Upper Saddle River looks at changes to its tree ordinance

With issues of tree removal becoming more frequent with the influx of inclement weather, the Upper Saddle River governing body is considering a change to its ordinance.

Council President Roger DeBerardine said two changes are being proposed; one being that a contract company fee be increased from $35 to $100, and another to reduce a permit fee from $100 to $50 for the removal of a dead or dangerous tree from a property if not done by the homeowner.

The definition of a heritage tree has also been changed. It's now 24 inches in diameter at breast height.

The council is considering introducing changes next month.

DeBerardine explained that some people in the borough are against paying any annual permit fee for removal of a dead or dangerous tree.

But, he said people need "to recognize that we need funds to keep the Shade Tree Commission going $50 isn't asking too much," he said.

However, not everyone on the council agreed.

Councilman Vincent Durante said he didn't think there should be a permit charge for the removal of a dead tree. He suggested that a way to "recoup" that money would be to increase the fee to the contractor company more than the proposed $100.

Durante said the Shade Tree Commission doesn't collect that much money on an annual basis about $12,000 to $13,000 in total. He said that the money mostly covers training.

"To aggravate residents who are paying anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 in property taxes to take down a tree that's dead and insult them with a permit [fee] is wrong," Durante said.

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Upper Saddle River looks at changes to its tree ordinance