Laurel to combine Tree Board and Environmental Affairs Committee; council passes state-mandated forest conservation measure

James Cole said the City Council is pursuing a consolidation of the Tree Board and the Environmental Affairs Committee to address quorum challenges and to repurpose the combined body for more effective local initiatives.

"By combining them, we are hoping that we can have that quorum and repurpose the committee," Cole said, noting the Environmental Affairs Committee operates under a resolution from about 20 years ago and the council wants to update its scope.

Cole also addressed a state-mandated forest conservation ordinance that the council is preparing to pass. "We're not happy with it. We're passing what we have to pass because of the state but the Environmental Affairs Committee will then be looking at it and making suggestions that are Laurel specific," he said.

Cole indicated the committee will review the state requirement and recommend local adjustments, but he did not provide text of the state mandate, the ordinance number, or a timeline for proposed local amendments during the program.