Council approves up to $2,500 to remove hazardous tree on Fillmore Street right-of-way

Harpers Ferry, W.Va. — The Harpers Ferry Town Council on July 29 approved up to $2,500 to remove a large, multi-trunk tree in the Fillmore Street right-of-way after the town’s tree commission and a property developer had agreed to remove a number of street trees but the developer’s contractor would not safely remove a particular tree because it was close to power lines.

Council discussed whether the tree is on town right-of-way and the safety and liability issues if the tree were to fall onto a sidewalk, roadway, private property or power lines. Patty (staff managing the tree commission items) told council the developer had paid to remove several trees but declined to remove a large three-trunk specimen that the developer’s contractor said it was not comfortable taking down because of power-line proximity. The tree commission had inspected the site and recommended removal of the problematic trees.

Councilmember Jesse Veil and others asked whether trimming could be used instead of removal and whether the electric utility would remove or trim the tree as part of its routine vegetation management programs. Staff said trimming was not appropriate for the species involved and that the contractor would be better equipped to remove the tree safely. The council acknowledged the developer had removed the other trees but said that the one remaining tree posed a hazard and that equipment already on site made removal economically sensible now.

Council voted to authorize up to $2,500 from contracted services (account 750) to remove the tree from the town right-of-way; the motion passed 6–0. The council directed staff to schedule the removal and to coordinate public-safety measures and any necessary traffic control.

Why it matters
The decision balances public-safety and liability concerns with the town’s limited expenditure on right-of-way maintenance. Town staff and the tree commission determined the remaining tree had structural issues and risk factors that warranted removal.

Details
Motion: Approve up to $2,500 from contracted services for removal of tree in Lot 44, Block LL, Fillmore Street right-of-way. Outcome: approved 6–0. Staff to coordinate removal and traffic control.