Please help with tree
I need your help as a friend and fellow taxpayer of Fairhaven. I have been trying to get two enormous trees surveyed by the town since December 2018. These town owned trees pose significant risk to my home, my family and anything or anyone else in the vicinity should they fail.
One tree directly across the street from our house has lifted and cracked the sidewalk due to its movement 6” since last October and other ensuing wind events. The tree has gas, water and electric lines under it, and the direction in which it will most likely fail will put the main 3 phase electrical service on what’s left of the front of my house.
The other is 80’ tall, within 30’ of my house and directly over the main power for the town hall. This tree is rotten and hollow in many places as seen by the large rot holes in it.
A level 3 survey takes less than one hour of survey time and less than another hour for a report. I have never asked the trees be removed, just closely scrutinized. The tree warden has a yearly budget of about $40K.
What do I know about trees? I have owned a small tree farm in New Hampshire for 30 years and my family has been logging for 5 generations. I have read Tree Risk Assessment by the International Society of Arboriculture and it states these trees are a very poor example of urban tree management and are “High Risk”.
I have offered to pay for a 3rd party survey. The tree warden refuses to allow this.
The town’s selectmen and town administrator have tried to get Mr. Knowles the tree warden to do this survey by written request and meetings with him. Mr. Knowles has said in public “ I have not said I won’t do it”.
But his actions say he won’t and in private conversation with me has told me where to go.
Please help me by taking 1.5 minutes of your time and call 508-979-4023, Ext 2. This is the selectmen’s office and the town request/tree inquiries go through it. Ask that Mr. Knowles to do this survey now.
NOAA has predicted a bad hurricane season and the tree across the street started moving before it had leaves. I have put 4 years of sweat and tears restoring this beautiful 1832 whaling captain’s house to its former glory. I don’t want the town to build me a new one which they will be bound to do due to Massachusetts tree law which I have researched.
Please help me and make the call. Town meeting is coming and I now have a voice for you and me. If there is something you have grievance with the town please let me know and I will try my best to help you. Email me at collasius@hotmail.com.
Isn’t that how we all do better? By sticking together.
Don Collasius, Fairhaven
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
Click here to download the entire 6/25/20 issue: 06-25-20 July4Video
