[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Clinton 8-19-1998. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The main purpose of this chapter is to protect
our valuable urban forest resource. Trees play important roles for
the community by providing air purification, habitats for animals,
control of noise pollution, and stabilization of soils, providing
shade and creating esthetic beauty along Town roads, in public parks
and on Town-owned areas. It is also the intent of this chapter to
promote and protect the public health and safety on Town property
and roads by maintaining the Town's trees.
By this chapter, the Town of Clinton will regulate
and control on Town property the planting, removal, maintenance and
protection of Town trees to ensure the safety of the public and maintain
the beauty of our Town trees.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
definitions apply:
All operation of trimming, pruning, spraying, injecting,
fertilizing, treating, bracing, surgery and cutting above or below
the ground.
The permanent placement of any tree.
Actual physical removal or the effective removal through
chemical application or other direct or indirect action resulting
in the death of a tree.
Any land that the Town of Clinton owns or has a right-of-way.
A woody plant that has a well-defined trunk and a crown attaining
a height of over eight feet.
Trees that are integrated along streets, in public areas
and parks.
The Town of Clinton Tree Warden shall be appointed
by the Board of Selectmen and shall have all powers, duties, and authorities
ascribed to him/her as set out in the Connecticut Public Shade Tree
Statutes, particularly C.G.S. §§ 23-58, 23-59, 23-60
and 23-65, as may be amended, and this chapter. The Tree Warden should
be a resident of the Town of Clinton. The Tree Warden should be an
arborist. The Town Tree Warden will inform the Town Tree Committee
of any action prior to the removal or planting of Town trees.
There shall be a Tree Committee which shall
be composed of no fewer than two nor more than eight members appointed
for a term of two years by the Board of Selectmen. The requirements
and duties of these members shall be:
A.Â
To have working knowledge of the habitat, planting,
growth, care and placing of trees.
B.Â
To develop and maintain a working relationship with
the Town Tree Warden.
C.Â
To assist the Tree Warden in assuring appropriate
trees are planted in properly designated locations.
D.Â
To help develop and maintain a Town tree inventory.
E.Â
To work to educate the residents of Clinton on the
importance of the urban forest.
F.Â
To raise funds for tree planting as deemed necessary.
G.Â
To coordinate and direct the work of any volunteers
who wish to contribute their time.
A.Â
Damage to trees. No person, company, utility or government
agency shall on Town-owned property in the Town of Clinton prune,
remove, deface, cut, paint, mark, injure, mutilate, kill, or destroy
any tree or permit any animal under his or its control to do so; permit
any fire to injure any portion of any tree; or permit any toxic chemical
to seep, drain or be emptied on or about any tree. During construction
operations, any contractor (public or private) shall erect suitable
protective barriers around Town trees which may be injured as a result
of construction activity.
B.Â
Fastening materials to trees. No person shall fasten
any sign, playbill, picture, notice, advertisement, rope, wire, climbing
spurs or other materials to, around, or through any Town trees, except
in an emergency, such as storms or accidents.
C.Â
Public utilities. Public utility work affecting trees
shall be limited to the actual necessities of the service of the company.
The Town Tree Warden shall review such work at least two months prior
to being undertaken, and such work done in a neat and professional
manner.
