Tree Committee Formed

An unusually well attended Waterville Village Board meeting last week resulted in the creation of a committee to address the tree population.

Several times during the meeting, Mayor Gene Ostrander thanked the 10 people for coming, saying it was good to see them willing to participate in village matters.

The meeting opened with a public hearing to close out the 2023 Community Development Block Grant.

The Village received $412,000 that year.

Eight housing projects were chosen from the 13 applications received.

Construction improvements were done on six one-family homes and two multi-unit houses.

The Village, which has received a housing improvement grant for the last 12 years, is applying for similar funding in 2025.

Ostrander said the grants - which homeowners receive 100 percent without needed to pay a portion - have done a lot of good for people.

Repairs include roofs, windows, heating and other structural upgrades.

Meredith Leland opened the discussion about trees. She said she took a walk through the village with a forester from Hamilton.

She learned there are several ways to obtain free trees for planting.

She outlined the steps for the Village to become a Tree City.

These include recognition of Arbor Day.

DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy said a tree inventory has been taken and overgrown and dead trees are being removed.

Trees are also removed if in the way of repairing a water or sewer break.

After removal, the stumps are left, which means a new tree cannot be planted in the same place, Bechy said.

John Mariani said a replacement program is doable with the right trees. He also said NYSEG has a program to trim trees in the way of power lines.

Ostrander said taking one tree down costs about $5,000. “Are people here willing to be on a committee?

Get together and come back to us with a plan.’’

Jim Fister, a Madison Street resident, said 20 years ago his street had a number ...