Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-12-31
NO. 70.
Approved December 9, 1901.

NO. rs.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PRO
lection OF SHADE TREES.
It is hereby enacted by the Genera
Assembly of the State Of Vermont:
Section 1. Every town may at It,
annual election of town officers elect 6
tree warden. who shall serve for one
year or until his successor Is elected
and qualified. He may appoint such
number Of deputy tree wardens as he
may deem expedient, and may at any
time remove them from office. He and
his deputies shall receive such COM
pensation for their services as the
town may determine. and, in default
Of such determination, as the select
men may prescribe. He shall have
the care and control Of all public shade
trees in the town, except those in
public parks or open places under the
Jurisdiction Of park commissioners
He shall expend all funds appropriated
for tho setting out and maintenance OF
such trees. He may prescribe such
regulations for the care and preserva-
ton OF such trees, enforced by suitable
fines and forfeitures, not exceeding
twenty dollars in any one case, as he
may deem just and expedient; and such
regulations, when approved by the
selectmen and posted in two or more
public places in the town, shall have
the force and effect Of town bylaws.
1t shall be his duty to enforce all
provisions of law for the preservation
Of such trees.
Sec. 2. Towns may appropriate an
nually a sum of money, not exceeding
in the aggregate fifty cents for each
Of its ratable polls in the preceding
year. to be expended by the tree ward
en- In planting shade trees in the pub
lie ways. or, If he deems 1t expedient.
upon adjoining land, at distance not
exceeding twenty feet from said public
ways. for the purpose of shading or
ornamenting the same: providing,
however. that tne written consent Of
the owner of such land shall first be
obtained All shade trees within the
limits Of any public way shall be
deemed public shade trees.
Sec. 8. Whoever. other than a tree
warden or his deputy. desires the cut
ting or removal in whole or in part.
Of any public shade tree, may apply to
the tree warden. who shall give a pub
lie hearing upon the application at
some suitable time and place, after
duly posting notices Of the hearing In
two or more public places In the town,
and also upon the said tree: provided.
however. that the warden may. II he
deems 1t expedient. grant permission
for such cutting or removal without
calling q hearing. II the tree In ques-
ton is on a public way outside Of the
residential part of the town, the lin
its of such residential part Of the town
to be determined by the selectmen.
No tree within such residential part
shall be cut by the tree warden. ex-
Dept to trim 1t. or removed by him
without q hearing as aforesaid; but in
all cases the decision Of the tree ward
en- shall be final.
Sec. I. Towns may annually raise
and appropriate such sum Of money
as they deem necessary, to be expend-
ed under the direction Of the tree
warden in discriminating insect pests
within the limits Of their public ways
and places. and in the removal from
said public ways and places Of all
trees and other plants upon which such
ever, that where an owner or lessee
Of real estate shall. to the satisfaction
OF the tree Warden, annually oXtcT-
inmate all insect pests upon tho trees
and other plants within the limits Of
any public way or place abutting on
said real estate. such trees and plants
shall be exempt from the provisions Of
this section.
Sec s. Whoever affixes to any tree
In public way or place a play bill.
picture. announcement, notice. adver-
tisement, or other thing Of like nature.
whether In writing or otherwise. or
cuts, paints, or marks such tree ex-
cept for the purpose of protecting 1t
and under a written permit from the
tree warden, shall be punished by a
fine not exceeding fifty dollars for each
oifense.
Sec 6. Whoever wantonly Injuries.
defaces. breaks or destroys an orna-
mental or shade tree within the limits
Of any public way or place shall for
felt not less than five nor more than
one hundred dollars, to be recovered
b. complaint, one half to the COM