Tree Cutting Proposal Set For Vote

The Teaneck Township Council is expected Tuesday night to again take up a proposed ordinance that would give residents the ability to get a permit to hire specialists to cut and remove unhealthy or hazardous public trees.

Adoption of the ordinance was initially set for an April council meeting, but tabled when members of the town’s Shade Tree Advisory Board voiced concerns. The board was given time to further review the ordinance after the April meeting. A public hearing and vote is scheduled for Tuesday night’s meeting, according to the agenda.

Residents would be able to obtain a $100 permit to hire a tree professional to cut, prune or remove specific species of trees, according to the ordinance considered in April. The tree specialist would need to be certified by the state or International Society of Arboriculture, and approved by the township’s shade tree supervisor.

The ordinance states, "…The Township Council finds that it would be in the best interests of the citizens…to permit its residents to hire, at their own cost and expense, tree professionals, to cut and remove certain species of trees and to prune and trim public trees upon public lands or within public rights-of-way after first obtaining a permit from the supervisor."

Current regulations grants the shade tree supervisor sole responsibility in deciding if a public tree, or one located in a public right-of-way, should be cut, pruned or removed. Only the town is allowed to handle the tree work.

The public portion of the council meeting begins at 8 p.m. at the Municipal Building