Aldermen pass on funding removal of tree in city alley
The city denied a motion last Tuesday to remove a tree and grind a stump located in an alley on Beech Street despite receiving a $3,650 quote from a tree service.
The alley is city-owned, but a resident previously requested assistance from the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to remove the tree. The resident said that clearing the area would allow him to park his vehicle off the street.
After discussing the matter over several weeks, aldermen voted against funding the tree removal because there is no imminent safety threat. Instead, the city is considering dividing the alley property between adjacent property owners, leaving maintenance decisions up to them.
“If the stump stays, I’m all for it,” said Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton. “If we grind it, we are giving this guy a free driveway.”
Ward 1 Alderman Justin Clearman agreed, saying, “If we give them the land, it can be handled by the property owners. I don’t think we should be paying to cut a tree down just because it’s an inconvenience if it doesn’t pose a threat.”
The quote was from Richard Cooney’s Lawn Landscaping and Tree Removal, the lowest bid.
The vote was as follows: Shaun Seales, aye; James Tatum, aye; Justin Clearman, nay; James Waltman, nay; and Jim Fulton, nay.
In other business, aldermen voted to:
• Approve a motion to pay Bailey Landscape $29,635 for work completed at Dewitt-Deweese Park from the TVA grant funds. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to pay a $1,650 Allen Engineering invoice for the Airport Master Plan. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to make Nick Crockett and Michael Sullivan co-mangers of the Street Department at the rate of $24 per hour until July 1 or until otherwise advised, effective January 8, 2025. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to repair the engine in the Street Department’s leaf machine at the lowest quote of $10,282 from Stribling Equipment with the high quote being $14,050 from James Thompson Garage. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to set a hearing date of Feb. 4 for a Carver Avenue property clean-up. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to give Austin Gray with the Sanitation Department a $0.50 raise. The motion was approved unanimously;
• Approve a motion to accept a $725 donation to Animal Control from St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. The motion was approved unanimously;
• A motion was made to hire Courtney Stevens with Animal Control full-time at $15 per hour, pending a drug screen. The vote was as follows: Justin Clearman, aye; James Tatum, aye; Shaun Seales, nay; Jim Fulton, nay; James Waltman, nay. The motion failed;
• Approve a motion to offer Courtney Stevens a full-time position with Animal Control at $12.50, subject to her acceptance and pending a drug screen. The vote was as follows: Jim Fulton, aye; James Waltman, aye; Shaun Seales, aye; Justin Clearman, nay; James Tatum, nay. The motion passed;
• Approve a motion to approve the MLK Parade route set for Jan.18. The route will follow the same as the Christmas Parade, starting on Poplar Avenue and ending on Byrd Avenue at the Philadelphia High School parking lot. The motion was approved unanimously.