Sec. 2-93. Duties and responsibilities.
It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or update annually, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks located within the Town, along public streets, and in other public areas. Such plans will be presented annually to the Town Council, and upon the Town Council's acceptance and approval, shall constitute the official comprehensive Town tree plan. Any recommendations by the Tree Board related to a specific tree or trees shall be presented on an as-needed basis to the Town Council.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the members of the Tree Board to be familiar with the Town Zoning Ordinance as it relates to landscaping. At all times, the Tree Board shall not make any plans and recommendations, or effectuate any action for planting and locations of trees, which are inconsistent with the existing Town Zoning Ordinance, as the same is amended from time to time, as it relates to landscaping regulations, and the like.
The Tree Board may also provide assistance to the Town in the following areas:
1. Assist with technical standards concerning tree/shrub care, preservation, selection, installation, pest abatement, maintenance and removal located on Town-owned property;
2. Make recommendations to the Town Plan Commission on submitted landscaping plans prior to approval;
3. Recommend to the Town Council annual forestry expenditures that equal or exceed two dollars ($2.00) per capita by spending funds on those eligible expenditures as recommended by Indiana Tree City USA and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources;
4. Participate in annual Arbor Day events and ensure reading of proclamation;
5. Ensure minimum standards and annual submissions to maintain Tree City USA status;
6. Assist the Town with public tree inventories, as needed;
7. Participate in volunteer tree planting and maintenance events as requested by the Town Parks Department;
8. Apply for tree-related grants;
9. Provide comments on subsequent revisions to this division, as needed;
10. Meet on a monthly basis and maintain meeting minutes for the record; and
11. Make recommendations to the Town Council regarding specific maintenance of trees in Town and removal of dead and/or diseased trees on private property.