There’s a literal power struggle unfolding on one-block/two-municipality Gray Street — which straddles the Montclair/Glen Ridge border — where 18 old-growth trees have been removed or destroyed over the past few days.
According to the residents of the block, PSE&G crews showed up last Thursday, July 28, without notice or warning, to install a new power line that crews repeatedly said would “exclusively service the Glen Ridge Country Club.” Crews said a second power line to be later installed behind the homes, would serve the street.
Refusing to show permits when asked, workers began taking down or cutting any of the curbside trees that impeded their work. Residents said there was no care being taken to prune or otherwise protect the health of the trees. When the homeowners protested — which they did, full force — they claim that they were intimidated and threatened. Resident Brad Thatcher (pictured below, right) was away on a family vacation for the initial cutting, but since his return on Sunday, has become a spokesman for the community activist group that quickly assembled to protest the action.
Thatcher and others have created a petition, which they started to circulate last evening, speaking with neighbors on adjacent blocks, Harvard and Stephen Streets. So far they have gotten signatures from more than 40 households. The Glen Ridge residents of the block succeeded in getting the town council to meet and discuss the situation in a public meeting on Monday, August 8, 7:30 p.m. in the Glen Ridge Municipal Building (825 Bloomfield Avenue). The GR council sent out a notice to residents this afternoon stating that it had “suspended the regular order of business for a PSE&G presentation by Everton Scott, Regional Public Affairs Manager.”
“My Glen Ridge neighbor, Perry Jones, spoke to Scott regarding our situation, and was told that we shouldn’t bother to fight this, that residents in other townships have tried and didn’t win,” said Thatcher. “He cited a similar scenario that took place in Wayne.”
Thatcher and his neighbors are looking into their legal options, though the damage to their shade canopy has been done. There’s a second line due to be installed behind the same Gray Street houses, which will service the residential power needs. “We’re concerned that all the trees in our backyards will be brutalized like the ones in the front,” he said.
The Gray Street residents are trying to get a crowd to turn out to Monday’s meeting, to demand some answers and ensure that things will be done differently going forward.
“I don’t begrudge the Country Club for wanting its power, but the installation of the line should have been done responsibly. We should have had information about this before it happened, and the trees should have been protected.”
As for the Montclair township’s official response to its residents’ pleas for explanation, Thatcher has come away with the message that “they just don’t care.”
Thatcher shared an email sent to Gray Street resident Michael Pradieu from Mayor Jerry Fried:
From: Jerry Fried
Date: August 1, 2011 10:02:48 PM EDT
To: MichaelPSubject: Re: An advice please Our Council passed a Resolution a couple of years ago laying out a protocol for institutions like PSEG and MSU as well as entities like Essex County to follow in order to make sure that our residents are protected from actions that are taken that are out of our direct jurisdiction. PSEG should have filed a request with our Township Clerk who would have forwarded it to the Manager for staff input and to the Governing Body for a Resolution stating the Council’s “position” on the project.
Alas, this did not happen. I am confident that Montclair has the proper protocol, although it was not followed.
Jerry F.
Since this initial email, Mayor Fried has not responded to further emails from Gray Street residents.
Thatcher told Baristanet that according to the NJ Board of Utilities, when PSEG does such projects they must have clearance from the towns. “What’s most disturbing, is that neither town made any efforts to minimize the impact of these projects for our street and did not notify us of any plans,” he said. “Clearly, PSE&G did consult with the town to some degree, as the Montclair tree department was involved in removing the large tree in my front yard. Montclair is not willing to do anything – that much is clear.”
We’ll post more on this story as it unfolds, but in the meantime, will you turn out for Monday’s meeting? We suspect that resident activists from the South End of Glen Ridge will also be there.
I wonder how the Country Club would feel if we cut down their trees? (I got a chainsaw in my car, Deb, Liz you can get the exclusive, you in?)
@johnlee you’ve missed the point (again). No one wants to kill trees on the Glen Ridge Counry Club. The people on Gray st valued their trees and didn’t want them destroyed.
