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Rockland will be awarded the full $4,700 we requested from Project Canopy to create a tree master plan/inventory.

It's a go. Thanks to Audrey Lovering, our new Community Development Director, and the hard work of the Parks Commission. We will inventory the city's trees, determine where the need to add to the trees lies, since if we don't start planting more, soon, we will start losing our urban forest, and we will develop a master plan and move forward with implementation. How's that? Super fab.

We're gonna do it!

I sponsored and wrote legislation to get Rockland into the Tree City Frame of Mind.

And, everyone is positive about it.

Here's where we are at...

We have a new tree ordinance that lives with the Parks Commission. They will be deciding on a Tree Warden from within their ranks. If you are interested in this process, please join in. The goal is to create a yearly funding amount for tree care and planting, to create a tree care and planting policy, and to get the personnel in place, meaning Parks Commission, an ongoing committment to a city arborist,public works, and/or a tree warden, to make this all happen. We will then apply for Tree City status, and start implementing programs so that the public can have access to lower cost trees to plant, and also that the city can begin to do restorative plantings of the street tree line, which has been substantially diminished over the years by fire, disease, utility line pruning, and aged trees not being replanted. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU CANNOT CUT DOWN A TREE IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY WITHOUT CITY APPROVAL. PLEASE. And, come on down so that you can find out how you can help out and start planting trees.

Also- the free tree program through the closure of a nursery-

yes, we have tagged many trees for the city from Project Canopy that were part of a donation program. The Parks Commission, and Audrey Lovering in Community Development, are overseeing this process. Thanks to everyone who directed the city's attention to this program.

Update on Final Corrective Pruning Needing to be Completed

Based on inspections by Doug Johnson, Arborist, February 7 and 9, 2011

On Wednesday, March 9, Doug Johnson, the arborist working for the city, met with CMP arborists Rob Cotiaux and Kris Spiegel to reveiw additional corrections required by CMP.

The arborists examined each of the twenty one trees that are listed below. Seven trees were removed from the list, because while CMP arborists determined that deadwood is present in the tree canopies, CMP power wires were not in jeopardy should the limbs fail. One additional tree was removed from the list when it was determinded that poor cuts were made not by CMP's utility pruning crew, but by an unknown party.

The remaining thirteen trees require remedial maintenance. Even require safety pruning and six will be removed. CMP has requested that the city assist with the removals by taking away the wood and unchippable brush, and coordinate this mutually beneficial effort with CMP's utility tree maintenance crew via Kris Spiegel.

Safety pruning of the seven trees is considered emergency work and, as per the City's contract with CMP, will be completed "as necessary". Regarding the six removals, CMP arborists will need to, as outlined in the contract, make contact with homeowners prior to work.

After CMP has made these corrections, Doug Johnson will conduct his final inspection.

Final Corrections Required, as revised 3/11/11

Street Name	Address/Pole#	Species	Additional Corrections	Key
No. Main	Across from 25	Ash	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
No. Main	58	Silver Maple	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
No. Main	Across from 71	Sugar Maple	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
No. Main	Across from 81	Sugar Maple	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
No. Main	Adj. to 92 (north)	Sugar Maple	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Cedar	16	Ash	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Cedar	23	Ash	Safety Prune-Dead Top	1
Cedar	67	Oak	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Jefferson	18	Ash	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Chestnut	4	Silver Maple	Remove	2
Beech	Corner of Shaw	Silver Maple	Remove	2
Broadway	223 (by Beech)	Spruce	Remove	3
Birch	28	Ash	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Samoset	Across from 57	Spruce	Remove	3
Philbrick	Corner Route 1	Ash	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Camden St Terrace	8	Linden	Repair Cuts
Crescent	Pole 4	Spruce	Remove	3
Pleasant	Corner of Broad	Sugar Maple	Safety Prune Large Deadwood	1
Holmes	Pole 1	Norway Maple	Remove	4

Notes to the Key

1: Safety Prune Large Deadwood denotes trees requiring removal of large canopy deadwood. In many instances the deadwood is outside the wire clearance area, however, its removal is important to protect wires from falling limbs, to maintain overall tree health, and protect the public. This additional pruning will enhance the health and safety of trees overhanging the CMP utility infrastructure. In Spring 2010, Doug Johnson met with CMP arborists Kris Spiegel and Rob Cotiaux, who concurred this maintenance was important and that CMP would implement it.

2: This tree is on the other side of the street from wires and poles, but could severely damage CMP utility infrastructure should it fail.

