Dormont Shade Tree Commission Meeting – October 16, 2025

On October 16, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., the Dormont Borough Shade Tree Commission met with a quorum; Brent participated online. No formal agenda or minutes were included in the record. The meeting focused on a resident’s concerns about utility-company tree damage, storm-related tree losses in the park, replanting options, and resident education.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kevin Burke, a resident at 1232 Wisconsin Avenue, reported that utility work—including lead line replacement—did not appear to account for nearby trees. He described a large pin oak about 40 inches in diameter that he has paid to care for, and said neighbors also value the tree. He asked whether the borough could communicate tree-protection expectations to public utilities.
• Burke expressed support for protecting mature trees and also replacing losses, praised an earlier tree giveaway at the pool parking lot, and stressed the importance of planting the right tree in the right place—not too close to sidewalks. He provided printed tree-planting resources and offered to help develop public information.

Discussion Items

• Utility contractor tree protection: The Commission recalled that about a year earlier, residents had complained about overhead-line contractors cutting mature shade trees or trimming improperly. Members stated that utilities are independent and the borough has no jurisdiction over them, so there is no official enforcement path. Previously recommended public guidance, based on Penn State Extension best practices, included asking what utility paint markings mean, asking for trimming rather than removal, and requesting directional pruning around wires.
• Borough staff said they have active communication with Columbia Gas, but subcontractors have been difficult to manage. A recent gas-line job in front of the elementary school did not follow agreed schedule restrictions (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and required police intervention.
• The Commission discussed adding tree-protection language to street/sidewalk permits that utility contractors must obtain. The current permitting process focuses on repaving and sidewalk restoration; adding inspections would increase costs, but drafting protective language for permits was seen as a lower-cost option. No final decision was made.
• Members discussed creating a one-page educational resource and a Shade Tree Commission webpage on appropriate native trees, planting locations, utility-line clearance, and sidewalk-friendly choices. Brent agreed to draft content, Burke offered to share research, and borough staff offered to publish the material on the website and in the newsletter.
• Park replanting: Greg offered potted red maples, red oaks, and a redbud from his property for planting in the park. Brent said he might contribute oak saplings next year. The Commission discussed selecting a hillside location, being careful to avoid areas planned for a future dog park and hillside playground/slide improvements. A map of proposed planting spots is needed for borough council approval.
• The Commission noted that Councilman Kip provided $2,000 to buy trees. Borough purchases under $12,000 do not require formal bidding, so the money could be used directly for additional trees.
• Storm damage and removals: For storm recovery, about 16 trees in the park were removed by a contracted company, and additional hard-to-reach trees along the hillside were removed by borough staff. Total park losses were estimated at about 20 trees, with relatively few street-tree losses. The removal cost was $16,800; the borough received $16,000 from insurance, based on $1,000 per tree, helping preserve the pruning budget.
• Staff said they still needed to confirm with Joe when remaining tree trunks and branches in the park would be removed. Work in the more wooded, inaccessible areas was being deferred while the borough scheduled pool winterization and other park maintenance.

Key Outcomes

• No formal motions or votes were recorded during the meeting.
• The Commission agreed to move forward with drafting a tree-care/planting resource, a utility-contractor language template, and new Shade Tree Commission web content.
• Brent and Greg will prepare a proposed park planting map, incorporating donated saplings and up to $2,000 in purchased trees, for presentation to borough council—possibly at the October 22 council meeting at 6 p.m. (hybrid).
• The Commission will continue exploring permit-language options for protecting trees during utility excavation work.
• Staff will follow up on the outstanding storm-debris and tree-removal schedule in the park.