Let’s have a flash mob at the 19th hole!
oh Paz, I have seen some of the shut-in curmudgeons who post on Baristnet, gravity has not been kind, the last thing anyone wants to see is any of them flashing, at the 18th hole or anyplace else; then again, I am sure trees would never be cut down again
@johnlee gravity is NEVER kind. You’ll find that our as you age.
The 18th hole on the Glen Ridge Country Club is in Bloomfield land near Yantacaw. The 19th hole is in the clubhouse in Glen Ridge.
As one ages, one gets better at geography and NOT advocating criminal actions against others!
huh? criminal activity? geography? who wants to kill trees?
thous knowest not sarcasm if it did a tap dance under neon lights proclaiming it as such
AA+ ?
He’s toast.
I’m sure they lost a lot of value in their houses. At a minimuum, they should be able to get major reductions in their property taxes. If PSE&G violated any laws, the homeowners might have a good lawsuit. It’s sad for the town and the street, though, as it will take decades to recreate the shade. I wonder how hard it would be to get a temporary restraining order.
Good grief …..
Harvard Street is in the 2nd Ward, and I am their representative. I only wish they had contacted me!
In addition to being a Master Gardener, with good background in Arboriculture, and liaison to the Environmental Commission, I have worked on Montclair’s tree efforts for at least six years, starting with the Urban Forestry plan I submitted the prior Council. Additionally, I work very closely with Montclair’s Arborist, Steve Schuckman.
I have also worked cooperatively with the PSEG representative, Scott Everton, in the past, successfully.
I could have given a sensitive understanding of the situation virtually immediately.
I have no idea what the Mayor is talking about re. “protocols” for PSEG or MSU to notify Montclair of actions they might take that affect Montclair. I am sure both are unaware of our “protocols” and their one sided, powerless procedures. We may demand that they obey our protocols. They are free to ignore them.
I wish the Mayor would have had the common courtesy to talk to me.
In any event I will meet with the Town Arborist tomorrow, and report back.
PSEG has broad discretion over the trees that are in the public right away. In the past we have used persuasion rather than threats to PSEG. Sometimes PSEG uses subcontractors and education is the solution.
Perhaps those Gray Street residents ought to show up at tomorrow’s Farmer’s Market and see if they can spot Mayor Jerry doing the important work of gathering signatures for his election date petition – maybe then they can bend his ear.
whew! snark worked! (that story was around for a few hours before I posted my snark-asm)
The key thing here is to make people aware of the meeting and get them there. Comments, tweets, and word of mouth work.
“maybe then they can bend his ear.”
Only if you were willing to sign.
Trees be damned. One doesn’t pay a 50 k/yr membership fee fir spotty power service.
@johnlee snarkasm is not the suggestion of killing living things or destruction of private property. That’s called criminal behavior.
Go Brad! I can’t imagine what it was like to come home and see only the stump of a grand old tree. Years ago, my neighbor convinced the town to remove a beautiful (old but healthy) silver maple that was partly on my proprerty because he was sick of picking up the leaves… I came home from work to find a horrible mess. I can forgive this otherwise kindly elderly neighbor, but what your neighborhood is going though is much worse. I’ll do what I can to be there Monday night!
The person Bloomfield has had for years who is in charge of the street trees is supposed to be some great horticulturist. He has presided over the slow devastation of entire neighborhoods by cutting down all the street trees over time, always asserting they are diseased and must come down. Yes, not a single tree in people’s yards seems to get diseased, nor in the adjacent Brookdale Park even on the street.
On Oakridge Road in Bloomfield, when fewer than half the old oak trees were left, the residents stood up and fought. The horticultruist was brought out to counter. To make a long story short, he failed in his assertions. It turned out taking the trees down had NOTHING to do with any disease. They were taking them down so they would not interfere with the new street curbs planned for the neighborhood — rather than simply work around the three roots. In the end, the residents were told their street would not get any new curbs until those trees were taken down. The residents would not allow it.
