UPDATE: Oaks Neighborhood Stops Trees Cutting, For Now
The Oaks Neighborhood Association says NSTAR has agreed not to cut more trees at Reardon Park or Saxonville Beach until town and state officials can meet.
"I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I'm asking you sir, at the top of my lungs - that thing! That horrible thing that I see!" - Dr. Seuss
Framingham is living a modern-day Lorax tale.
Earlier this week, residents of the Oaks Neighborhood Association were outraged to find trees cut down to their stumps at Reardon Park and Playground.
Children cried when they learned that their beloved climbing tree was destroyed. Parents were outraged. Neighbors angry, that NSTAR had opted instead of trimming trees near wires, but to cut the trees to their stumps.
Thursday, members of the Oaks Neighborhood Association, Framingham State Representative Chris Walsh, Framingham Selectman Charles Sisitsky, Highway & Sanitation Director Daniel Nau and Parks & Recreation Director Bob Merusi met with NSTAR Representative Rachel Brinkman to discuss tree clearing at Reardon Park and the surrounding neighborhood, said Mulready.
"NSTAR representatives have agreed to meet and discuss this issue prior to doing any more clear cutting," said Walsh.
"It was agreed upon that NSTAR would not cut any other trees in the park or at Saxonville Beach," said Mulready.
But Melissa Ramsay said NSTAR was cutting trees as late as 2:45 p.m. yesterday, May 24.
Ramsay, who lives next to Reardon Park for more than a dozen years, said "at 2:45 p.m. my son and I heard a chainsaw and he walked up to the park to find a worker cutting a small birch tree at the basketball court, no where near the lines."
Ramsay said her son questioned why they were cutting the tree and they continued to cut. She said the man said "it may pose a future problem."
"It is obvious that tree has been there for many years and will never pose a problem. I don't understand why after an agreement was made that they continue to cut. I also found out that my tree is coming down ... I'm very upset!," said Ramsay
Ramsay is not alone in her outrage.
"I have lived in the Oaks neighborhood for 10 years. We LOVE this park. NSTAR totally destroyed it. Why did they cut down the tree by the basketball court that wasn't near any lines? My son is so upset (he along with MANY children used that as their climbing tree). The people nearest to the park were told there would be 'tree trimming' not tree mowing," said Meredith Wolff.
Neighborhood kids have started and signed a petition to save the trees.
"I spoke with Bill Mayes from NSTAR at the park today, as my boys sat in the car crying over the sight of the park. He was so insensitive and had absolutely no compassion. He was arrogant and had no regard for the wildlife or the sight of the park. He went as far as to say that he and NSTAR think that there shouldn't be a park there at all. Which raises major concerns for the future," wrote Christine Suau to Framingham Patch.
Mulready said a series of meetings will be scheduled in the coming days and the neighbors will have the opportunity to discuss their grievances with NSTAR at a tentatively scheduled special Board of Selectman meeting Wednesday, May 30.
"This is an issue of concern for folks and we understand that. That's why we personally reach out to residents whose property abuts our rights-of-way to explain what we're doing and why," said NSTAR spokesperson Michael Durant in a written statement. "Every day, our arborists have to balance the aesthetic value of trees with the reliability of electric service and in the past we’ve allowed some trees to remain in the right-of-way that really could have or should have come down long ago."
Mulready added that Walsh requested NSTAR representatives come to an Association meeting to meet with him and the neighborhood.
Most of the trees at Reardon are already gone, said Mulready. Maintained by Framingham Parks & Recreation, Mulready said even the town didn't know the extent of the cutting until yesterday.
The Association still hopes to save a giant Oak tree at the park, that gives the Association its name.
"Trees are the number one cause of power outages and we have an obligation to do everything in our power to prevent them. Tens-of-thousands of customers rely on those lines for reliable electric service so if there's one issue involving a tree it has the potential to affect the power of tens-of-thousands of people," said Durant in a written statement.
"This is an absolute travesty! ... I could see a few braches here and there as in past years. This is going to have a negative effect for wildlife and residents across Framingham. If we don't stop this or at least have our voice heard, NSTAR could take over another park," said J. Chip Kivlehan.
Framingham is not alone, a neighborhood in Sudbury is also concerned about tree trimming by NSTAR.
NSTAR recently changed its tree strategy. Instead of trimming, it has opted to remove all trees when they reach maturity that could interfere with the high-voltage lines.
The goal is to prevent wide spread power outages, like what Framingham experienced last year with the Hurricane and the Snowtober storm.
***
Editor's Note: Article was update at 12:10 p.m. Friday with statements from NSTAR
In This article
-
Town of Framingham: Reardon Park and Playground
Brownlea Rd & Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, MA -
-
Framingham Parks and Recreation Department
475 Union Ave, Framingham, MA -
Saxonville Beach
Lake Rd & Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, MA -
-
Lynn
9:24 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Please get NSTAR under control!! This is impacting more areas of Framingham than just the Oaks Neighborhood!!! The powerlines go through many neighborhoods including my own backyard!! HELP!
