Town of Hampton - Lane Memorial Library

- SHADE TREE COMMISSION -
The Shade Tree Commission is a three member board which acts as an advisor
to the Board of Selectmen. Its purpose is to recommend policy and plans to the
Selectmen on the planting, care, and removal of trees on Town Property. It
was created by a vote of Town Meeting, Article 27, in March 1975 the Town
Manager, Peter Lombardi, wrote to the then chairman, Roland Paige, that the
Board of Selectmen had unanimously voted that Town policy would be that all
trees which are cut under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be replaced
with another tree in some suitable location, not necessarily in the area where it
was cut.
A citizen will call the Department of Public Works or Selectmen, to ask that the Town cut down a tree.
That citizen must prove the tree is on Town land. Once the complaint is registered members of the
Commission, and the Parks Department employee attached to the Commission will inspect the tree
and decide the issue.
In 2005, one tree was placed on the “Watch List”, eight trees were taken down, and one tree was
determined not to be on Town property. Two trees were listed as take downs because of hazards they
were posing. In 2006 ten trees were taken down, and two trees were put on the “Watch List”. An
additional storm damaged tree was removed. Two trees were determined to be healthy and removal
was refused.
Darren Patch of the Parks Department brought back two brochures, “Planting Trees” and “Pruning
Young Trees”, from a seminar he attended. He placed them on the Town Office’s Public Information
Counter for the public. He also reproduced a photograph, offered to the seminar participants; on the
damage too much mulch causes trees.
Marilyn Wallingford, Chairman, officially resigned form the
Commission in October. Plans for a proactive role by the
Commission stopped with her resignation. The Selectmen have
asked for volunteers from the community to fill Commission
vacancies.
In 1999 all monies for Shade Tree activities was zeroed out of the
Town budget and the work of the Commission depends on using
Parks Department funds, and donations.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Webb
Mark Olson
Darren Patch, Parks Department
Marilyn Wallingford - Chairman
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