So, now all the other streets in the neighborhood where all the treed would taken down have new curbs — but not Oakridge Road, because it still has about a third of hits old trees standing.
I tell this story because: Glen Ridge uses the same horticulturist as Bloomfield, and Montclair about a year or so ago hired the horticulturist handling Bloomfield to also be in charge of trees for Montclair! Do you think he gave the OK to cut down these trees in Glen Ridge and Montclair?! This guy should be thrown in jail!
The Montclair township arborist is not the person that grants permits for tree removal.
from the Montclair e-codes
§ 297-11 Shade trees.
In any situation where shade trees along the line of the work will be affected, it shall be necessary to obtain the consent in writing of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to any necessary removal, cutting of tree roots or cutting of such trees. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs must be notified first before any construction work is done if there is a shade tree that will be affected.
I don’t think that Bloomfield and Montclair share the same arborist with Glen Ridge.
This from the Glen Ridge official website:
Richard Wolowicz NJ Tree Expert, works on Mondays and can be reached via e-mail at trees@glenridgenj.org or by phone at 973-748-8400 ext 202
http://glenridgenj.org/shadetree.htm
Our Council passed a Resolution a couple of years ago laying out a protocol for institutions like PSEG and MSU as well as entities like Essex County to follow in order to make sure that our residents are protected from actions that are taken that are out of our direct jurisdiction.
Mister Mayor’s buffoonery knows no bounds. The council spent hours discussing these ridiculous resolutions they passed that are nothing more than, “Hey, MSU/PSE&G, we know we have no power over ____ issue, but please pretend like we do, ‘k?” It was utter nonsense from start to finish, but the council did it anyway. And now he’s going to act surprised that PSE&G didn’t come to the council when it knows it doesn’t have to?
Hey, ROC, did you see this, from S&P:
Compared with previous projections, our revised base case scenario now
assumes that the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, due to expire by the end of 2012,
remain in place. We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act.
Its just so entirely expensive to live around here in our shady enchanted forest suburbs that we should be entitled to enjoy the natural beauty and be protected by law from this smug unpleasant cruelness. This tree fascism is terrorizing and should not have to exist.
Hs anyone called the Glen RidgeShade Tree Commission – Elizabeth Baker and Larry Stauffer are both listed on switchboard.com
Shade Tree Commission Members:
Timothy N. Delorm, L.L.A. – Chair
Elizabeth K. Baker
Larry Stauffer
Sally Ellison – Vice Chair
Betsy Ginsberg
The Glen Ridge Borough Shade Tree Commission has the power to:
Exercise full and exclusive control over the regulation, planting and care of shade and ornamental trees and woody shrubs now located, or which may hereafter be planted in any (1) public highway and (2) park or parkway, except such as are excluded pursuant to Section I of this ordinance including the planting, trimming, spraying, care and protection thereof;
Control the use of the publicly owned ground surrounding the same, so far as may be necessary for their proper growth, care and protection;
With the advice of the Borough Forester, move or require the removal of any tree, or part thereof, dangerous to public safety;
Administer treatment to, or remove, any tree situated upon private property which is believed to harbor a disease of insects readily communicable to neighboring healthy trees in the care of the Borough of Glen Ridge and enter upon private property for that purpose, with the consent of the owner thereof, provided the suspected condition is first confirmed by certificate issued by or on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The work of such removal shall be done by or at the expense of the owner or tenant of such lands, and shall be done under the supervision of the Forester.
Encourage arboriculture.
http://glenridgenj.org/shadetree.htm
Here is the text of the ordinance creating a Glen Ridge Shade Tree Commission- note that there a penalites for property damage.
ORDINANCE 1543
ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF GLEN RIDGE, COUNTY OF ESSEX, STATE OF NEW JERSEY ADDING CHAPTER 12.26, SHADE TREE COMMISSION TO THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF GLEN RIDGE
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor & Council of the Borough of Glen Ridge, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey that Chapter 12.26, Shade Tree Commission, is hereby added to the Code of the Borough of Glen Ridge, as follows:
SECTION 12.26-1 Commission; personnel; appointment.
