The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-02-07
FOR ELECTION OF
A TREE WARDEN
Petition Asking That Such an Article
Be Put in Town Meeting Warrant
Will Probably Be Presented
to the Board of Selectmen.

The ciyics committee of the Brattleboro
Womans club is planning to petition the
selectmen to insert in the warrant OF the
next town meeting an article bringing be-
fore the voters of the town the question
of electing a tree warden for Brattleboro.
An act passed by the legislature OF 1904
gives each town the right to elect tree
warden who shall have the care and con-
troll of public shade trees and may pre-.
scribe such regulations for their care and
preservation as he sees fit. The act also
authorizes towns to appropriate limited
sums of money to be expended by the tree
warden in planting shade trees In puDlc
ways or upon adjoining land. These war
dens have authority to regulate the cut.
ting or removal of shade trees, and al
appropriations made for the purpose OF
DISCRIMINATING any insect pests are to- be
spent under their supervision. The law
also contains other regulations relating to
the protection of shade trees, the enforce
ment of which is included among the
! warden's duties.
Rrattleboro has large number of beau
tiful shade trees but their care has never
been under the direction OF anyone es,
pecially qualified to look after them and
| It is the belief of many local people that
! the election of tree warden would be a
| wise action. This is especially true IN
view of the fact that the brown tail or
gvnsv moth pest is gradually spreading
through this section and is likely Ito make
| it's appearance in this town at any time.
Should it appear here immediate measures
would be necessary to bring about Its eX-
termination and this could not be done
effectually unless under the supervision! OF
some town officer who would give time
and study to the matter,
The law relative to the election and
duties of tree wardens is as follows
It is hereby enacted by the general as
sembly of the state of Vermont:,
Section l. Every town may at Its an
nual election of town officers elect a tree
warden, who shall serve, for one year Or
until his successor is elected and quail
fed. He may appoint such number OF
deputy tree wardens as he may deem ex-
| nedient, and may at any time remove
them from Office. He and his deputies
shall receive such compensation Tor their
services as the town may determine, and
in default of such determination, as the
selecfmen may prescribe. He shall have
the care and control of all public shade
trees in the town, except those IN pup
| lie parks or open places under tne JIIlS1,
diction of park commissioners; re snail
expend all funds appropriated Tor the set'
| ting 0llt ana UldluJcudASC VI
Hrs He NAV prescribe such regulations for the
care and preservation of such trees, en-
, not exceeding os $50 in any one case, as
he may deem just, and expedisentt; t, ana aha
such regulations, when approved Dy We
selectmen and posted in two or more pup
lie places in the town, shall have the n;
force and effect of town bylaws. 1t shall
be his duty to enforce all provisions VI
law for the preservation of such trees, =,
Sec. 2. Towns may appro Ipaod;na a IN the
aggregate sa 50 50 cents for each Of is ratab!e
polls in the preceding year, to be expensd,
cd by the tree warden in planting shade shade
trees in the public ways. or, if ne deems &c $
it expedient, upon adJSonn9g l. iar rom a. said
public ways, for the pYr for ttt shading
or ornamenS,ng the sar =, nov ho
ever, that the writ .he
owner of Ttch ls . op