Village Tickets Hotel Developers
After 9 Trees Cut At Project Site
![Village Zoning Enforcement Officer Tavis Austin, right, explains a mixed record on enforcing village tree regulations that caused him to resist issuing a ticket to BTP Cooperstown, the partnership seeking to build a hotel at 124 Main. Village Attorney Martin Tillapaugh, left, had directed Austin to do so. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hotel-main-.jpg)
![People have to know the village is serious about enforcing its laws, Trustee Allstadt said in making a motion to issue the ticket. Trustee Ellen Tillapaugh seconded.](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hotel-allstadt--300x240.jpg)
![Mayor Katz observed](https://www.allotsego.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/hotel-katz--90x130.jpg)
COOPERSTOWN – The Village Board this evening voted to “issue a ticket” to BTP Cooperstown, the partnership proposing a downtown hotel, after nine trees were cut on the 124 Main St. project site.
In making the motion, however, Trustee Lou Allstadt said the minimum fine should be sought – perhaps as little as $250. The purpose of issuing the ticket, he said, is to make clear that village law needs to be followed. This law is only relevant in public and development spaces though as the law can’t stop people from cutting down trees in their own backyard. Sometimes tree service removal fresno is required to remove a diseased tree or a tree that has been damaged. While this is fine on private property, permission has to be granted to remove trees from spaces such as the Main St/ project site. Whilst these trees have been cut down, they are able to plant new ones and watch them flourish whilst maintaining them using services like https://www.lawncare.net/service-areas/california/, although they shouldn’t have been cut down in the first place without permission.
There was also some confusion about two provisions in village law referring to tree removal, one of which no one seemed to be aware of, causing Mayor Jeff Katz to remark, “If none of us knows there’s a law, how can we expect other people…” His remark trailed off. People need to make sure though that they are aware of the laws regarding tree removal, even if it means making sure to hire a company like this Portland tree service, they need to make sure that they are managing this.
Two trustees – Cindy Falk and Bruce Maxson – voted nay on the motion, which passed 6-2.
The discussion prior to the vote suggested there had been a difference of opinion between Village Attorney Martin Tillapaugh and Zoning Enforcement Officer Tavis Austin on the matter. Tillapaugh had directed Austin to issue the ticket. He had declined. And so the matter had to go before the trustees for resolution.
In remarked to the trustees this evening, Austin pointed out that BTP had sent him an arborist’s report – as the law requires – concluding the trees were diseased, but it was an attachment at the bottom of an e-mail that he didn’t notice. Its best only to ever chop down trees if necessary, so if you have a tree that is diseased like this one, then you may want to look into tree removal jacksonville fl area (if you live in the area), so they can safely take it down for you.
Austin will issue the ticket, and the case will then go to court. It was unclear this evening whether BTP – this evening, it surfaced that NYSEG may have removed the trees to install a power line between 118 and 134 Main – will pay the fine or fight it.
Attorney Doug Zamelis appeared for the first time this evening with BTP partner Tom Lagan.