3: These four spruces were utility pruned, however, they are in decline and the pruning caused them to be more unsightly. They should be removed.

4: It appears that Holmes Street was not utility pruned in this cycle. However, this tree is interfering with wires.

In the case of removals (2, 3, 4 above) CMP arborists need to, as outlined in the contract, make contact work with homeowners prior to the work.

If you are a homeowner in these areas, please do not hesistate to contact city hall with your questions.

Remembering a milestone moment on council...

February 1 2009, During a council meeting, I wrote, at my desk, the order that shut down CMP pruning until a public hearing could be held as per statute. In other words, if the public isn't happy with what is happening with utility pruning, a public hearing can be called and pruning has to stop until a better situation can be worked out. The whole thing was very tough, and adversarial, but the good news is: after many weeks of negotiation, discussion, sometimes argument and finally some agreement, we ended up with an Urban pruning standard document, and a very good arborist, Doug Johnson, who taught the CMP arborists and gave much of his time and expertise. Our city attorney, Kevin Beal, worked hard to make the pruning standards work legally in our setting, The Energy Efficiency Committee folks gave ages of their time and expertise, and city manager Rosemary Kulow and acting city manager Tom Luttrell (Rosi was away for some of the days we were working it out) all worked hard. But, let me remind you for the millionth time, none of this would have ever happened if it hadn't been for the determined effort of dozens of caring citizens of Rockland, Maine, who came to council chambers with pictures, and words, and demanded a better outcome. Of note, of course, being Susan Beebe's tree poster, and continual advocacy and dedication to trees, Adele Faber always pushing our community to be its best, and Doug Curtis, who arrived at council chambers with actual logs that had been lopped off the Curtis' trees indescriminately. So many of you, and your stories. Virginia Slawson, and her care for her rose bushes, her gardens, and her bird environment. More than I can name, and many left out. The political process is not possible without the people. If you have a favorite tree story, please don't hestitate to post on the blog, or email me about it.

SO, I will leave up the notice that ran on this website for a while, just so we all remember.

CMP Tree Pruning Inside the Urban Compact Zone

This is the archived notice that we ran last year.

I'm keeping it up for reference.

The Urban Compact Zone is bounded by Old County Road, from Lakeview Terrace to Thompson Road. Everything on the town side of that line is the Urban Compact, everything on the country side of that line is rural.

The Urban Compact Zone is bounded by Old County Road, from Lakeview Terrace to Thompson Road. Everything on the town side of that line is the Urban Compact, everything on the country side of that line is rural.

ANYONE who is on one of the streets listed below who wishes to be consulted before pruning should call CMP at 1-800-750-4000. You can go to their website and fill out a contact form at this link, Tree Care Consultation Request

If you do not get a response, please call city manager Rosemary Kulow at Rockland City Hall 594-0300. More information about the tree pruning program can also be found on the city website, http://www.ci.rockland.me.us

Here's the list of streets for the rest of the summer. If you are on one of these streets, and have questions, don't hesistate to talk to us if you have a concern. Again, I have been very pleased with the job they did out here on West Meadow, but it can't hurt to communicate.

Note: you may notice that many of these streets have already been pruned. That means that much of what is going to happen is corrective pruning. Doug Johnson from Treekeepers LLC has worked with CMP in order to develop a standard that minimizes cutting in town. Again, any concerns or questions, please call.

And the streets are:

Admontem, Amesbury, Broadway, Camden St. ( One tree removal by State Farm Office), Cedar, Center, Chestnut, Cottage, Fern, Fogg, Gay, Granite, Gurdy, Leland, Limerock, Lincoln ( Note: This is a construction job), Main, Masonic, N. Main, Park, Rankin, Sea Pro Line, S. Main St. ( One tree removal @ address 141, Summer, Talbot, Traverse, Trinity, Warren, Washington, Willow.

As per the agreement between the city and CMP, CMP will be following through with door hanging and securing contacts for the areas listed below, meaning, if you want to be consulted. Lots of people have asked to be consulted, and if you want to add your name to the list, the contact information is below. Much of the areas have already been door-hanged, but more will be done to cover the bases. Weather or other factors may change things, but CMP will keep all informed, and the city will, too.

Residents are urged to call CMP if they wish to be consulted before trees are cut in their vicinity, and/or to call the City if they desire additional assistance. Information about the pruning areas will be posted on TV Channel 22 and the City's website. http://www.ci.rockland.me.us

If you have any questions or input, please contact city manager, Rosemary Kulow, at 594-0300. You can also call or email me: 207-596-0028, or email lizzie.dickerson@gmail.com