Shade trees are vitally important to the environment and the aesthetic enhancement of the community. The present shade tree statutes must be followed especially during any type of construction; the root system areas (30 feet) of these fantastic, beautiful trees that remain must be protected, not dug up and covered in cement or covered with asphalt. A public hearing should be held regarding any consideration of removing a shade tree.
These shade trees must be protected!!

I am writing this during a break period at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters in Sturbridge MA. Ideally the City would plant trees in a tree pits or open spaces with a minimum of 500 cubic feet of well draining nutrient rich soils. Unfortunately in a dense urban setting like the City of Chelsea this not often possible.

During this past summer the City had a firm perform an inventory of public shade trees and trees in public spaces. We have slightly more than 4000 public trees. We also identified just over 400 planting sites. Other parts of this work included a tree risk assessment, a tree management plan and two days of training for the DPW crew. A DCR grant was obtained in the amount of &30k that paid for 75% of the total cost of &40k.

The so called Public Shade Tree Law MGL Chapter 87 does require public hearings to remove public shade trees in excess of 1-1/2 DBH except hazard trees. All trees removed in the last three months were classified as priority one trees likely to fail and impact a target which defined hazard trees.

You can get involved and help the City manage it's Community Urban Forest by asking the City Manager to appoint you to the tree board. There are currently 3 open sites and it would be great to reinvigorate the board.

You can contact me directly at adesantis@chelseama.gov for more info.

There was a nice tree planted adjacent to CIAO's pizza and shortly thereafter it was cut down (don't know why). Now, only a large empty space remains... it gets really muddy during a rain storm or when the snow melts. If a tree cant be replanted at least cover the hole left behind on the sidewalk.

I suspect that a PRIVATE Vendor gets paid fer each tree cut down. Like that Todisco's Towing of 'alleged' violators. ALLEGED. I DO despise that towing company and I never had any involvement. They HURT the poorest of citizens. Snakes in the grass/Vultures of the worst kind, based on my own observational opinion.

Just read about the Tree Board. Never heard of it. After my move to Margolis a good idea. Heard today from 2 customers about a possibility on the 13th floor. #1 on the list unless I get jumped over again. After the home visit in Nov was "Ready-to-Sign" the actual month-to-month (Read the small print) 4 or 6 page lease with auto monthly renewing. (Easy way to evict---LOL). I already calculated the rent;; over $700.00 LESS than now! Don't need a tour.

How do you delete a post here that may have been written in haste/error? Not like Facebook/Twitter. Should not diss a Co. I may PERSONALLY find most distasteful. This post stretched the boundaries of this site and I apologize.

I'm going to delete this post. I believe Asst. DPW Director DeSantis provided a comprehensive response.