The regulation, planting, care and control of shade and ornamental trees and woody shrubs upon and in (1) the streets, highways, public spaces owned by the Borough of Glen Ridge and which provide public access, allowing for activities such as pedestrian and vehicular travel, active and passive recreation, and flood control, and (2) parks and parkways of the Borough of Glen Ridge except State highways, unless the Department of Transportation shall assent thereto and except county highways, parks and parkways, if a County Shade Tree Commission is operative and gives assent to, shall be exercised by and under the authority of Glen Ridge Borough Shade Tree Commission, which is hereby created.
The Commission shall consist of five (5) members, and may include not more than two alternate members. The members and alternate members shall be appointed by the Mayor with Council consent, and shall be residents of the Borough of Glen Ridge and shall serve without compensation.
SECTION 12.26-2 First Commission; subsequent Commissions; terms.
The first Commissioners, shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of this ordinance, and their terms of office shall commence upon the date of their appointment and be for the respective periods: 5 members – of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. The terms of each appointee shall be designated in his appointment. All subsequent appointments, except to fill vacancies, shall be for the full term of five years, to take effect on January 1, next succeeding such appointment. In event that the membership of the Commission is increased, the new members shall be appointed in such manner that the terms shall expire in accordance with the foregoing.
If the ordinance provides for the appointment of two alternate members, the terms of each alternate member shall be five years commencing on January 1 of the year of appointment; provided, however, that in the event two alternate members are appointed the initial term of “Alternate No. 1” shall be five years, and the initial term of “Alternate No. 2” shall be four years. An alternate member may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member.
SECTION 12.26-3 Organization; salaries of officer and employees.
The Commission shall organize within 30 days after the appointment of its total membership for the remainder of the then calendar year, and thereafter annually by the election of one of its members as chairman, and the appointment of a secretary, who need not be a member. The salary of the secretary, who may be compensated even if a member of the Commission shall be fixed by the Mayor & Council of the Borough of Glen Ridge.
SECTION 12.26-4 Vacancies.
Any vacancy occurring by reason of the death, resignation or removal of any Commissioner shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Mayor or other chief executive of the Borough of Glen Ridge Borough of Glen Ridge.
SECTION 12.26-5 Powers of Commission.
The Shade Tree Commission organized under this ordinance shall have power to:
A. Exercise full and exclusive control over the regulation, planting and care of shade and ornamental trees and woody shrubs now located, or which may hereafter be planted in any (1) public highway and (2) park or parkway, except such as are excluded pursuant to Section I of this ordinance including the planting, trimming, spraying, care and protection thereof;
B. Control the use of the publicly owned ground surrounding the same, so far as may be necessary for their proper growth, care and protection;
C. With the advice of the Borough Forester, move or require the removal of any tree, or part thereof, dangerous to public safety;
D. Administer treatment to, or remove, any tree situated upon private property which is believed to harbor a disease of insects readily communicable to neighboring healthy trees in the care of the Borough of Glen Ridge and enter upon private property for that purpose, with the consent of the owner thereof, provided the suspected condition is first confirmed by certificate issued by or on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The work of such removal shall be done by or at the expense of the owner or tenant of such lands, and shall be done under the supervision of the Forester.
E. Encourage arboriculture.
SECTION 12.26-6 Exclusions
The Shade Tree Commission organized under this ordinance shall not have power to:
A. Make, alter, amend or repeal ordinances.
B. Assess abutting homeowner for the planting or removal of a public tree.
SECTION 12.26-7 Public improvements affecting trees; consent of Commission, county park Commissions unaffected.
