[RP TownTalk] Management of street trees

[Dannielle Glaros]

Residents,

I've been following up with Public Works on a few related details, so I
thought I would share with you what I have learned.

1.  Public Works has done an assessment of all trees in the public
right-of-way that need to be removed or where branches need to be trimmed.
If you would like to add a tree to the list or would like to find out if a
tree is on that list, please contact Debbie Murphy, Acting Public Works
Director at 301-864-1803.
2.  The town no longer plants Bradford Pear trees and it only plants trees,
such as Red Bud and Cherry trees under power lines/cable lines.  These trees
do not grow as high as oaks and maples. 
3.  While the Town tries to remove trees and branches on its own, it oftens
contracts with an outside company to handle the removal.  This is especially
the case if the dead branches are high or wires are involved.  
4.  Tree nuts:)--please consider contacting Rebecca Feldberg.  I understand
from speaking with her that she is interested in activating the tree
committee and I'm sure she would appreciate a few volunteers.  She can be
contacted at rebeccafeldberg at gmail.com.
5.  If you have any future tree questions, you are welcome to contact me,
but you really should contact Debbie Murphy, Acting Public Works Director at
301-864-1803.  Moreover, I invite you to bring any concerns to the Town
Council at either a work session (last Monday in month) or legislative
meeting (1st Monday in Month).  The next meetings are July 31st and August
7th.

Cheers,
Dannielle Glaros
Deputy Town Administrator


-----Original Message-----
From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of David Hiles
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 11:03 PM
To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Management of street trees

My messages to this list are being moderated because I was judged to 
have violated the posting standards.
************************************

Walking the streets after the July 4 wind storm, I saw:
	1) a house and car damaged by limbs torn from a dying maple tree on 
Sheridan St
	2) a house without power because of the effect of a split in the
trunk 
of a Bradford pear on Tuckerman
	3) a portion of Tuckerman blocked by a half dead Bradford pear that 
broke off into the street

As far as I know, nobody was hurt.  These events seem to occur 
everytime we have a big storm, and I think they happen more than 
necessary.  We have a lot of mature Bradford pears and silver maple 
street trees planted by the town many years ago.  These trees are 
notorious for dropping limbs.  They should be pruned correctly to 
reduce their tendency to be pruned by the wind.  They should be put on 
a list for replacement.  If replacement is done in a scattered but 
planned way, it should be acceptable.

It would be a good thing for the town council to establish a policy for 
the maintenance of street trees and then to establish conditions under 
which the town staff can effectively carry out that policy.  The policy 
could be adapted from a model ordinance or policy from some other 
jurisdiction.  I think starting from scratch might not be successful.

The street tree policy would cover things like which varieties are to 
be planted, where trees go in relationship to power lines, guidelines 
for proper pruning and for the removal (and replacement) of sick trees 
when they become a hazard.

Just to let you know, here are my tree-nut credentials.  (Other -nut 
credentials available on request.)  I visited the Maryland State Tree 
at least twice. In Riverdale Park, I've planted a Shumard oak, three 
northern red oaks, and a Douglas fir.  I paid for skilled labor to save 
the old oak next to my house when it lost a lot of limbs to a tornado.


WE are who we have been waiting for.
http://riverdalepark.blogspot.com/


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