DPW Meeting Discusses Eversource Tree Removal Project

Submitted by BARC, the Bedford Arbor Resources Committee

Every four years, Eversource inventories trees abutting power lines and poles checking for any tree that might have a “negative effect.” This includes dead or dying trees, serious defects, rot, insect infestation and unsafe proximity. Their goal is to prevent power outages in our homes and harm to their workers when on the poles. This survey of Bedford’s trees is conducted by a certified arborist employed by Eversource, who specializes in Vegetation Management and an arborist contracted to Eversource who is a Utility Forester specialist. The cost of pruning or removing the trees is paid for by Eversource, who will provide a limited number of replacement trees to towns that want them.

Bedford’s Tree Warden and arborist have reviewed the Eversource recommendations for removal, and trees to be removed are tagged. Eversource has supplied two lists of affected trees; click them to see if a tree near you is affected:

• Eversource List 533-H7
• Eversource List 533-H8

If you believe an individual tree is not a potential hazard, this is your opportunity to ask for an explanation or object to its removal.  Contact the DPW (781-275-7602) or Arbor Resource Committee ([email protected]).

This cycle Eversource has identified close to a hundred trees, both public and private, they want to remove because of concerns that they have the potential to compromise public safety. Approximately 2 dozen are on roads ATM-designated Scenic Roads. If the tree is private, they seek permission from the private homeowner to prune or remove the tree. If the tree is a street tree, that is public, an asset of the Town, they seek the approval of the Tree Warden. If the Tree Warden or a resident disagrees, the Tree Warden  holds a public hearing.

Roy Sorenson, Bedford’s Tree Warden and Director of Public Works, held an informational meeting on October 9 with the town’s Planning Director; two members of the Arbor Resources committee; the town’s Grounds Operations Manager, who is an arborist; and two representatives from Eversource, the energy company once known as NStar.

While Eversource would provide and plant some replacement street trees at no cost if the town wants them, Bedford does not. With exceptions, Bedford has no resources in its budget to care for trees—even to water for one year newly-planted donated or ceremonial trees– and has a rarely-mentioned, unwritten policy that limits planting street trees, even though current research is that, as a rule, streets with trees are safer than those without, and neighborhoods with trees have higher home values than comparable neighborhoods without.