Turley Publications Photos by Jonathan Cook

Larger trees such as this oak, are included in the removal plan because they are growing to close to the road.

230 trees to be chopped on Wigwam Road

 

Tree bids due this week

By Jonathan Cook

Turley Publications Reporter

WEST BROOKFIELD – At the beginning of Wigwam Road, a large orange sign proclaims “Road Work”. And, soon the chainsaws will arrive to clear more than 230 trees, large and small.

But it was almost not to be. After the Planning Board decided to save five trees of the more than 230 planned to be cut, the Board of Selectmen decided against putting the tree contract out to bid.

A few days later, they decided to go ahead with bids and they will be opened this week, after this paper goes to press.

Selectman and liaison to the Highway Department Mike Frew said the Chapter 90 state funded road improvements will be finished next year because the funding will roll over. He’d been worried that the expense and delay of moving the road to save the trees would derail the project.

The budget for the project was set at $20,000 for the tree work, $10,000 for gravel and $305,000 for paving.

In spite of those considerations, Historical Commissioner Richard Rossman feels the scenic road denomination that was given to Wigwam Road was steamrolled by a hasty process.

Rossman said that the work was in the planning stages for two years and the historical commission, one of three boards with scenic road nominating authority, was never notified. “I’d just like to see the historical commission and the conservation commission involved,” he said.

He pointed out that Ragged Hill Road is on the Highway department’s to do list, and that is also a scenic road.

In fact, Frew said the scenic roads in town “are pretty much in the worst shape.”

While the Planning Board has final say on any tree or stonewall removal, in this case, Rossman doesn’t understand how they can approve removing so many trees. He said he is concerned about the canopy over the road being significantly altered for the worse.

“I’d hate to see this place become Everywhere, USA,” he said. “It’s a constant battle.”

Frew points out that many of the trees are close to the road now. Also, the road needs to be widened in order to receive the 100 percent reimbursable state funding. “We’d like to get as close to 20 feet as we can,” he said. “In some places it’s 14 or 15. You can see where people drive off the road” to avoid a collision.

In addition to the widening, the Chapter 90 guidelines recommend clear cutting all trees within eight feet of the road on either side. Instead, said Tree Warden Jim Dimaio, he only went five feet from the road. He did that out of consideration for the tree canopy, he said. What’s more, he left replacement trees where several were bunched. He explained that the space created will help the remaining trees grow larger and healthier with access to more sunlight, nutrients and water. He said, “In many cases, once the trees are cut, the public won’t notice. There won’t be substantial impact on the canopy.”

Dimaio, who is a licensed and certified Forester with a long resume of work for the state, the USDA and even a stint with the Peace Corps in Africa, was appointed Tree Warden in late July. He adds that he has worked on scenic roads for many years.

As for the wood that will come from a couple hundred trees, Dimaio said “there is a minimal lumber value.” He said many of the trees are dead and many very small.

Frew explained that the value of the wood will be part of the bids, as far as what to do with it and how much it could offset the expense.

He also said to avoid confusion going forward, the board has created a Road Project Advisory Committee to prioritize road work for the next ten years. On that committee are Frew, Daley, Jeff Robbins, Keith Arsenault, and Bill King.

Complicating the Wigwam project further, Wigwam Cross Road residents turned out to a recent selectmen’s meeting to ask the board to spare their road the same fate as Wigwam. Right now their small road is dirt, but Selectman Barry Nadon, Jr. said the town wants to pave it while the work is being done on Wigwam. Wigwam Cross intersects Wigwam shortly before the North Brookfield line where Wigwam turns into Barrett Road. Nadon said paving Wigwam Cross is cheaper in the long run than making regular repairs to the dirt road.

However, the board decided to make a decision on Wigwam Cross at Tuesday night’s meeting.