Burlington County Committee To Vote On Whether Or Not To Uproot Shade Tree Commission
BURLINGTON COUNTY, N.J., (CBS) -- The township committee in Southampton, Burlington County, votes tonight on whether to uproot the local shade tree commission.
The Shade Tree Commission in Southampton makes decisions on the safety and management of trees, but there are concerns the Commission has too much power, including the authority to make and modify ordinances, and the power to order that trees on private property be removed. So the township committee votes tonight on replacing the five-member commission with a three-member advisory panel.
Commission chair Doug Melegari is fighting the move. "Southampton will become a less desirable place to be and there will be public safety issues and also higher taxes and fees."
Melegari says under state law having a shade tree commission gives a town liability protection that an advisory panel wouldn't provide.