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Charles Town Tree Board discusses tree ordinance, Bee City USA resolution and equipment priorities
Summary
Board members reviewed the draft tree ordinance’s referral status, considered reintroducing a Bee City USA resolution to City Council, and discussed equipment and three-phase grant planning with the Department of Forestry to support maintenance and implementation.
At its Feb. 5 meeting the Charles Town Tree Board discussed several ongoing policy and operational items including a draft tree ordinance, a Bee City USA resolution and the possibility of purchasing maintenance equipment with grant funds.
Chair Aaron Amor said the draft tree ordinance that the board revised roughly six months ago had appeared on a City Council agenda but had not been referred to the ordinance committee; he suggested resubmitting the revisions for committee review. "Our revisions to the tree ordinance really should go to the city ordinance committee for review," Amor said, noting council members had follow-up questions.
On Bee City USA and pollinator gardens, Amor said Councilman Hines raised concerns about which city staff would serve as the liaison for a Bee City committee. Amor said he intends to request the Bee City resolution be returned to the City Council docket (Feb. 16) once the Parks & Rec director confirms willingness to serve as staff liaison.
Operational items discussed included removing tree grates in the spring, adding mulch to city trees, and coordinating clearance and cutting at sites such as Neat Brush, Evitts Run and Willingham Knowles after snow melt. Amor also described equipment the board could request under Department of Forestry grants—implements under $5,000 such as pruners, augers, auger attachments, rakes and possibly a trailer-mounted 300-gallon water tank—while noting the Forestry grant excludes chainsaws and stump grinders.
Amor said the Department of Forestry staff suggested a three-phase project approach so Charles Town could plan and demonstrate progress over multiple years rather than attempting to spend large grants in a single 12-month period. The board’s master plan has been submitted to City Council and Amor said the board will hold off finalizing a draft budget until grant outcomes and matching needs are clearer.
No formal votes on ordinance referral, Bee City adoption or equipment purchases were taken at the meeting; the board approved advancing the FADE TRACON grant application (see separate item) and will return to ordinance and equipment decisions in future meetings.