Diane Tiger
9:25 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Everyone in on a tree lined street should be concerned about the methods being used and the fact that the "change of policy" that was not communicated to residents or town officials. Asthetics aside, mature trees both add to property values and reduce energy costs. If a company chooses to rely on above ground lines, then they should manage those lines with a measure of respect for the residents around them. An easement or right of way should not equate to a free-for all to destroy a town's valuable natural resources.
Lynn
10:02 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Very well said, Diane! Although I have to add that we were notified. But we were TOLD and not given any options. And we were told that we had no recourse. They could take our trees down, and that was their right. Yes, it will definitely impact the property values and the cost of heating and cooling, not to mention what it will do to the many beautiful cardinals and other birds who live in our backyards.
Kristin Mulready
10:35 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Hi all. We agree and hope that the Oaks has raised visibility of this problem. While we all support service to everyone and recognize the service outings this past year were disastrous, the communication and interaction with the community have been equally abysmal. Spread the word about the Board of Selectman meeting on May 30th. This is a town and statewide concern and every voice matters.
Jim Rizoli
11:40 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Nice to see some are not happy with the situation, but honestly what do you think can be done?
This is NStars land and they can pretty much do what they want with it.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Ned Price
1:24 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012
Has anyone researched whether NSTAR owns all the property where the power lines exist I have been told that the owner of 1051 OCP was told 80 of HIS trees are to be cut.
Jim Rizoli
11:31 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
What I find interesting is....if they didn't cut the trees and a big one fell on the lines and you were out electricity for a week, I bet you would be saying "Why didn't you prune the trees?" How careless of you not to anticipate this happening.
Bottom line....NSTAR can't win! Just being honest here folks.
I think you should be happy their doing something that could prevent problems in the future. Sure it looks horrible, but what is worse? No electricity for a week or no shade trees.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Bob Berman
7:55 am on Monday, May 28, 2012
Once again Jimbo has no idea what he is talking about. The neighbors frustration is not with the act of cutting down trees to protect the lines from service outages, it was with the lack of communication that NStar has with its customers and even with the town. Throw in the fact that after an agreement was worked out with officials, NStar not only continued to cut away, but with trees that posed no threat to service now or in the future, almost in spite of the town and neighbors.
Jim Rizoli
11:16 am on Monday, May 28, 2012
Bob....It's their property...they can do what ever they want....
Since when do they need town permission or the neighborhoods?
I might not like the way they are doing it, but it is their land.
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
10:53 pm on Monday, May 28, 2012
People that live next the railroad, power lines and bodies of aqueduct water must realize that their rights legally end where a right of way ownership exist. If you plant a garden, put up a dock or plant trees in that area you risk the loss of that investment in some future time if those that LEGALLY own the land decided to do anything on it. It's like wallpapering an apartment. You can't take the nice new wallpaper when you move. So you all knew where you rights ended and the legal owners started.
Yes, I suppose like anything else a communication problem probably existed here but what do you expect from NSTAR? Look beyond this people, something tells me that something more odious is maybe on the agenda here and it isn't some silly trees gardens or flowers or docks. Our nations electrical grid itself may be in more trouble than you think. Just my two cents.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/nations-aging-electrical-grid-needs-billions-of-dollars-in-investment-report-says/2012/04/26/gIQAEl12jT_story.html
Joe Rizoli
Jim Rizoli
12:42 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
As long as their bushes and yards look nice I don't they really care what the future holds....
Lets say something happened to the lines there and the equipment couldn't get in to repair the problem, the time spent negotiating the overbrush would definitely be an issue on how fast the repair took.
But I guess that doesn't matter to those who want their yards to look nice.
Oh, by the way, years ago they used agent organge to take care of the overgrowth, now they chop it all down manually. So Which one do you want choppin or cancer causing chemicals?
Jim@ccfiile.com
Jim@ccfiile.com
Joe Rizoli
2:19 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
People, your kids are playing under power lines that carry thousands of volts, probably enough voltage to lite a fluorescent bulb and you're worrying about trees?
I'd be worried about cancer. Do some research about houses built around power lines and health issues, that would be a major question to ask N-Star.
Where are your priorities, trees or your health?
Joe Rizoli
Joe Rizoli
Joe Rizoli
9:16 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Power lines aren't a topic of health issues across the country? I must be living on the moon.
>>DO HIGH-VOLTAGE
POWER LINES
CAUSE CANCER
Studies link Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) To Illness
By NEAL LAWRENCE
It was sort of a funny story when we first heard about it a few years ago: A dairy farmer living in Wisconsin near high voltage utility company transmission lines couldn't turn out the lights in his barn. Even with the switches in the off position, night after night after he had finished his chores, he'd go back out to the barn to find the light bulbs still glowing from the electrical charge hovering in the air. The cows were none too happy about it either, because the constant light prevented them from sleeping, and they gave less milk.>>
So there is controversy, it just depends what side of the money you're on to fuel that controversy or put it off.
Joe Rizoli