[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Brookfield 3-6-2006.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Brookfield Tree
Ordinance."
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote and protect the public
health, safety and general welfare by providing for the regulation of the
planting, maintenance and removal of trees, shrubs and other plants within
the Town.
The following words, terms or phrases, as used in this chapter, shall
have their given meanings:
A public nuisance, the maintenance of which is of so serious a nature
as to constitute an immediate hazard to the health of persons other than the
persons maintaining such nuisance or filth.
An individual, corporation, including a public utility company, partnership
and association.
Includes all public highways, parks and other lands owned by or leased
to or under the control of the Town.
Any tree or shrub or part thereof growing upon private or Town property
which is interfering with the use of any Town property, infected with infectious
plant disease, or endangering the life, health or safety of persons or property.
Include all woody vegetation presently or hereafter planted in any
public or private premises.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the provisions of C.G.S. §§ 7-148(b),
7-148(c)(6)(A)(v), 7-148(c)(7)(B), 7-148(c)(7)(E), 7-148(c)(7)(H)(x), and
7-148(c)(7)(H)(xi) and 19a-206.
A.
Tree Warden.
(1)
The Tree Warden shall be appointed in accordance with § C6-1A of the Town Charter and shall have all the powers, duties and authorities ascribed to him/her as set out in the Connecticut Public Shade Tree Statute, particularly Connecticut General Statutes Sections 23-58, 23-59, 23-60 and 23-65, as the same may be amended, and in this chapter.
(2)
The Tree Warden shall have full power and authority over
all trees and shrubs located within public areas and, to the extent provided
herein, on private property.
B.
Tree Committee.
(1)
The Town Director of Public Works, Tree Warden and Deputy
Tree Wardens shall function as the Tree Committee.
(2)
The duty of the Tree Committee is to ensure that the
intent and provisions of this chapter are carried out to the fullest extent
possible. The Committee may give notice and consultation on:
No person other than the Tree Warden may perform any of the following
acts without first obtaining from the Warden a permit for which no fee shall
be charged, and nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any person
from the requirements of obtaining any additional permits as are required
by law:
A.
Plant, spray, fertilize, preserve, prune, remove, cut
above ground or otherwise disturb any tree on any public area.
B.
Place on any public area, either above or below ground
level, a container for trees or shrubs.
C.
Damage, cut, tap, carve or transplant any tree or shrub
located on any public area.
D.
Attach any rope, wire, nail, sign, poster or any other
man-made object to any tree or shrub located on any public area.
E.
Cause damage to the root zone of any tree or shrub located
on any public area by digging a tunnel or trench, moving or storage of construction
vehicles, materials, or equipment, or changing of the grade within the drip
line.
A.
Any tree or shrub or part thereof growing upon private
or public property, (1) which is interfering with the use of any public area,
(2) which is infected with an infectious plant disease, (3) or which endangers
the life, health or safety of persons or property outside of the host private
property is declared a public nuisance.
B.
The Tree Warden, or his/her designee, shall have the
authority to enter onto private property (prior notice required) whereon there
is located a tree, shrub, plant or plant part that is suspected to be a public
nuisance.
C.
If the Tree Warden shall determine with reasonable certainty,
upon inspection or examination, any nuisance tree or shrub as herein defined
exists in or upon any public area in the Town, he/she shall immediately cause
it to be treated, trimmed, removed or otherwise abated in such a manner as
to destroy or prevent the spread of the nuisance. The manner in which the
nuisance shall be abated shall be determined by the Tree Warden.
D.
If the Tree Warden shall determine with reasonable certainty
upon inspection or examination that any nuisance shrub or tree as herein defined
exists in or upon any private premises, he/she, in writing, shall notify the
owner or tenant having charge of such premises. Unless the condition constitutes
an immediate public hazard, the responsible person shall, within 30 days after
issuance of such notice, cause the treatment, trimming or removal and destruction
of such nuisance tree or shrub as directed by written notice. No damage shall
be awarded the owner for the destruction of the trees or shrubs destroyed
pursuant to this chapter. In case the owner or tenant having charge of such
premises shall refuse or neglect to comply with the terms of the written notice
within 30 days after receiving it, the Tree Warden shall cause the removal,
treatment or trimming of such nuisance tree or shrub. The expense thereof
shall be charged to the owner of such premises on which such tree or shrub
is located and, with respect to the cost for removing, treatment or trimming,
that portion interfering with the public area or public way shall become a
lien on the property upon recordation of notice thereof on the Town land records.
E.
The Tree Warden is empowered to determine what constitutes
an immediate public hazard.
F.
The Tree Warden is empowered to cause the immediate abatement
of an immediate public hazard by seeking from any court of competent jurisdiction
an order directing such immediate abatement. If a court of competent jurisdiction
so orders the immediate abatement, the Tree Warden shall carry out the order.
Any person or entity aggrieved by any order issued by the Tree Warden
may appeal, in writing, to the Board of Selectman, within 10 days of receipt
of written notice from the Tree Warden of said order. The Board of Selectman
shall hear said appeal within 30 days of receipt of said written notice of
appeal and shall render a decision on the appeal within 30 days following
the date of the hearing. The Board of Selectman may sustain the appeal, in
whole or in part, may dismiss the appeal and may take such further action
concerning said appeal as the Board of Selectmen deems appropriate. The decision
of the Board of Selectman shall be final and no further appeal shall be permitted.
A.
No person shall unreasonably hinder, prevent, delay or
interfere with the Town Tree Warden or his/her agents while engaged in the
execution or enforcement of this chapter.
B.
Violation of any provisions of this chapter shall result
in a fine and penalty of $100 in addition to any cost of curing or abating
said violation. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day shall
constitute a separate offense.
