road location, contingent upon identifying funds with the Finance Committee, passed by voice vote. The board asked staff to return with granular cost breakdowns and options for stump removal and replanting before final procurement.