No statute giving any person or State, county or municipal board, body or official, power or authority to lay any sidewalk along, or to open, construct, curb or pave any street, or to do any similar act, shall be construed to permit or authorize any interference with or injury to a highway shade tree without the consent of the Shade Tree Commission within whose jurisdiction such tree shall be located. In all cases such Commission shall reasonably co-operate with such person, board, body or official for the general public good. Nothing contained in this ordinance shall be held to take away or diminish any of the powers or authority of the Essex County Park Commission over the trees or woody shrubs in any Essex County Park or Parkway within its jurisdiction, or to give any other Commission or board any power or authority with respect to such trees or woody shrubs.
SECTION 12.26-8 Annual appropriation; estimate; amount.
A. During the month of December in each year, the Shade Tree Commission shall submit to the Mayor & Council of the Borough of Glen Ridge the estimated sum necessary for the proper conduct of its work during the ensuing fiscal year, which shall include the sums estimated to be expended for such of the following items as it is anticipated expenditure will be made for; namely,
1. Payment of wages and salaries of employees;
2. Expenses of Commission members in discharging official duties including
expenses incident to attendance at professional meetings;
3. Purchase of trees and woody shrubs; and
4. Purchase of necessary equipment and materials and the cost of services for the prudent promotion of the work.
B. The Mayor & Council of the Borough of Glen Ridge may annually appropriate a sum as it may deem sufficient for said purposes consistent with other budgetary constraints.
SECTION 12.26-9 Penalty, jurisdiction of courts; copy of Ordinance as evidence.
A. Any person who violates any provision of this Chapter shall, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the Borough of Glen Ridge, or such other court having jurisdiction, be liable for fines and penalties as set forth in Chapter 1-15 of the Code of the Borough of Glen Ridge, at the discretion of the Court. Each day that a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation, subject to the penalty provisions of this article.
B. In addition to the penalties authorized by subsection A. of this section, the
Commission may require a person who removes damages and/or otherwise destroys a tree in violation of a municipal ordinance to pay a replacement assessment to the Borough of Glen Ridge. The replacement assessment shall be the value of the tree as determined by the appraisal of a trained forester or Certified Tree Expert retained by the Commission for that purpose. In lieu of an appraisal, the Commission may adopt a formula and schedule based upon the number of square inches contained in a cross section of the trunk of the tree multiplied by a predetermined value per square inch, not to exceed $27.00 per square inch. The square inch cross section shall be calculated from the diameter at breast height and, if there is a multiple stem tree, then each trunk shall be measured and an average shall be determined for the tree. For the purposes of this section, “diameter at breast height” shall mean the diameter of the tree taken at a point 4.5 feet above ground level. The
Commission shall modify the value of the tree upon its species variety, location and its condition at the time of removal or destruction.
C. Any public utility or cable television company that clears, moves, cuts, or destroys any trees, shrubs, or plants for the purpose of erecting, installing, moving, removing, altering or maintaining any structures or fixtures, necessary for the supply of electric light, heat or power, communication, or cable television services upon any lands in which it has acquired an easement or right-of-way, shall not be subject to any penalty imposed by the Commission pursuant to subsections a. or b. of this section. This subsection shall not exempt any public utility or cable television company from any penalty or replacement assessment imposed for negligent actions.
SECTION 12.26-10 Disposition of penalties.
All moneys collected, either as fines or penalties, for any violation of a rule or regulation of the
Shade Tree Commission enacted by ordinance or as a charge against real estate, under any provision of this ordinance shall be forthwith paid over to the custodian of the municipal funds.
SECTION 12.26-11 Public notice.
All regulations proposed by the Shade Tree Commission shall be submitted to the municipal clerk for inspection by the public during regular business hours and are subject to approval by the Mayor & Council prior to said regulations being enforceable.
SECTION 12.26-12 Consistent with State Law.
This Chapter has been adopted by the Mayor & Council of the Borough of Glen Ridge pursuant to the authority vested in this municipality under Title 40, Chapter 64, Sections 1-14, as amended of Public Laws of New Jersey 1996 – Chapter 42.
SECTION 12.26-13 Definitions.
