Seekonk Talks
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Seekonk Talks

This forum is a place to discuss all things Seekonk. We are not affiliated with the Town of Seekonk.
 
HomeGalleryLatest imagesRegisterLog in
SPECIAL TOWN VOTE AUG 31ST!!! VOTE YAY OR NAY FOR THE NORTH FIRE STATION RENOVATION!!!
March 2024
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
CalendarCalendar
Newspapers

 

 Tree Contract

Go down 
AuthorMessage
DaveA02771
New Member
New Member
avatar


Posts : 5
Join date : 2009-06-10

Tree Contract Empty
20090610
PostTree Contract

I'm glad we have a contract to take some of these dead trees down. However, we still have all of these stumps from over a year ago when the electric company paid to remove dead trees. I watched that meeting and the BOS was promised that the stumps would be removed and that new trees would be planted. What happened? I've passed the group of stumps in front of Martin, there is one large one with a hole in the center of it. The town is lucky no one has fallen and broken an ankle or leg and sued us. Anyone know if this contract includes removing the stumps?
Back to top Go down
Share this post on: reddit

Tree Contract :: Comments

avatar
Re: Tree Contract
Post Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:20 am  lawcop99
It is my understanding that we received a grant for the replacement trees to be planted. Also, it is my understanding that East Providence has a stump grinder that we could use. I will check with Bob Lamoureaux to see when these tasks will be done.
avatar
Re: Tree Contract
Post Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:19 pm  DaveA02771
Thanks for the update. I hope they can get the stumps before school returns in September. It is nice to find out that the towns try to work together.
mkreyssig
Re: Tree Contract
Post Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:37 pm  mkreyssig
Yeah...the BOS actually addressed this last Wednesday. We should hear something soon.
avatar
Re: Tree Contract
Post Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:09 pm  DaveA02771
Excellent, now that we've been talking about it I've seen stumps all over the place. There are a few large ones on Newman and Arcade Ave. I hope East Providence let's us borrow it again to get rid of all of them. Hope the BOS sends over an official thanks...so we can borrow it again...LOL!!!! I'm sure they aren't cheap to rent or buy.
mkreyssig
Re: Tree Contract
Post Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:44 pm  mkreyssig
They can't be. I had to have a tree taken down in my front yard this last spring. Having the stump ground would have been an extra 200 bucks.
avatar
Re: Tree Contract
Post Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:29 pm  DaveA02771
Here's an interesting FYI: I was buying my morning coffee at the DD on Rt44 in EP when thier tree crew pulled up on the side street. When they came in I commented "Hey, thanks for the stump grinder loan to Seekonk". Their response was that they park next to them everyday and they haven't left their parking spots in weeks. So that begs the obvious question..did we buy or pay to rent a machine when EP has two and have said we could borrow one?
Dave
Re: Tree Contract
Post Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:49 am  Dave
Quote :
Seekonk selectmen are stumped on this tree problem.


Dangerous trees are gone, but stumps remain By George Morse

It’s been more than a year since National Grid took down dozens of trees across Seekonk. Now, at least one selectman wants to know who is responsible for getting rid of the stumps.

In Aug. 2008, representatives from National Grid were called before the Seekonk Board of Selectmen after the town put a halt on a tree removal operation that had already been underway for several weeks. Altogether, 70 trees had been marked for removal, with 57 taken down before the selectmen hearing.

At the time, National Grid Program Manager for the Hazard Tree Mitigation Program and licensed arborist Mike Meyerdierks said the only trees being removed were decayed, diseased or dying. These trees represented a risk of falling into main feed lines that could have cut power to Seekonk and other nearby towns.

“Basically our program is to be proactive and get these trees before they get us,” Mr. Meyerdierks said.

At the meeting, National Grid representatives also said the company’s intention wasn’t to just cut and run. Instead, they said National Grid would assist the town in applying for a grant through the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to help replace any cut or removed trees.

While a couple of residents protested the further removal of trees, the selectmen ultimately allowed National Grid to finish its work.

A year later, however, almost all of the stumps left from the tree removal operation remain across town. At the board’s last two meetings, selectman Michael Brady has asked who is responsible for getting rid of the stumps. He also said the stumps represent a safety hazard and he doesn;t want to see anyone get hurt.

Seekonk Public Works Department Superintendent Robert Lamoureux said National Grid is not responsible for removing any stumps left from their tree removal operation and their work taking down the trees saved the town a “significant amount of money.”

As for any danger posed by the stumps, Mr. Lamoureux doesn’t think they are too threatening.

“The stumps pose absolutely no danger whatsoever in comparison to those dead trees,” Mr. Lamoureux said.

Advertisement
Can we get a stump grinder over here?

In Seekonk, Mr. Lamoureux said his department doesn’t have the necessary equipment to take out the stumps. The closest city or town with a stump grinder is East Providence. Earlier this year, East Providence City Forester Michael Bartlett said he sent a training video to Seekonk Public Works on how to use the stump grinder, but he has yet to receive a request to use the machine.

Even if they had a grinder, Mr. Lamoureux said his department doesn’t have the resources to put two people on a stump grinder on a daily basis.

All-in-all, Mr. Lamoureux said the stumps are a “non-issue,” compared with about 40 other dead trees that weren’t removed by National Grid’s program.

“My main objective with the $6,000 budget we have for this program is to remove as many dead and dangerous trees as possible,” Mr. Lamoureux said.

And taking out trees isn’t cheap. Mr. Lamoureux said the town recently accepted a low bid to take out about 10 of the 40 “listed” trees. The cost? $4,500.

Still, Mr. Brady said that despite the financial circumstances affecting not only Seekonk but communities around the country, the town has to follow through on its word.

“We gave people an assurance we wouldn’t leave a big stump where someone could get hurt. Yet here we are, a year later and neither thing has been done. That’s what drives me crazy. You can’t tell people we’re going to do something and not do it. If we tell citizens something we have to do it.”

As for the claim that public works doesn’t have enough staff, Mr. Brady said “that argument is starting to fall on deaf ears.”

“You can’t use being short handed as an excuse. You’ve got to get the job done. It’s your job as a manager to prioritize what’s important and not important if it’s more important to leave stumps and someone gets hurt, his head will roll for that. If you think it’s more important to cut grass and leave something out there where someone could get hurt or something could happen, then you have to live with your decision.”

Currently, Mr. Lamoureux said he is submitted a grant that if approved, would start the process of replacing any removed trees. Mr. Lamoureux said the response to this application isn’t expected until November.
mkreyssig
Re: Tree Contract
Post Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:14 am  mkreyssig
So was it a rouge citizens that was grinding stumps in front of Martin School? confused
avatar
BOS Meeting
Post Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:05 pm  DaveA02771
If we don't have money to take the trees down where did the money to rent the stump grinder come from? I'd think trees as dangerous as the Chairman believes would be the priority. I'd also be interested in why east providence backed out of helping us.
Re: Tree Contract
Post   Sponsored content
 

Tree Contract

Back to top 

Page 1 of 1

 Similar topics

-
» Teachers Contract

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Seekonk Talks :: Local Seekonk Topics-
Jump to:  

Free forum | ©phpBB | Free forum support | Report an abuse | Forumotion.com