Surace Meets With Tree Board

Monday - April 26: At the invitation of the Mayor, Wellsville's Tree Board and Council's Porperty Committee met with him and other Village officials Monday morning. The meeting was held at Village Hall. In addition to Joe Surace, Village Administrator Jim Saracco, Committee Members Susan Haugh & Randy Allmon were there. Representing the Tree Board was Dawn & Jodi Johnson, Nancy Gill, Carol Thompson and Gwen Murphy. The purpose of the meeting was to see what can be done to prevent future instances such as happened recently with a Broadway resident.

Before going any farther we want to emphasize that everyone at the meeting wanted it pointed out, and made clear, that First United Methodist Church had done nothing wrong. In fact the members of that congregation were commended by all at the meeting for their generous community efforts to improve and beautify a section of 5th Street. They meticulously followed the procedure, raised the funds and even helped plant the new trees along both sides of the street, next to their building.

At last week's Council meeting a Broadway resident addressed Council in regards to a new tree that was planted on what he thought was his property. He advised Council that the tree was planted over a sewer line that caused continual problems getting clogged up with tree roots for the first five years he owned his home. That sewer line is underneath the strip of grass between his sidewalk and the curb. Not wanting the tree, he pulled it out and a short time later had a confrontation with members of Wellsville's Tree Board. The Tree Board Chairwoman pointed out to the resident that, by ordinance. they were within their rights to plant that tree in that particular spot. Consequently the tree was replanted after the police were called. That prompted the resident to approach Council and request that the tree be removed.

Monday's meeting, if anything, was contentious with both sides going back and forth and at many times interrupting while others were trying to speak. After opening the meeting Mayor Joe Surace gave Dawn Johnson the floor. Johnson is the Chair of the Tree Board Committee.

Johnson gave a history of the Board and explained their goals. She went on to explain that under the guidelines of Village Ordinance 06-34 passed in October of 2006, the Tree Board did nothing wrong. Stating the trees planted on 5th Street was not a Board project they did inform members of the Church what needed to be done, advised them on the type of trees that could be used and agreed to oversee the project. No one advised them if there was a sewer line there even though a state agency had the utility companies check the area before the planting.

Johnson stated that the goal of the Board is to renew the "urban forest" in Wellsville by selecting large grassy areas for planting new, non-invasive trees suitable for urban areas. She passed hand-outs to most of those present with information on the benefits of having an "urban forest". According to her research trees are a tremendous help in removing pollutants from the atmosphere and cut down on electricity consumption needed for air conditioning plus other benefits. She said "our goal is to get scrappy areas replanted with trees".


Johnson stated that the Mayor and a Council liaison are automatic members and in total they have 10 members. She did admit that the required annual reports have not been submitted going on three years now. She advised that plans were not completed and nothing really changed. It was felt the reports were unnecessary. The ordinance requires the annual reports be submitted to Council each year. It was contended that work permits should suffice even though they do not cover all the required information required by the ordinance. Johnson stated that the Tree Board should be part of the agenda for regular Council meetings and the Council liaison should be responsible for reporting their activities.

Discussion then moved on to funding issues with it being noted that the Village has no money budgeted for the Tree Board. The Board feels that small amounts should be budgeted to at least hold the yearly observance of Arbor Day in April. Johnson pointed out that they wrote the application for the grant for the new walks in Broadway Park and recently applied for a grant to sponsor a Litter Day. She said they were responsible for getting the grant for the new playground equipment for 18 St. They had hoped to use part of that grant to buy a tree for the playground but none of it was designated to be used for an Arbor Day observance in that location. Two members of the Board mentioned that they have "dug in their own pockets" to help with some of the Board's expenses. They are permitted to use $200 of the Litter grant for mulch. Finally she reported that a $500 donation and help from members of the Martin-MacLean-Altmeyer Funeral Home made it possible for the Board to replace some trees in Broadway Park this year.

Property Committee Chair Sue Haugh stated that when she first heard about the 5th Street project she was excited. She commented the ordinance is not exactly clear but feels some consideration for the resident's opinions should come into play. "We need to fix what's broken" in the ordinance. Haugh stated that at one time she thought surely the Village could afford to designate some money for the Tree Board saying she was a former member of the Board. However, since being elected to her Council seat and spending hours studying Village finances she has learned "there really is no money" to spare. Using the present shortages in the Fire Dept. as an example she would support any extra funds be directed to them first. She commended the Board on what they have accomplished over the years and asked if they have considered using a public relations campaign such as writing letters or knocking on doors to notify residents of pending projects. Have they considered fund raisers?

Haugh further stated that she believes Council members support the Board but would like to see changes made in the ordinance to give residents time to comment on proposed projects. She feels something like a 15 day advance notice be given council in addition to the required work permit. She said there is a need to work together and keep lines of communication open adding it's just common courtesy. Haugh advised members of the Property Committee are in the process to recommending such changes in the ordinance to be amended. However, she would see the Board has the chance to review any changes before it is presented to Council.

Village Administrator Saracco commented he didn't realize the 5th Street project would go to Broadway and apologized on behalf of the Village. It wasn't apparent to him when he signed off on the work permit. However, he feels, as the ordinance is written the residents have no rights to ask that nothing be planted in front of their homes. Some folks don't want anything planted on that right-of-way.

Mayor Surace concurred with Haugh that the Board is doing a great job and appreciates all volunteer committee efforts to improve things in the Village. Surace said he would love to give money to the Tree Board but has to agree there are other departments that need funds that may come available. In this economy he stated he feels his priority is to keep Wellsvill, (Ohio), USA, going. He feels Board members should be present at Council meetings personally to report on their activities no matter what it is. Surace said you can't take away people's rights and asked "What is a Mayor to do?" Answering his own question, he said it's his duty to protect Wellsville citizen's rights and will recommend and endorse amending the ordinance. It's his wish to avoid future conflicts and does not want to be forced to disolve the Tree Board. He likes what the Board has accomplished and hopes they continue working with the Village.

Personally, we mostly like what the Tree Board has accomplished over the years and hope they continue their efforts. As Dawn Johnson stated "mistakes have been made" and admitted she's made a few herself. That's only human. Johnson has been involved from the very beginning. It started as the Broadway Park Committee and evolved into the Tree Board when it was decided to earn Tree City USA status. She is remarkably gifted organizing, great for planning projects and energetic going after grant money. Lack of detail exhibited by the Board not filing the required annual reports can be easily corrected. Their efforts over the years have earned Wellsville the honor of being named a Tree City USA two or three times.

However, we have to agree the ordinance seriously needs amended. We like the advanced notice requirement mentioned. We also would like to see a clause where a resident has the right to nix plans on planting trees on pieces of property they are responsible for maintaining, even if it is owned by the Village. We feel the resident should have the same right on plans to remove trees if they are not unsafe. Additionally we would like to see some more concentrated efforts to find grant funding to remove some of those 100 plus year old trees that are unsafe. Some of those trees are so tall. If a high wind would cause one of them with a rotting root system, to be blown over there are many places two or three homes would be damaged and that's not to mention the human risk involved.

Finally, members of the Board said they never get any coverage at their once a month meetings. They meet the second Monday of every month at 6 P.M. at Village Hall. For us that conflicts with the Wellsville Board of Education Meetings every month. We've heard Jo Bob ask they consider another time. If they would just move the meeting time back to 7:30 or 8 o'clock we would love to cover their meetings. We might even sneak in a picture or two sometimes!

Although we think "we shall never see anything as lovely as a tree", we feel education is more important. Please consider it folks...

ole nib