Saugus tree removal hearing set for June 30

SAUGUS – The Saugus Tree Department has scheduled a public hearing at the Department of Public Works office at 515 Main St., regarding the removal of four trees.The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 30 at 9 a.m. and will look into the removal of trees located at Norman Road, Avon Street, Hood Street and Jasper Street.?There?s a variety of reasons for taking a tree down,” said DPW director Joe Attubato. “Some are dead and we recommend what kind of decision is going to be made. Sometimes we trim it up rather than take it down.”According to Margery Hunter, a member of the Saugus Tree Committee, only trees located on town property, not trees on private property, have to go before the Tree Department.When a tree is removed, Hunter said the committee works to have another one planted in its place.?What we try to do is prevent good, healthy trees from being removed,” said Hunter, who has been on the Tree Committee since 1998. “We try to have an agreement with the parties involved to pay for a replacement tree, even if it?s not at the same spot.”According to its website, the three main goals of the Tree Committee are to maintain the town tree farm, educate about the importance of trees and to work to replace trees around the town.In 1998, Saugus was declared a “Tree City” by the National Arbor Day Foundation.