Sec. 18-108. - Duties and responsibilities of the tree warden.

(a)

Qualifications and appointment.

(1)

The tree warden shall be a person who has training and experience in arboriculture and is in possession of a state arborist license.

(2)

The tree warden shall be appointed by the town council at its regular meeting in January of each year. The town council's appointment shall be based on the candidate's qualifications.

(b)

Authority.

(1)

Jurisdiction. The tree warden, in conjunction with the tree commission, shall have the authority and jurisdiction to regulate, protect, maintain, remove, and plant trees on streets, in parks and in public places in the town, and to regulate and protect significant trees.

(2)

Conditions of permit. The tree warden shall have the authority to affix reasonable conditions to the granting of a permit in accordance with the terms of this article.

(3)

Expenditures. The tree warden shall expend all sums, which shall be appropriated for inventorying, maintenance, planting, pruning and managing trees within public rights-of-way and public places.

(4)

Hazard control. The tree warden shall have the authority to enter onto public or private property to exercise the care and control of trees, where there is located a tree that is suspected to be a public hazard. Where circumstances permit, the property owner shall be given written notification on the intended entry at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance thereof.

(c)

Duties.

(1)

The tree warden shall plan, direct, regulate and control the protection, maintenance, removal, and planting of trees on public property and shall regulate and control the protection of significant trees.

(2)

The tree warden shall enforce the rules and regulations of the Warren Tree Ordinance Administrative Guidelines governing all trees covered by this article.

(3)

The tree warden shall formulate a master tree management plan with the assistance of the tree commission. The master tree management plan should include the inventory of existing public trees and shall specify the species of the tree to be protected, maintained, removed and/or planted on each of the streets, parks, and other public places.

(4)

The tree warden shall work in conjunction with civic groups, businesses, educational communities and citizens concerned with tree care, planting and preservation.

(5)

The tree warden shall evaluate and approve permits for the activities that may affect public trees and significant trees on private property and shall enforce all provisions of this article.

(Ord. of 1-12-2016(2), § 18-7.8; Ord. of 12-8-2020; Ord. of 6-8-2021(1))