Resident stumped by removal of tree
Shade tree commissioner says silver maple was
in danger of falling down
Jane Waterhouse Fair Haven Road residents came to the Fair Haven Borough Council meeting on Monday to get to the bottom of why a tree on their street was removed.
On Monday morning, men were removing a tree from B.J. Thompson’s front yard. On Monday evening, Thompson, of Fair Haven Road, was at the Borough Council meeting asking why — and why she had not even been notified that the tree, which she said was a 100- year-old silver maple, was taken down.
"At 10 minutes to eight this morning, I was shocked and surprised to find a group of workmen cutting down a large tree at the front of my property," Thompson told the council. "When I asked them under whose authority they were acting, they told me that the borough had directed them to take down my tree because the roots were lifting up the sidewalk."
"It’s the talk of the street," Pat Drummond, another Fair Haven Road resident, told the council. "These stately old trees add to the charm and beauty of our neighborhood. Just because a tree is hollow doesn’t mean it’s dead."
Drummond explained that she faced a similar situation when she lived in Rumson. In that case, an arborist was able to save several trees by filling in their hollow centers with concrete and removing the surface roots.
"That was 25 years ago," Drummond said. "I pass by my old house frequently, and the trees are still standing."
Bruce Fowler of the Fair Haven Shade Tree Commission disagreed.
"If that tree was 100 years old, then I’m 100 years old," he said. "The workmen told me that it was in terrible condition. Only an inch or so of wood remained in places."
As for Drummond’s argument on behalf of preservation, Fowler countered, "Trees are not historical objects; they have a life span. This one’s gone because it had to go." He said it was a matter of public safety. "I’d rather we lost a tree than take a risk that it could come crashing down on a car or a little kid on a tricycle," he said.
Mayor William E. Leonard suggested that a courtesy notification be given to residents warning them of upcoming removals on their properties. Fowler said that the Shade Commission would see to it that new plantings replaced the trees that had to go. "It’s part of the life cycle," he said. "Old trees die, and new ones get planted to take their place."
In other actions the council discussed a bond ordinance to make improvements at Bicentennial Hall. Pete Kusulas of Riverlawn Drive voiced concerns on how the money would be spent. "We need to have a plan in place," he said. "When we’re moving funds from roads to buildings we ought to know all the details involved," he added.
A special meeting was called for yesterday at 9 a.m. to propose a resolution amending the 2002 budget. The public hearing to approve the resolution will be held Monday at 7 p.m.
During the workshop that followed the meeting, talk centered on the location of the memorial honoring the Fair Haven residents who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attack. Councilman Tom Gilmour, who’d originally supported the idea of putting the memorial in Fair Haven Fields, said he had a change of heart on the matter. "Since the outcry at the town meeting, I’ve heard many people say that they feel the memorial should be placed in a quiet, meditative area — which makes Memorial Park an ideal choice," he said. He asked the council to agree on his plan to solicit an alternate design for this location. "We can use this as an opportunity — a master plan to fix up the park," he said.