Swampscott bracing for inspections following spate of downed trees

SWAMPSCOTT – Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta is expecting more residents in Swampscott to request tree inspections after three town trees fell after rotting out in the last week.The first tree fell last Friday at 57 Buena Vista St., damaging the car and home of resident Vladimer Kondratev. The second fell Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. across the street from Phillips Park onto the car of 61-year-old Arnold Bergman as he and his wife Rand Bergman were traveling towards Lynn. Bergman was sent to Mass. General Hospital after experiencing what police reports described as a “significant head wound” and was said to be in fair condition on Wednesday. His wife was not hurt.The most recent occurrence was Wednesday around 9:30 a.m., when a tree fell into the road at the intersection of Humphrey and Salem streets, said Cresta. No one was hurt, nor was any property damaged.Cresta said all three fell as a result of severe rot, though he described the most recent incidents as “coincidence.” He said two of the trees completely uprooted, and the tree that hit Bergman snapped close to the bottom.?We?ve had some serious wind storms and heavy snowstorms that have knocked trees down, but this is something you can?t explain,” said Cresta.Cresta said there may be more requests by town residents to have trees inspected in the aftermath of the incidents. “Usually what happens is when trees start falling down is people all over town start wanting trees down because they?re worried about somebody getting hurt,” said Cresta.A tree hearing is scheduled for this afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Selectman?s Meeting Room in Town Hall, though Cresta said the timing is also a coincidence. There are nine trees on the list for discussion of removal at the hearing. Cresta said the tree bylaw will only allow a tree to come down if it is in danger of falling and not for aesthetic reasons. Cresta said a sign will be posted on the tree in question to allow for any protests before it comes down. “If one or more residents opposes the tree coming down, then the tree will remain standing as long as it doesn?t pose an immediate hazard,” said Cresta.Cresta said the best way to tell if a tree is rotting is to check for falling leaves or limbs, which will be easier to check now than when fall foliage is in full swing.Cresta added that the tree hearing isn?t usually heavily attended because of its afternoon meeting time, but residents can still submit requests to the Department of Public Works.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].