[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Cooperstown 5-16-2006 by L.L. No. 3-2006. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
To promote and protect the public health, safety
and general welfare as well as the aesthetic beauty of the streetscapes
by providing for the management of the planting, maintenance and removal
of trees within the Village.
The interest in having and maintaining tree-lined
streetscapes did not always exist in the Village. In the days before
there was an appreciation of all the many benefits of growing trees,
a good tree was considered one that had been cut and used for some
worthwhile purpose, i.e., building or burning. In post-Civil War pictures
of the Village, there are few trees in evidence along the streets.
A change in attitude started in the 20th century. In the period 1929
to 1931 a joint effort of the Village government and the Clark Foundation
brought about the planting of 3,000 trees in the Village. About 40
years later, through the efforts of Fran Cannon and others, the Village
Trustees created a Conservation Advisory Committee to assist the Village
in maintaining the beauty of the streetscapes. Recommendations were
made by this committee on the type and location of trees to be planted
and yearly evaluation of all trees for necessary pruning/removal.
For many years this committee also campaigned for funds to support
the purchase of new trees. This effort allowed between 15 and 25 trees
to be planted each year. In 1984, the Village tree efforts were recognized
by the National Arbor Day Association, and Cooperstown became a "Tree
City USA." This recognition has continued every year since, along
with a ceremonial planting of an Arbor Day tree. In 1998, a memorial
tree program was initiated in which individuals/organizations could
contribute to the purchase and planting of a tree in memory of an
individual, including a plaque indicating this event placed in the
Village Library.
[Amended 7-24-2017 by L.L. No. 11-2017]
A.
The Tree Committee is an advisory committee to the
Village Board/Mayor on all items related to Village trees.
B.
The Committee consists of a minimum of five members:
a representative of the Department of Public Works, a Village Trustee
and a minimum of three at-large members, preferably but not necessarily
residents of the Village. All appointments will be made by the Mayor
and approved by the Board of Trustees and will be for a term of two
years, with option for renewal.
C.
The Tree Committee will conduct inventories of existing
trees, decide which trees should be removed (and why), investigate
possible diseases, establish the cultivars and locations for new tree
plantings, and recommend an annual tree budget. In addition, it will
plan yearly Arbor Day ceremonies, apply for Tree City status, and
promote by educational means, including newspaper articles, the concept
of the benefits of trees to the health and welfare of community residents
and visitors.
D.
In situations where removal requests are received
from residents, the Tree Committee will investigate and recommend
a course of action to the Trustees, who in such cases have final decision
authority.
A.
The Village, utilizing the Tree Committee and Department
of Public Works, is committed to maintaining the treescape along the
streets and in the parks. Unless otherwise stated in specific deeds,
the Village right-of-way along streets is considered to be 25 feet
from the center of the street or to the inside edge of the sidewalk,
whichever is greater. Village planting and tree maintenance occurs
within this right-of-way and is usually between the curb and the sidewalk.
If due to adverse conditions a Village tree is to be planted on the
resident's side of the sidewalk, agreement must be reached in advance
with the landowner.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by L.L. No. 7-2015]
B.
Plantings will be scheduled as a result of a yearly
analysis of potential sites, budget constraints, memorial tree contributions
and Department of Public Works availability. Tree species will be
selected based on location, soil conditions, utilities and previous
survival history. (See separate guidelines for specific tree management
practices in the document "Urban Tree Risk Management.")
C.
For the first year following planting, the Village Department of Public Works will provide irrigation for the new trees. Adjacent landowners will be encouraged to assist, as covered under § 258-5. The Village will also be responsible for trimming over streets and sidewalks of Village-planted trees as well as appropriate shaping of flowering trees.
D.
Yearly monitoring of all public trees will be done
to check for disease and problems affecting public safety. Any trees
suspected of having problems will be documented for further investigation.
Severe cases will be placed on a cutting list for professional removal.
A.
Landowners will be encouraged to take an active interest
in the care and maintenance of trees that are planted by the Village
on Village property adjacent to their land.
B.
Landowners, whenever possible, should supplement the
watering done by Village crews, take special care when weed-eating
and mowing around the trees, and be watchful for and monitor inappropriate
behavior by pets and children around the trees. It is the landowners'
responsibility to make sure that contractors doing construction work
on their property take adequate measures to protect adjacent Village
trees from harm, including the effects of soil compaction.
C.
Landowners should notify the Village if they notice
anything which seems to suggest that any tree on Village or private
property is "ill" or in need of special care. The Tree Committee should
notify landowners of plans for planting or removal of trees on rights-of-way
adjacent to their properties.
A.
For rules and regulations covered in this chapter or in the referenced
"Urban Tree Risk Management" document, the Superintendent of Public
Works will have enforcement responsibility acting on behalf of the
Village. Enforcement actions will be taken following discussion with
the Tree Committee.
[Amended 2-22-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
B.
In the case of a suspected problem with a tree located
on private property, the Department of Public Works Superintendent
is authorized by the Village to take the steps necessary to determine
if a problem does exist and if it affects the public domain.
A.
"Violations" refer to the act of causing harm to or
the death of any tree on Village property or rights-of-way. This includes
but is not limited to cutting, signage placed on trees, lawn mowers
or weedwhacker causing bark damage, excessive soil compaction or certain
chemicals absorbed by the root structure.
B.
Violations are punishable by a maximum fine of $250
or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by L.L. No. 7-2015]