A. COMMISSION OR SHADE TREE COMMISSION shall mean the Shade Tree commission of the Borough of Glen Ridge.
B. NEGLIGENT shall mean beyond the scope of the Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) for trimming trees established and approved by the Glen Ridge Borough Shade Tree Commission”
C. PERSON shall mean every person, firm, association, partnership, and corporation.
D. PLANT CONSTRUCTION as applied to public utility companies shall mean poles, wires, cables, sub-surface conduits, pipes, manholes and appurtenant facilities of such companies installed in a street, a recorded easement or right of way.
E. PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANY shall refer to a public utility as defined in the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey (R.S. 48:2-13)
F. STREET shall mean: Any road, avenue, street or highway, dedicated to the public use for street purpose, regardless of whether or not it has been formally accepted by the Borough of Glen Ridge. A street shall be deemed to include all portions lying between the dedicated or established right-of-way lines and/or planting easement thereof, said lines being identical with the front property lines of lands abutting the street.
G. TREE shall mean: Trees and Woody Shrubs
SECTION 12.26-14 Required Permits (Non-Utility Operations)
No person shall do any of the following acts to any public tree on a street without first obtaining a permit from the Shade Tree Commission:
(1) Cut, prune, climb with spikes, break, damage or remove or kill;
(2) Cut, disturb or interfere in any way with any root, including during the placement or maintenance of gas or other pipes;
(3) Spray with any chemical;
(4) Fasten any rope, wire, sign or other device. (Nothing herein shall prevent any
governmental agency from affixing in a manner approved by the Shade Tree Commission a public notice upon a tree in connection with administering governmental affairs);
(5) Remove or damage any guard or device placed to protect or water any tree or woody shrub.
(6) Conduct razing, removal or renovation of any structure if deemed by the Commission, to be damaging to neighboring street trees.
(7) Place or distribute chemicals, including, but not limited to, salt deleterious to tree health except as required to prevent injury to persons using streets and sidewalks.
(8) Maintain a stationary fire or device which vaporizes noxious fumes deleterious to tree health.
(9) Remove soil, either through trenching or otherwise;
(10) Construct new sidewalks and/or driveways with any material whatsoever within 5 feet of a public tree or do anything to impede the infiltration of water into the soil within the rooting zone of a tree unless required for access to their property.
(11) Plant any tree or woody shrub within the designated area under the control of the Commission.
SECTION 12.26-15 Required Permits: Utility Operations;
Exceptions
(A) The Shade Tree Commission shall grant to Public Utility Companies a blanket permit for (1) tree pruning for line clearance and (2) for the installation and maintenance of sub-surface and above-ground Plant Construction even if there is interference with or endangerment of street trees. The activities authorized by this permit shall follow a Standard Operating Procedure (“SOP”) approved by the Glen Ridge Borough Shade Tree Commission.
(B) Public Utility Companies may, during periods of emergency, without specific prior permit (1) Prune,or remove, (2) install temporary attachments to trees and (3) make emergency sub-surface repairs.
(C) Each Public Utility Company shall exercise reasonable diligence in the maintenance of its Plant Construction so as to avoid damage to trees under the jurisdiction of the Glen Ridge Borough Shade Tree Commission.
SECTION 12.26-16 Issuance of Permits
Requests for permits required by the provisions of this ordinance for the performance of public tree work should be directed to the Shade Tree Commission, Glen Ridge Township, Essex County, New Jersey.
In cases where an arborist or other contractor is to be used by a property owner to perform work on public trees, the permit applicant must provide evidence that said contractor possesses worker compensation and liability insurance in the minimum amounts of $1,000,000 for bodily injury or death and $100,000 property damage indemnifying the Borough or any persons injured or damaged resulting from the performance of said work.
I spoke to the Town Arborist, and just got back from visiting Gray Street.
Nearest I can tell, one tree was removed. There may be a second one, in Glen Ridge, but it is smaller and I can’t tell whether it was removed recently because it is surrounded by other trees.
PSEG has done pruning.
