East Greenwich 'The Town Council on Sept. 29 approved a revised second reading of a proposed tree ordinance and sent the measure to a third reading after councilors narrowed the scope of delegated regulatory authority and removed a proposed new advisory board.

The ordinance, intended to protect and manage the town's public trees, would formalize the tree warden's authority for planting, maintenance and removal in public rights of way and allow the town to pursue a Tree City USA designation.

Why it matters: Council members said the measure clarifies procedures for public safety removals, tree planting in public rights of way, and coordination with state agencies for trees on state rights of way. Volunteers from the town's long-standing Tree Council urged councilors to adopt the ordinance to support systematic replanting and to improve the town's eligibility for grants.

Key debate and amendments

- Delegation of regulatory authority: Councilors said the draft's language gave the tree warden broad ability to adopt regulations without formal oversight. The body replaced mandatory delegation language with a version that allows the town to "implement such rules and regulations...as are deemed necessary" and confirmed that administrative policies would be coordinated through the town manager.

- Advisory board removed: The version before the council had proposed a new East Greenwich Tree Advisory Board; the solicitor modified the ordinance to remove that board and vest authority in the tree warden instead.

- Private property and public safety: Councilors clarified that the ordinance focuses on public trees (rights of way and public property) and limits tree warden intervention on private property to cases where a tree endangers public safety or public property.

Public input and votes

- Sandra Saunders, a member of the East Greenwich Tree Council, urged council support, saying the town needs an organized approach to replace aging street trees.

- Elizabeth McNamara, also a Tree Council member, said the volunteer group can help with species selection and placement and that Tree City USA recognition could unlock grant funding for plantings.

- The council voted 4-0 on the motion to adopt the second reading as amended and to advance the ordinance to a third reading.

Quote from the meeting

"This ordinance provides a framework to safeguard our trees through regulation on planting, maintenance and removal and ensures that we preserve and expand our tree canopy in a responsible and sustainable manner," a council speaker said during the presentation (transcript).

Ending

The council's action sets the ordinance for a third reading; volunteers from the Tree Council said they will continue to help identify planting locations and species. No final ordinance adoption occurred on Sept. 29.