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Residents warn Sheffield is "years behind" on hazardous trees; board outlines limits and budget
Summary
Residents pressed the board about tree removals, potential risks to power lines and who pays for removals. The board said a $30,000 public‑works tree budget exists for public property but that town funding cannot be used on private property and that National Grid or other utility owners handle trees affecting power lines.
Jim Larkin (speaker 8) told the board the town is "5 years behind the tree problem" and urged action after recent weather‑related tree damage. The board and staff explained the limits of municipal authority and funding: Sheffield has approximately $30,000 budgeted for public tree work but cannot remove trees on private property with public funds. Staff also described coordination with National Grid and other utilities where trees threaten power lines and encouraged residents to report hazardous public trees so the highway department or contractors can respond.
Board members noted that some tree work requires procurement or bids for projects above thresholds and that individual tree removals near power lines are often the utility's responsibility. The board said they will continue outreach to National Grid and encourage residents to report specific public trees they view as dangerous for prioritized assessment.