I spoke to the Town Arborist who said:
1. Both he and the Shade Tree Foreman reviewed PSEG’s plans
2. The tree that was taken down was on the town’s list to be taken down because of disease. PSEG probably saved Montclair $3K.
3. PSEG is putting in new, higher voltage lines along the street to upgrade service in the area. Apparently, a line failed in the backyard of the houses and these new lines are designed to replace, and provide for extended service.
4. Residents were notified of the work.
I examined the pruning and thought it was well done. If you want to see what CAN happen go look at the mess that was done on Park Street several years ago.
PSEG has wide, legal, latitude for what they can do. The pruning is minimal, in my opinion.
Montclair has plans to put in new trees in the area where the tree was taken out. I noticed that the tree was huge, with roots causing the walks to buckle.
Trees in our towns are not maintained well.
We expect them to last forever. We want nothing to be taken down. We just want leafy streets with healthy trees. But they all get old and die. Trees need to be removed, and new trees planted. We are in a “tree deficit” of 3,000 to 5,000 just in Montclair, reflecting trees that were removed and not replaced.
People want the trees to live forever, yet what needs to be done is have a PLAN of maintenance, removal, and replanting. It is said that you plant a new tree not for yourself, but for your grandchildren.
I have seen trees 80 years old that had a branch or two of green at the very top. The residents didn’t want them taken down. Then in one windstorm a nearby tree did come down. Through the 3rd floor bedroom of one of the homes. In Montclair (indeed, in the second ward).
People respect living things and will pour thousands of dollars into saving trees that will then die in a few years. I did this with a silver maple. Paying thousands of dollars a year in pruning. Then, in a windstorm it came down causing $26K in damage to my house, and wiping out my neighbor’s garage.
I have a different philosophy now. Spend the money by taking older, diseased trees down and planting a new tree. Perhaps one that is disease resistant, or more accommodating to the physical conditions.
And please remember, that just because a tree looks “fine” doesn’t mean it IS fine. And remember too that the trees won’t last forever. Think for the future.
Considering 12.26-1: Is the space where the trees were considered public property? Private property, but with some kind of easement? I’ve never been clear about that.
Sometimes its not what is being done…but HOW its done Cary. Of course everything you’re saying about the trees and their maintenance is true. But the residents had no WARNING and they were THREATENED and INTIMIDATED. THIS is TOTALLY WRONG and unacceptable…the residents should never be subjected to this.
You must also be aware of the blatant RUDENESS and incorrect behavior of the township officials, institutions and service providers. Personally, I no longer bother going to the municipal building for bureaucracy or meetings. They way that the public is handled is simply ridiculous. People are busy earning money to pay lots of expences to live here and dont want this kind of treatment.
Wow, just when we thought Cary Africk — someone from Montclair township might actually do something. And you wonder why we didn’t contact you sooner?
Cary, which neighbors on Gray Street were informed by the town or PSEG? I’ve not spoken to a single Montclair resident that was informed. Cutting trees in half is well done pruning? Why not cut them all down and start over?
Good to know your position though, and for the residents to see the town’s position and that just like the Mayor we can expect no council support. As Cary said, it could be much worse neighbors so consider yourselves lucky.
I notice you didn’t mention any interest in seeing that the trees behind the homes are carefully pruned for the next round. But after hearing your definition of “minimal” pruning we’ll just start preparing now for the elimination of all shade trees on the south side of Harvard so it will match the north side of Gray Street.
BTW, who said anything about expecting trees to last forever Cary? I’ve spent thousands of dollars pruning or removing sick trees, including removing a massive 100 year old oak. I think we are a little smarter and understand the that cutting in half all trees in the pathway of a country club’s power line is somehow different.
Glad you’re happy though that PSEG is saving the town money. I wish the tens of thousands of dollars we each pay in property taxes on Gray and Harvard mattered too. This is all instructive on how the Montclair township works.
I take it you won’t be meeting with residents of Gray and Harvard Streets? Sounds like the drive by will suffice. Will be interesting to see the Glen Ridge town meeting with the mayor and the PSEG presentation to say the least.
