OPINION: Trees Felled Without Notice

Sorry.

That was what the construction company offered as explanation to the neighbors when they suddenly lost some at Whiting Avenue and Hazelnut Street in Dedham.

More trees are slated to fall.

This is flawed.

Dedham’s Department of Public Works must hold hearings on the downing of sick; that is in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87 section 3; Public Shade Trees, but these weren't sick trees, so no hearing every happened.

Some arm of local government needs to have responsibility for allowing, prohibiting or limiting this activity when there is no special class of tree. Sure, the Conservation Commission controls if the trees are in the agency’s grounds, like wetlands. These trees are not conservation trees. And the DPW has the right to new trees if the ones being cut down are in a paved way. These are not in that category.

This is not the Town of Dover or Lincoln or the like; this is a busy town. It is getting more development all the time. No one seems to handle the very basic question of how many trees the town needs. Someone should.

A few years ago, construction crews cut down some lovely shade trees on East Street at the Endicott Estate. It took some work to finally have the trees replaced.

There are other things than sickness that ought to be considered before a significant group of trees are cleared.

Aesthetics should be one.

Contractors cut these trees at the new Avery School without telling the governing body, the School Building Rehabilitation Committee.

Odd.

Of course, the contractors told none of the neighbors anything. Nor did the contractors tell the neighbors that there would be a tsunami of earth rising along their now treeless yards. That will later become a far shallower rise. Fine, the neighbors will be relieved.

What other surprises loom?

Surely there will now be meetings and explanations and the important Avery School will proceed as it should.

And some trees will be replaced with new, smaller versions.

But the original trees are gone forever.

No brain power went into this tree removal. This is not the fault of the contracting company, Consigli. It followed orders and gave the big trees no special attention because the town did not give the trees any attention.

Now it is time for Dedham to put in writing some rules for dealing with town trees that are not special cases like those in conservation areas or in pavement.

This is not to say simple trees will be saved in all cases; that would be foolish. But all the trees marked for cutting ought to be designated and given a public hearing. Then neighbors could share their concerns.

Neighbors might not stop the felling of trees, but they would know about it before it happens.