Village Considering Hiring Contractor for Tree Removals

With the , the council has tasked department heads to think of new ways to tackle troublesome trees in town.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Tim Cronin on Wednesday night said the results of an RFP to potentially hire two separate contractors to work on trees cost $229,000.

The plan, as outlined by Cronin, called for Downes Tree Service and Andy Matt Tree Service to attend to cutting, pruning and removing trees two days a week, along with a supervising village worker recently hired.

The council held off on forking over the money toward that plan and instead has requested the village issue another RFP to have a contractor clear the 140 or so trees throughout the village scheduled to be removed by the Parks Department.

"Whatever we're doing doesn't seem to be working," Mayor Paul Aronsohn said. "We need to think differently."

Seasonal workers might round out the workforce while the village queries bids. For the $229,000 figure, Cronin said it's likely a private contractor could remove all the trees.

The council will also be discussing a revised shade tree policy in the coming months.