Monday - November 9: In a contentious meeting Monday morning the Property Committee met with Tree Board member Dawn Johnson. Present at the meeting was Committee Chairman John McMahon, Committee Member Joe Soldano, Village Administrator Jim Saracco and Johnson.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the replacement of five trees in Broadway Park. At last week's Council Meeting Johnson has requested $1,620 from Village funds to purchase those trees. That request was referred to the Property Committee.
Johnson stated there are two dead trees in the first section of Broadway Park down from 5th Street. There is the tree that was struck by a car last year in the second park and another dead one on down from 6th St. One tree between 7th & 8th was alleged to be infested with tree bores and was removed. Johnson said the best time to plant new trees is in the fall of the year. The trees get ample nourishment from rain and snow melt over the winter months.
Johnson went on to say trees were first planted in Broadway Park in 1895 and were never maintained. One hundred years later many of those trees had hollow trunks and posed a serious danger. In 1995 the Broadway Park Committee was formed and all of the old trees were removed. Eventually through donations and people buying memorials the trees were replaced.
At yesterday's meeting Johnson stated that an agreement was made with the Park Committee and Council that the Village would pay for any trees that need replaced. She related that a former Council member said the money could be taken from the Capital Improvements fund. Johnson went on to say that since the trees are on Village land they are Village property and most towns budget funds for their upkeep. Johnson said she got several bids for the five trees and the best price she got was $1,620.
After several questions back and forth Johnson stated that the Broadway Committee only has around $200 left in their treasury that will be used for replacing a couple of pavers that were screwed up. When asked whether the Broadway Committee was still in existence Johnson contends it is. Council members stated it was their belief it was dissolved when the Tree Board was started. Former Tree Board members later confirmed that a letter was written and signed some time ago by all former Broadway Park members to abolish the Broadway Park Committee. This was done to avoid conflict and confusion with the Tree Board and copies of that letter was sent to Village officials.
After lecturing the two committee members present about it being Council's duty to be good stewards of the tax payer's money Johnson was reminded that Broadway Park is not the only piece of property the Village is responsible for. As with past administrations money for capitol improvements and park maintenance is still scarce. In essence there is no money available to replace trees she was told.
For more information on Tree Board developments see "Wellsville Tree Board Or Not" written on 6/11/09. Former members of the Tree Board stated that the tree that was run over last year sprouted new growth and looked good all this past summer. The tree alleged to be invested with bores was replanted on Riverside and it too had a good growing season over the summer months.
The Tree Board meets the second Monday of the month at 6 P.M. at Village Hall. Council's Personnel Committee will be meeting tomorrow at 1P.M. about contract negotiations and will be held in Executive Session. Tomorrow at 2 P.M. Council's Sewage Committee will meet to discuss the water bill sent to LSW for water used when they did the jet rodding. The Sewage meeting is open to the public. The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Novembe 17.
ole nib
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10 comments:
The personnel committee meeting has been changed to 10 a.m. Thursday. It is also open to the public but will go into ex. session.
I always thought when you buy trees from a nursery that they are guaranteed for so many years. I don't know where they were purchased. Maybe Dawn needs to speak to whoever she got the trees from. Broadway park is not the only place in town that needs to be taken care of.
Why couldn't they go somewhere else to get a tree like at Lowes. I would never buy a tree for $324 each.
Why is it then illegal?
how do you figure it's illegal? They are allowed to discuss negotiations in ex. session.
My sincere apologies. When I first read what "change said" I was in a hurry. I didn't see where he said it's Thursday. That certainly meets the 24 hr notification and again I'm sorry I missed it.
nib
The cost is to buy the tree, hav eit delivered and planted by the nursery.
I thought the volunteers were furnishing the labor. Didn't they dig the holes and plant the trees on the first round of the replacement trees on Broadway?
nib
Is the tree board following their own rules or laws? Has a permit been approved by the board for the replacement of the trees? Has the village approved the replacement of the trees via the permit? Both the board & the village has to approve tree removal or plantings. If the village hasn't approved it, then there shouldn't be any talk on the subject or funds spent. But if it has, the tree board should be able to plant their own trees. They plant one each year for Arbor Day. Why can't they plant a few more for the betterment of the village & save the village some very needed funds? It's sad, we had a tree board committee that really was going in a positive direction for the village. Now we have a tree board that appears is going to cost the village money because they don't want to get dirty by planting a few trees themselves.
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