VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 8, 2006

Emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees was called in order to discuss pending problem of removing tree between sidewalk and street in front of 11 West Main Street, the Goepfert residence.

Mayor Skeet called meeting to order at 6:00 pm at the Village Office.

Members present: Mayor Skeet, Trustees Patterson, Peterson, and Russ. Trustee Steinberg was absent.

• Board of Trustees left the Village office and reconvened at 11 West Main Street to observe the tree to be removed and meet with Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Goepfert, who are protesting the removal of the tree in question. The Board heard Mr. and Mrs. Goepfert’s arguments for saving the tree.
• During the discussion each member of the Board present gave their observations and the reasons they felt the tree should be removed. Trustee Steinberg had been contacted by telephone and agreed that the tree should be removed.
• Trustee Peterson felt that the tree caused a visibility problem to oncoming traffic from the west to vehicles leaving the Post Office onto Route 33. Trustee Patterson observed that the tree encroached several inches into the sidewalk, which could cause a tripping hazard to pedestrians. Trustee Russ mentioned that the main roots on the north and south sides of the tree had been cut. The entire Board agreed that it was causing a safety hazard and should be proactive and have it removed before an accident occurs.
• All members of the Board of Trustees unanimously agreed that the tree should be removed.
• Emergency meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm.
• Village Board members left the location of 11 West Main Street. Mayor Skeet remained at the location until approximately 8:30 pm trying to reason with the Goepferts.

  ADDENDUM TO MINUTES for the records at the request of Mayor Skeet:

• Mayor Skeet gave a brief synopsis of the events of the previous day (Tuesday March 7th) and current day (Thursday March 9th) with regards to the tree situation. On Tuesday, March 7th at approximately 2:45 pm, Maintenance worker Jay Feitshans contacted the Mayor wanting to know what Eastman Tree Company should do about the tree at 11 East Main. Mr. Feitshans further stated that the tree was a nuisance for him. He said the tree was causing the sidewalk to buckle and stops him when he hits that section of sidewalk with the sidewalk plow, and that he would like the tree to come down. This statement was made in the presence of Mayor Skeet and Tim Skeet.  The Mayor said he would contact the Board of Trustees and get back to Jay.
• On the day after the Board made the unanimous decision to remove the tree, at 7:00 am Thursday March 9th, Jay Feitshans and Mrs. Goepfert showed up at Mayor Skeet’s place of residence. Mrs. Geopfert claimed that the Board lied to them and said Eastman Tree Service did not say the tree should come down. Mayor Skeet asked Jay Feitshans if he knew of any reasons he felt the tree should come down other than his statement that the sidewalk by the tree stops him when he uses the sidewalk plow. At that point Mr. Feitshans denied saying that the tree causes problems for the machine, and said he doesn’t understand why the Board wants it removed, that he doesn’t have a problem with the tree.      Mayor Skeet did state he contacted both Attorneys Kevin Earl and David Saleh of Oshlag, Saleh & Earl regarding the tree issue.

Sandra Thomas
Clerk Treasurer