A Clear Explanation from Steve Gold

To all,

The walk I took today along almost the full length of Main Street with Terry Brown helped to clarify the problem and arrive at some positive conclusions:

1. First and foremost it was apparent that no further trees should be removed. I’ve talked to two other Councilmen and will discuss it with the others before Monday night’s workshop. I am certain that more than a majority of Council will agree to immediately cease the removal of any more trees.
2. Dead or dying trees will still be removed. I believe there are only two that fit into that category.
3. The sidewalks need to be repaired and we can either use the traditional method of cement and take our chances that they will need to be redone sometime in the future, or we can try Lou Sebesta ’s technique along with other creative sidewalk treatments. Larger tree beds should be designed to insure that more water gets to the roots.
4. If the contractor will not renegotiate, there are plenty of locations where over the years trees have been remove, that can now be replanted.
5. In general, the city needs to look further into some of the questions asked about how we can tighten up our regulations to protect trees including as mentioned “tree city regulations”. I know we can do better particularly when it comes to private homes and developers.
6. Store owners who have complained about trees in front of their shops will have the sidewalks repaired but the trees will remain. That will apply even if they are seed barring trees which require sweeping.

What went wrong:

1. Going back to last month, part of the problem has already been expressed….the council’s wishes were ignored since sidewalks where the there was little if any lifting had trees removed. That was inexcusable. To be generous, it may be said that the Council’s meaning of “dangerous” trees was a lot different than the City Administration. But certainly questions should have been asked by the Administrator to clarify the definition before to project proceeded and trees were cut down.
2. Again last month, I for one was too quick to agree with arguments made by some shop owners and the Administration that some of the trees on Main Street were “dangerous”. Lou Sebesta tried to tell me that but I still thought if the sidewalks were pushed up past a certain point, they were dangerous and the tree would have to be removed. I was wrong. Sidewalks can be replaced….a life cannot.
3. Very little communication took place to inform the store owners and the public, to let them know what was going to take place. Part of the communications process is the City Council Agenda. I will improve the publishing time by teaching the Mayor’s secretary how to upload it. That will insure it is available as soon as it is completed. I am also going to let you know how you can have it mailed directly to you when it is ready. I need to work that out before I can give you the instructions.

For some, this has been a disaster because the esthetics of a barren treescape. It may help to know that approx 15 foot large trees will be used for the replacement. The look wouldn’t be as lush as before but it will fill in nicely soon. This group may have preferred that the trees be taken down over a longer period of time and more widely dispersed than what was done.

For some like me, this was also a disaster because living trees were needlessly killed (but I am the kind of person who stopped buying Christmas Trees because I couldn’t stand to see them die just to please my holiday fancy). For that group we can know that we have saved the remaining trees. At least I am confident that will be the case at Monday night’s meeting. Since many of us fall into this category, it will be a welcome decision to end the tree cutting program immediately, as I expect will happen.

It is so wonderful to have so many people feeling so passionate about saving trees! You can and really have made a difference. That is usually the case when people get involved…so don’t stop here. I look forward to seeing many of you at Monday night’s 7:00pm workshop.

(please pass this on to others who have expressed concern about this matter)

Steve