Committee moves to authorize tree service after two trees fall on Red Oak Trail

The Merrimac Open Space Committee discussed trail safety on April 25 after two trees fell on the Red Oak Trail off Battis Road, with one tree lying across the trail and a second hanging and caught in the canopy above.

Committee member Sandy Venner told members that one tree could be cut up on site but the other posed a hazard because it is suspended in the trees. Committee members moved to allow Venner to contact Mayer Tree Service if necessary and to spend up to $600 for removal; Lucy Abisalih made the motion and Sue Simmons seconded it. The minutes record the motion but do not record a formal vote tally or final disposition of the motion.

The committee’s discussion focused on clearing the trail to maintain public access and safety. The report did not specify a timeline for removal or whether the town’s public works staff would assist. Committee members did not provide an estimated closure time for that trail segment in the minutes.

The committee did not record additional technical details such as the size of the trees, the precise location along the Red Oak Trail beyond the Battis Road access, or whether an assessment from an arborist would be obtained before removal. The minutes also do not indicate whether insurance or permitting considerations apply.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: Venner was authorized in the motion to contact Mayer Tree Service if needed; further action, timelines and the vote outcome were not specified in the meeting record.