Sec. 14-52. - Tree commission; powers and duties; meetings.

(a)

Created; composition; appointment. There is created a tree commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission" which shall consist of five members, including two ex officio positions. The mayor, when appointing members to the East Providence Tree Commission, shall give consideration to those persons interested in the conservation and preservation of trees and the urban forest of East Providence. The commission shall, to the extent practicable, include:

(1)

One licensed arborist;

(2)

One professional landscape architect or landscape gardener;

(3)

Three members shall be lay citizens;

(4)

The city forester and a member of the city council shall both be ex officio.

(b)

Powers and duties. The tree commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)

The duties of the tree commission shall be interpreted to include, but not be limited to the protection, maintenance, removal, and planting of trees on public property, and to make such recommendations from time to time to the city council as to desirable legislation concerning the tree program and activities for the city.

(2)

The tree commission shall hear and decide appeals from the standards of this article or an appeal of a decision of the city forester. It may approve, modify, or deny the requested adjustment, based upon protection of public interest, preservation of the intent of this article, and possible unreasonable and unnecessary hardships involved in the case. The commission shall act upon all appeals as expeditiously as possible and shall notify the applicant in writing within five days of the action taken by the commission on the appeal.

(c)

Regular and special meetings; quorum. Regular meetings of the tree commission shall be held quarterly or as needed. Special meetings shall be held as often as the board shall determine them to be necessary. A quorum for the transaction of business at all regular and special meetings shall be three members with full voting powers.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, §§ 14-52—14-54; Ch. 442, § II, 12-18-07; Ch. 877, § XXI, 6-6-23)

Cross reference— Boards, committees and commissions, § 2-36 et seq.