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Brackenridge creates panel as part of effort to join TreeVitalize
Brackenridge will soon have a shade tree commission.
Council voted 5-1 Thursday to establish a three-member commission to oversee restoring and maintaining trees, planting trees strategically to not interfere with power lines, signage or sidewalks.
It also calls for obtaining trees free of charge for the borough under Allegheny County's TreeVitalize program.
Councilman Dino Lopreiato will head the commission and two other residents will be sought to serve five-year terms.
Creating the commission was one of the steps needed to become part of the TreeVitalize program. Lopreiato took a “tree tender” course and the borough will apply for a county grant to satisfy the other requirements.
The borough will impose municipal liens or penalties for violations such as illegally cutting down a tree. Solicitor Craig Alexander said penalties are rarely imposed.
Any resident interested in serving as a volunteer commission member should contact the borough building at 724-224-0800.
Lopreiato said that any resident interested in taking the three-week, three-hour tree tender course will get 10 free trees for the borough.
Councilwoman Mary Lou Poli voted against the tree-related measures and said, “Nothing personal, I just think we have enough trees.”
George Guido is a freelance writer.
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