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Council discusses survey and removal program for dead roadside trees after windstorm
Summary
Following recent storms and reports of downed trees, councilors proposed surveying and prioritizing removal of hazardous roadside trees. Members discussed coordinating with the municipal utility, RIDOT, DPW and contracted tree services and flagged public‑safety concerns.
Councilors raised public‑safety concerns after a recent windstorm and suggested a program to survey and remove dead trees along town roads. A council member described widespread dead trees on highways and in forested areas, recounted a past local injury from a falling tree and urged the town to be proactive in identifying hazardous trees near roads and power lines.
Members discussed working with Clear River (the municipal utility), RIDOT, DPW and contracted firms (Stanley Tree was mentioned) to mark and remove trees. The DPW already has a budget line for annual trimming; councilors suggested expanding the effort and potentially adding a tree warden or targeted contract to speed mitigation in hazardous corridors. No final appropriation was made at the Jan. 14 meeting; the proposal advanced as a topic for administrative follow‑up and coordination.
