[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.