(A) The purpose of this article is to regulate the planting, maintenance and removal of trees on municipally owned public property and rights-of-way within the municipality and on municipally owned property wherever located. In order to protect and conserve trees on public property and rights-of-way, this article provides for the pruning, treatment and removal of trees and shrubs as deemed necessary by the Town Board or a person acting under the authority of the Town Board. This article is also intended to provide for the trimming or removal of trees on public land when they obscure streetlights, interfere with utility lines or constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or otherwise endanger the public health, safety or welfare.
(B) Another purpose of this article is to encourage the protection of trees and express the town's intent to use trees to create a more natural and amenable human environment. This article is not intended to be punitive or to cause hardship to any person who uses the utmost care and diligence to protect trees within the town or on town property.
(C) This article shall further provide for the establishment of an advisory committee known as the Tree Board, which shall be responsible for promoting trees and tree care throughout the municipality and for developing a town tree plan.
(1989 Code, § 16-21; 2003 Code, § 9-3.2)