Town of Monson Wood Policy
The following policy is to be used when:
Public shade trees are to be removed under the direction of the tree warden. Public shade trees are defined under Mass. General Laws Chapter 87, Section 1, as all trees within public ways or on the boundaries thereof.
The tree warden will determine if:
1. The tree has a value as lumber.
2. Value as firewood.
3. Has no value.
Any town trees that may have a value as logs, for lumber purposes, are transported to a local sawmill. The sawmill owner will then issue a check to the town for the value of the logs at the current market price. However, if the highway department or another town department has a municipal use for the lumber generated from these logs, then they may use them to their advantage.
If the wood can’t be used as firewood due to the type or condition and has no other value, then it is disposed of at a local wood waste company at the current charge.
If the wood can be used as firewood, the tree warden determines if the property abutter to the tree wants the wood. If so, all or part of the wood may be left as requested. This is providing that if the wood were left on site, it would not create any safety hazard to the public. The wood is left in large sections that would need to be cut and split for use.
If the abutter rejects the wood, then the maintenance of a stockpile of wood at the highway garage is supplied. This is for general use by residents. Again, this is left in large sections that would need to be cut and split for use. This pile may only be restocked when completely depleted, forcing the public to take less than desirable wood as well as the higher quality wood. Anyone taking this wood will be required to schedule removal with the highway department clerk and sign a form relieving the town of any liability while removing the wood.
On occasion firewood will be left where cut along the public way for any residents to take, provided the highway surveyor determines it will not create a hazard or interfere with maintenance of the public way.
When the pile at the garage is adequately stocked, then the wood will be available to all town residents including town employees to reduce disposal costs. A list of those residents who desire wood will be kept at the highway clerk’s office. The wood will be delivered using town equipment (within town limits) directly from a job site whenever possible to reduce costs. Again this would be left in large sections that would need to be cut and split for use. This distribution of wood must be approved by the tree warden and can only occur as directed by the highway surveyor after the resident signs a form holding the town harmless for any damage to private property due to wood delivery.
If there is no disposal area available for this wood then it is disposed of at the local wood waste facility at the current costs.
Note: The above policy will not apply when the town hires a professional tree service for the removal of a tree on a public way and the tree warden determines that the removal process would be more cost effective and safer for the tree company to remove and dispose of any part or the entire tree themselves, or in emergency situations created by natural or man made disasters that require hiring outside contractors for timely removal and disposal of wood.
This policy will be posted on the town website.
John Morrell
Tree Warden
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