Borough may place new restrictions on removal of trees

Among the provisions, a permit would be required for removing any live tree greater than 16 inches in diameter

By: Marjorie Censer
   The Princeton Borough Council is poised to place further restrictions on homeowners who wish to remove live trees from their properties.
   The ordinance the council may introduce at its meeting tonight would decrease the number of trees a homeowner can remove annually as of right. While the standing ordinance permits the removal of up to four trees six inches or greater in diameter from private properties, the proposed ordinance would reduce that number to two.
   The ordinance — which, if introduced, would have a public hearing Nov. 22 —also would require homeowners to apply for permits to remove trees greater than 16 inches in diameter.
   Eric Tazelaar, chair of the Princeton Borough Shade Tree Commission, explained the commission’s recommendations in a letter to the borough clerk.
   "Currently, there is no specific protection for large trees," Mr. Tazelaar wrote. "The intent is to provide oversight on the removal of trees that are large enough to impact on the immediate surrounding neighborhood."
   The section of the ordinance that describes the standards for approval or denials of a tree-removal application would also be expanded to provide the public and the engineering department with clearer information.
   If introduced, the new ordinance would allow homeowners without a permit to remove annually an unlimited number of trees smaller than six inches in diameter, two trees between six and 16 inches in diameter and no trees greater than 16 inches in diameter.
   The ordinance pertains only to live trees — dead, dying or dangerous trees are exempt from the regulations.
   In other business, the council is expected to approve the promotion of Borough Patrol Officer Kevin Creegan to the position of sergeant.
   Officer Creegan, who is now serving as an acting sergeant in charge of the patrol division, would take over the position vacated by Lt. Nicholas Sutter, who was promoted in early October.
   Police staffing has remained controversial among council members. They voted in July to add a third lieutenant position. Before Feb. 1, there were three administrative officers, including one captain. With the promotion of former Capt. Anthony Federico to chief of police, two administrative officers, Lt. Dennis McManimon and Lt. David Dudeck, remained.
   The July decision passed narrowly after councilmen David Goldfarb and Andrew Koontz tried to table — and then block — the plan to promote a sergeant from within, leaving the total number of borough police officers unchanged at 32. Councilman Roger Martindell was absent from the July meeting. The decision had initially been deferred in April.
   Councilman Martindell has expressed concern that the police will hire an additional patrol officer to fill the position that would be vacated by Officer Creegan, costing taxpayers more money.
   Chief Federico has said he would like to see the department not only return to its previous number of 34 officers, but perhaps add more.
   Officer Creegan came in first place in the promotion process — which includes a test administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, a review of background and personnel files, and an interview with mayor and council. The sergeant position requires at least five years of police experience.
   Officer Creegan joined the borough police department as a civilian dispatcher in 1987 and became a patrol officer in 1989. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, he was named Officer of the Year for 2004.