[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Edmonston 5-14-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-OR-004 (Ch. 28, § 28-12, of the 1997 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
Except when required to do so in an emergency, or when exempted by the Town Administrator because of imminent danger to the public health, safety and general welfare, no person or business may remove or prune live wood from a fifty-inch or greater caliper tree, measured at 4°1/2 feet above ground level, on private property without first applying for and obtaining a permit from the Town.
[Amended 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
Before any permit is granted, evidence of insurance for workers' compensation in the amount required by the State of Maryland and liability insurance with limits of $100,000 per occurrence/aggregate shall be provided to the Town by the applicant for the permit.
[Amended 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
Each permit will be valid only for the specific work described on a single property and must be returned to the Town of Edmonston at the conclusion of the work. Satisfactory inspection of any public rights-of-way for possible cleanup and damage is required for all permits.
The fee for this permit is $150.
[Amended 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
Violations of this chapter are deemed municipal infractions. Violations of § 418-5 are punishable by a fine of $350. Violations of the remainder of this chapter are punishable by a fine of $200. Each day any violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Added 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
A. 
Creation. There is hereby created a Tree Board.
B. 
Powers and duties. The Board will:
(1) 
Prepare and update a native tree and flower species list for the Town. The list can be updated as needed.
(2) 
Assist Town staff with identifying the trees in the public right-of-way that require maintenance.
(3) 
Update the tree inventory database.
(4) 
Support the increase and health of public and private trees in the Town.
(5) 
Advise the Mayor, Town Council and the community on tree conservation.
(6) 
Submit an annual report to the Mayor and Town Council reporting on the Board's activities.
C. 
Composition. The Tree Board will be composed of five voting members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Town Council to serve two-year terms, and two nonvoting Town staff members to provide support. Voting members must be Town residents 16 years of age or older. The Tree Board will annually select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
D. 
Meetings. The Tree Board will meet as needed, and at least once per quarter. Members must attend each meeting unless excused for good cause.
E. 
Removal. A Tree Board voting member may be removed by the Mayor for missing three or more meetings in one year and for other good cause.
F. 
Vacated position. A position vacated before the expiration of a term shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor and approval of the Town Council for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Added 6-8-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-OR-05]
It is unlawful for any person to remove or prune trees on land owned or controlled by the Town of Edmonston, including in the public right-of-way. A utility company must apply for and receive a permit from the Town for tree removal or pruning.