The following terms shall have the meanings
as indicated below:
PARK TREES
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public
areas owned by the Town or to which the public has free access as
a park.
PERSON
Refers to any individual, agency, organization, or business
STREET TREES
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land
lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues
or ways within the Town.
The Town of Oakland shall establish a committee.
A. Creation; membership. There is hereby created and
established a Town Tree Committee for the Town of Oakland, Maryland,
which shall consist of seven members, two employees of the Town of
Oakland, and five citizens of the Town of Oakland, who shall be appointed
by the Mayor and approved by the Council.
B. Term of office; vacancy; Chairman. The terms of office
for three individuals to be appointed by the Mayor shall be three
years, except that the terms of two of the members appointed to the
first Committee shall be for only one year, and the term of one member
of the first Committee shall be for two years. In the event that a
vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his successor shall
be appointed for the unexpired portion of the term. The Mayor shall
name the Chairman of the Committee.
C. Compensation. Members of the Committee shall serve
without compensation.
D. Powers and duties; annual submission of Town Tree
Plan. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee to study, investigate,
counsel and develop and/or update annually and administer a written
plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal
or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in
other public areas. Such plan will be presented annually to the Mayor
and Town Council by January 1 of each year and, upon their acceptance
and approval, shall constitute the official Comprehensive Town Tree
Plan for the Town of Oakland, Maryland. The Committee, when requested
by the Mayor and Town Council, shall consider, investigate, make findings,
report, and recommend upon any special matter of question coming within
the scope of its work.
E. Rules of procedure. The Committee shall make its own
rules and regulations and keep a journal of its proceedings. A majority
of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business.
The spacing of street trees will be in accordance
with the species' size classes, and except in special plantings designed
or approved by a local DNR expert, the plantings shall be done in
accordance with this chapter and any other Town ordinances.
All stumps of street and park trees shall be
removed below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump
shall not project above the surface of the ground.
It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent,
delay or interfere with the Town Tree Committee or any of its agents
while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning,
spraying or removing, as authorized by this chapter, of any street
trees, park trees or trees on private grounds.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a municipal infraction subject to the maximum fine established pursuant to Chapter
40, Municipal Infractions, unless otherwise governed by state law, in which case the maximum penalty shall apply.