Oceanport officials, residents meet on tree removal
Wardell Circle residents encourage borough
to preserve silver maples
By carolyn o’connell
Staff Writer

Trees marked for removal will be evaluated by a professional before Oceanport moves forward with road improvements to Wardell Circle.

Approximately 17 residents of Wardell Circle attended a special meeting at borough hall last week to discuss options to a road improvement project in which the current plan calls for the elimination of silver maple trees from the residential community.

The project will be funded by a $150,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation.

Councilman Gary E. Wolfe said, "This is the first time in borough history we invited an entire neighborhood to discuss a road improvement plan."

Residents of Wardell Circle have rallied to save the trees after borough officials marked out 36 for removal before moving forward with road improvements.

Borough residents voiced their concerns regarding the expertise of borough officials, who marked the trees, and the aesthetic and monetary impact it would have on the community.

The trees were marked earlier in February by William Sullivan, the borough’s shade tree commission chairman, and Wolfe and Councilwoman Maria Gatta, who walked the circle and tapped on the trees to determine whether they were rotting, diseased or healthy.

Wolfe noted this needed to be done because the borough could not proceed with the project if the trees are unsafe.

According to Thomas K. Rospos, borough engineer, the marked trees needed to be removed because they protrude into the street, breaking the curb line, and many trees were dangerously uneven and top heavy.

Rospos explained that there are several options, but that the trees should be removed "to practice good engineering."

Those options are, according to Rospos, to remove trees, and to remove and replace curbing in its current locations, costing $142,725 plus an additional $10,000 to plant new trees, which would be beyond the DOT scope of work.

The second option, at the cost of $142,640, would be to remove only the bad trees and decrease the width of the road by three feet.

Rospos noted that the plan must follow a borough ordinance that requires the roadway to be 30 feet wide.

In some areas of the circle, where the trees are left, it would narrow the road by anywhere between 27 and 30 feet, causing a problem for emergency and public works vehicles to maneuver in the circle.

He added, that if trees remain and at a later date trees are lost to a storm or disease, the borough is not responsible to replace those trees.

Councilman Martin A. McGann Jr. said, "the borough has a responsibility once it is aware of a potential hazard."

"Wardell Circle is the nicest street in town, said James Ryerson of Wardell Circle, "but 30 percent of those trees better go down. Trees are falling down, and this has to stop; safety is important."

"Charlie Boland, an Elizabeth Drive resident whose mother, Annette Boland, lives on Wardell Circle said, "I have already consulted with professionals and they have said that with proper care the existing trees will last another 35 to 40 years."

Boland also noted that he was concerned that the money to replace the trees may not come through, leaving the community barren.

McGann agreed that replacing the trees won’t happen immediately but rather over a period of several years. He added the trees to be planted would be approximately 12 to 14 feet tall. "Buying bigger trees is just too expensive," he said.

The cost of the trees would be paid for with any money remaining from the grant and an additional $10,000 out of the borough’s capital budget. That would not be enough to replace all the trees, so the borough would continue to budget for their replacement until the work is complete.

It is important to look at the whole picture," said Gatta. "We have had two near misses when limbs have fallen down," she said.

After some discussion, Gatta asked for a vote from residents, who are in favor of the removal of the trees. Six of the 17 residents, who attended were in favor.

Boland suggested that a three citizen, three council member group be formed to discuss with a professional on making an assessment.

Wolfe noted that can be done, but time is of the essence because the borough could lose the grant money for the project. He added, "we will get the opinion of an expert, and we will meet again with everyone. He also suggested that it may be wise to consult with officer Steven Cioffi if reducing the roadway and a one-way street would be safe.

Borough officials and residents plan to convene in two weeks to discuss the various findings.