Hurricane Sandy: Town Board Discusses Tree Clean Up

During the Town Board's special budget review meeting with department heads on Nov. and Nov. 9, 2012, the following discussion took place about the removal of downed trees.

The Town anticipates hiring a logging company to remove downed trees on the right of ways and on Town land at a cost of $150/hour. This will be a FEMA reimbursable expense. It is estimated that the company will have a week’s worth of work. The trees will be deposited in one or more central locations in town where a second company, hired by the state DOT and working through the county, will pick up and dispose of the trees at no cost to the Town.

Town staff will survey the downed trees and tag or spray paint those that the logging company will collect.

An effort will be made to identify trees that could be sold for lumber; this would help recoup some of the cost.

The Board discussed, but came to no decision, on exactly how many feet from the road the trees have to be in order to be picked up by the logging company.  Also discussed was the possibility that while the logging company was picking up a “town” tree, the homeowner might be able to negotiate with the company to remove trees on their property at the same $150/hour rate. No decision was made.

Also at issue is whether the utility companies that cut down trees and placed them in the right of way will return to remove the trees (as they have done in the past), or whether this will become a Town responsibility.

Residents are reminded that the Town does not pick up logs greater than 5” but that logs can be brought to the Organic Waste Facility on Greenwood Street. If a homeowner hires someone to remove the cut up trees, the vendor can get a waiver for the disposal fee at the facility. 

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