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Removing tree won’t destroy community 

Sound Off:

As a resident of McGilpin Road, I take great offense to the Sound Off column concerning said road and its residents.

Namely, please do not group all such residents with the five whofought to spare a tree so that all of the town's taxpayers can foreverbask in its grand majesty and soothing qualities.

First, unless you live in a tree house directly accessible from theroad, numerous trees were cut down to make way for each andevery McGilpin Road house and driveway. I guess those trees were

not worth preserving.

Next, are the taxpayers of this town so financially well off that wecan spend thousands, and what could potentially be tens-of-thousands with the designation of additional heritage trees, onpreserving old trees? Supporters could argue that such maintenancewill be paid with by grants. However, there is no such thing as aninfinitely renewable grant.

Second, and most important, whether such preservation is paid forby funding in the form of a grant, fee increase, tax, etc. from thelocal, state, or national level, the fact remains that taxpayers areforced to pay this bill. Correct me if I am wrong, but I have neverwitnessed a tree operate a snowplow, respond to a 9-1-1 call, orteach an overcrowded classroom of school children. Perhaps withtheir new funding, heritage trees will feel compelled to take a moreactive role in the community besides producing oxygen and sheddingtheir leaves.

Those supporters on the Board of Selectmen have created adangerous precedent to appease the wishes of FIVE town residents.First, the town (read: taxpayers) will be held liable for any damagecaused by old, decaying, heritage trees. Second, what will becomeof the Tree Warden's powers? What will happen when the membersof the newly formed tree committee repeatedly question his

Janua

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8/14/2019 SEN Removing Tree Won't Destroy Community

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professional judgment and impose their own opinion on all tree-related matters? And if a group of five people can prevent the townfrom cutting down a tree located directly alongside a public way,will both residents and businesses alike be prohibited from cuttingdown those trees on their private property that are designated as"heritage trees" by the tree committee.

I hope the selectmen realize that McGilpin Road has more than just

one tree. Dropping McGilpin Road's heritage tree will not turnSturbridge into a giant metropolis. Instead, removing the tree willlead to a road width that could actually accommodate (albeittightly) both a personal vehicle and school bus or public safetyvehicle simultaneously.

And, finally, I hope the supporters on this board realize that thereare a lot more than just five voters in the town of Sturbridge,including many who presumably want their tax dollars spent on coreservices rather than tree preservation.

Sound Off 

 January 02, 2008 

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