Hello Mr. Hobbs,

Is the dead tree on town property?

I just noticed that the East Hartford Public Works Department already has a watch area built here, so they like got your note at the same time I did...

I don't know whose property it's on, but when it falls it will be everyone's problem.

The Town of East Hartford should take down this potential hazard to the community.

Bob Hobbs

Good picture there, Mr. Hobbs.

That tree - it looks more like a standing log - appears to be pretty close to the road. Therefore it's likely on the city of East Hartford's property. If it's not on the city's property, I'm not sure who would be at fault if it falls across the lines, but there's a chance it would be the fault of the property owner. That can get expensive even if nobody gets hurt. Hopefully, the city can stop by to provide some guidance or at least help make a definitive ruling on who owns the tree - and before we get any violent weather.

By the way there's a hurricane heading toward the region right now, and although it's predicted to pass by to the east, we could get some gusts.

By pointing this out here at SeeClickFix, where the East Hartford Public Works Department also is keeping tabs, you've likely started the wheels turning to solve this problem and making the neighborhood a little safer.

How exciting to have this new tool to assist in making East Hartford a better place to live! We have a number of avenues for our constituents to reach out and have problems addressed and welcome your assistance. Please be sure to forward on any problems or concerns so that we can attempt to address them. Given these economic times and the $8 Million less we are spending this year than last and our decreased workforce we shall do our best. Thank you.

Thank you Mayor Currey!

Three weeks, and still no action.
I have given this website address to my neighbor, and she will comment soon.

Hi again Mr. Hobbs,

Have you called the town or filed any complaint directly online? The mayor suggested that you "forward" any issues - I think she means that you should visit the "contact us" screen on East Hartford's Web site, and fill that out. Here's the link:

http://www.ci.east-hartford.ct.us/Public_Documents/EastHartfordCT_WebDocs/contact

The public works dept. has a watch area here, but maybe someone's on vacation or was for some of this time period...

Thanks Doug,

I'll follow it up tomorrow.

Bob Hobbs

Its a hazard waiting to happen and then we will have a dark street... This dead tree is much to close to the wires.

I posted a complaint on the EH website, and got this reply:

The tree is privately owned. Consequently, the Town cannot simply
lawfully remove it. Under authority given to me by Town Ordinances, I
sent a letter to the owner of record ordering the tree's removal. The
letter has just been returned by the USPS marked "undeliverable." Having
never removed a tree on private property without delivering the owner
the notice required by Ordinance, I do not know what authority I have to
remove it. In any case, the Public Works budget is insufficient to allow
removal of trees on private property and I do not have the authority
under the Town Charter to overexpend the budget.

Billy G. Taylor, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Tree Warden
Town of East Hartford
740 Main Street
East Hartford, CT 06108
860.291.7365
860.289.0831 (fax)

A CL&P Tree report is on file.

Reports can be filed and tracked at:
http://www.cl-p.com/wms/default.aspx?nl=customer

Request# 1372688

CL&P should investigate within 5 days and request permission from the owner to remove the tree if they determine it threatens the lines. That picture suggests it does.

Keep us updated.

Jon Searles

Thanks, gentlemen, for those responses.

Mr. Hobbs, do you know the owner of the property? If so, it sounds like he/she needs to respond to CL&P's request for permission to remove the tree at this point. It might help to knock on their door if they're not answering their mail.

I took a drive by this afternoon. The tree appears to be on the rear of the lot at 1220 Burnside ave, to the left of 25 Bodwell. It's clearly visible from Burnside.

I've sent Mr. Hobbs the list of owners for 1220 Burnside by email, but here they are if it helps:

1220 Burnside Ave UNIT A -Frimpong, Aninakwa Kofi

1220 Burnside Ave UNIT B - Ndagire, Julie

1220 Burnside Ave UNIT C- Bawuah, Agyapong Kwadwo

I tracked the request number with CL&P and found the results at the link below... CL&P apparently visited in September and noted that the tree is overhanging the lines and then reported this:
"RESOLUTION - No Trouble Found."

http://www.cl-p.com/wms/requestdetail.aspx?cd_wr=1372688

I think they may have a policy on which trees they remove and which they don't, in terms of actual interference versus potential interference.

I noticed this morning that the tree has been cut back, so it is no longer a hazard to power/cable lines.

Thanks to all concerned.

Bob Hobbs

Tree has been cut back.

In today's paper:

Problems getting solved in East Hartford

Some good things have been happening as a result of your reports on the SeeClickFix portion of the Journal Inquirer’s Web site. Three issues have been solved recently in East Hartford, where Mayor Melody A. Currey and public works personnel have taken an active approach and decided to monitor SeeClickFix for your reports. This is a good thing for everyone, as you’ll see below.

“EH Citizen” reported that there has been a deer crossing sign covered in graffiti for more than five years on Oak Street near Farnham Drive.

“It’s an eyesore and you can’t even see the photo on the sign in an area where deer often cross to access Porter Brook. Is this fixable?” EH Citizen wrote, adding that the town had been notified years ago but the sign had yet to be scrubbed clean or replaced.

Use link to read more:
http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/10/26/page_one/doc4ae5c2bab2a9f320930952.txt