ALLENTOWN – The Borough Council has adopted an ordinance that will replace Allentown’s Shade Tree Advisory Committee with a formal Shade Tree Commission.
Officials said the purpose of the ordinance is to provide more structure to the local group that cares for Allentown’s trees.
The ordinance was adopted during the June 27 meeting of the council with support from council President Wil Borkowski and council members Rob Schmitt, Angela Anthony and Johnna Stinemire.
Councilmen Robert Strovinsky and Thomas Fritts were not present.
No one from the public commented on the ordinance when given the opportunity to do so.
The ordinance states that the Shade Tree Commission “is established for the purpose of regulating, planting, care and control of shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery upon and in the streets, highways, public places, parks and parkways of the borough.”
Seven residents will be appointed to the commission – five regular members and two alternates. The residents will serve without compensation.
Among the duties of the commission are the following:
• Move or require the removal of any tree, or part thereof, dangerous to public safety
• Administer treatment to or remove any tree situated on private property which is believed to harbor a disease or insects readily communicable to neighboring healthy trees in the care of the borough and enter upon private property for that purpose, with the consent of the owner
• Encourage arboriculture
• Work in cooperation with the Environmental Commission and other such borough agencies in regards to the encouragement of planting and preservation of shade trees.
The Shade Tree Commission will be funded through an annual appropriation provided by the council, according to the ordinance.
The council also adopted an ordinance dealing with the care and protection of trees in the borough. No one from the public commented on that ordinance, which was adopted in a 4-0 vote by Borkowski, Anthony, Stinemire and Schmitt.