FYI : If people do show up to cut the trees send an email to tips@baristanet.com (and Barista’s you got my mobile, if I’m nearby I’d jump at the chance to photograph it) It takes years to grow a tree but only a short time to kill it.
We cannot turn back the clock. The butchered trees are now a reality. Our focus must be to make those responsible for these egregious actions be removed from their current positions of authority. Our community has been deceived by a public utility and our elected officials. Let’s not be discouraged by their recent actions, and make sure they are held accountable for their rash and deplorable behavior. The proper procedures were not followed and thereby a trail has been created. Let’s follow the “crumbs”. Eventually some one will give up a name and we will be able to “out” the PSEG and municipal officials who thought they could act without the transparency they are required to display.
PSEG has very specific “Standards of Integrity” that have been violated throughout this process. Their CEO stands behind these standards that can be viewed on the PSEG website.
Just so the readers here can be updated ….
I’ve been getting a thorough explanation from Brad and the Gray Street neighbors. I only hears from the town that there was “going to be some work” in the back, but I certainly have a different perspective now.
We’ll get the PSEG/Town “story” today — who was/wasn’t notified, etc. and most important what our options are for going forward.
Thanks to the neighbors for being “on this!”
Cary
hears=heard
Unfortunately, that strip of land is called the ‘utility strip’ and PSE&G can just show up and butcher the trees as they please. There is nothing the town or any tree commission can do to stop them.
This is problem all over the state. The utility companies hire the cheapest labor as per bid process to do the job. These companies have no idea about the ‘hoods they are working nor do they care. They are given carte blanche by the utility companies to get the job done, cheaply. We’ve been down this road on my street before, well versed in it.
Town Hall and your representatives will lend a sympathetic ear and give ‘lip service’. However, this is a lose / lose for them because they know their is nothing they can do about it and can’t really say that to angry residents. In the end residents blame them even though there is nothing they can do about it, resolutions isn’t worth the paper its written on and they know it.
On the West Coast the “utility strip” is called the “suicide strip” – I have no idea why, the name was imported from the Midwest and is commonly used in Escondido, Santee, and some of the less colourful parts of Riverside County.
Unfortunately herbeverschmel is right and it seems that there is no layer of protection for the property owners in this situation but some kind of positive action like lambigray1994 suggests could be taken to at least figure out a means of prevention.
Here wee live within patches of century old shade trees that have, for the most part reached maturity. The trees within these patches work with each other to sustain wind forces and storms although, individually they could be weak, hollow or insect infested. Its always a one on one evaluation to make…is the tree too weak to safely stay up?…and if removing that tree will weaken the “patch” of trees. Inspecting the trees that envelop my house is an important yearly task because of the augmented severity of recent storms. Randomly, mature healthy trees are just snapping and breaking. This is a huge concern since a tree could easily land on my house.
The towering century old vine covered trees along the county road at my property line look precarious and or dead at the utility strip. I assume that they are not my responsibility, but the ones over my house are a concern, especially because its not quite clear how my insurance provider will respond in the worse case scenario.
JohnLee, I remember my folks battling their SoCal town about trees in the strip years ago. They weren’t even that big, but the town wanted to chop them all before they ‘became a problem’. Kind of like shaving your head before your hair goes gray.
Reminded me a lot of “The Lorax”.
My neighbor has a warty, vine-covered, 100-foot Oak tree next to my house. Two similar trees within a 1-block radius have already blown over and caused significant property since March 2010, and given the odds I think this one is next. Unfortunately the property is owned by an absentee landlord who does very little maintainance on his rentals. While I like the shade it provides, and knowing that the landlord will almost definitely not plant a replacement tree, I wish he would get rid of it or at least have an arborist take a look at it. The vines stretch from the rest of his unkempt yard up to some of the lower branches. It’s trouble waiting to happen.
And I am still miserable about having to take down my own Japanese Maple last year. It was almost as bad as making the decision to put a beloved pet to sleep. Awful. I feel for the Gray St. residents very much.