ITEM FILE PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — A maple tree situated in front of 45 Andrew Road has been deemed a hazard and will be taken down.
The decision was made at Wednesday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting during a Tree Hearing Appeal to reverse the decision of Tree Warden Gene Gardner, who had recommended that the Andrew Road tree remain standing. A date for the removal has not been set.
Eleven trees were up for discussion Wednesday night, led by Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Gino Cresta, who reported that Gardner had recommended that six of those trees be taken down. The rest would remain standing, with the tree in front of Andrew Road initially being one of those.
Cresta said if a resident requests that a tree come down, a hearing is held by the DPW. On average, he said three tree hearings are held a year, with 10 to 12 trees evaluated at each hearing. The most recent tree hearing was held on Dec. 29, with 11 trees evaluated.
When receiving a request for the tree to come down, the health of the tree is considered, including whether the tree is hollow or rotted, Cresta said. He said the tree could also be taken down if it is a hazard, as was the case with the tree at 45 Andrew Road.
We’re not in the habit of taking trees down for convenience,” Cresta said.
Bill and Carolyn Jones, residents of 45 Andrew Road, said the tree in front of their home is a hazard.
“This tree in the past few years has started leaning immensely,” Bill Jones said.
He said the tree leans over the road, with the problem getting worse over time. He said he and his wife are concerned that the tree will topple with bad weather.
“It’s not going to take much to topple it over,” Jones said.
If the tree does fall, Jones said it would take out power lines. He said he’s spoken with National Grid, and “they indicated grave concerns about that too. The main concern of he and his wife is the tree in high winds. While looking at the tree in dry weather, he said a person may feel comfortable, but “we do not feel comfortable with the tree like this.”
With the tree leaning towards the street, Jones said he and his wife have to pass under it each time they enter or exit their driveway. He said the problem is not just confined to them and affects their neighbors’ houses across the street from them.
Carolyn Jones said the tree is also leaning towards a bus stop across the street from her house. She said there is a stop sign in the vicinity of the tree, and “anyone who has to stop is in danger.” She added that a neighbor has told her he’s observed large trucks driving on the opposite side of the street to avoid the tree.
Ralph Souppa, a resident of 36 Andrew Road, said his wife has been concerned about the tree for years. He said there’s a large gash in there and removing it “seems very obvious to us.”
Cresta said he drives by the tree everyday and hasn’t noticed any tree limbs coming down recently. He said the tree has been pruned, with all of the dead wood taken out of it.
“I think it should come down,” Cresta said of the tree.
Cresta said his department is consulting with an arborist, who will take six to eight weeks to evaluate the health of the remaining trees from December’s hearing. The Board of Selectmen voted to table any discussion or action taken on those trees until the report from the arborist is completed and submitted to the DPW, which Board Chair Naomi Dreeben said would be by early April.
Also discussed was coming up with a plan on how to replace trees taken down. Dreeben said she values mature trees in town and wants to make a conscious plan of how to replace those older trees. She also wanted to implement a plan for the maintenance of trees so “mature trees last longer.”
Selectman John Callahan agreed, saying it’s “no secret” that most of the mature trees in town are coming to an end of their lifespan. He said a plan would be a wise way to go.
“It’s not something that’s going to happen overnight,” Callahan said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected].