National Grid's Vegetation Management Program

Greetings All,

National Grid has announced that it is implementing Tree Trimming within the Town of Sturbridge in an effort to conduct some pro-active and preemptive maintenance. This is certainly welcomed news. You may recall from previous correspondence that during my sworn testimony to the Department of Public Utilities I specifically called out National Grid for a lack of "vegetation management" and requested their vegetation management records for the Town of Sturbridge for the last 10 years. Equally, in an official letter authored by Selectman Priscilla Gimas and myself - which is now part of the Public Investigation Record - we again reiterated the lack of preventative vegetation management program and again called for release of all vegetation management records for the last 10 years.

Whether this official testimony - provided both verbally during hearings and by way of an official letter - has anything to do with the implementation of this "preventative vegetation management program" or is merely coincidental in its timing is an unknown; regardless, one would agree that this proactive and preemptive approach by National Grid is welcome news. The information released is as follows:

Lewis Tree Service, working under contract for National Grid will be trimming trees for utility line clearance on the following streets beginning on or about January 24th and continuing until completed.

Residents who have questions regarding this tree trimming are encouraged to contact the phone #'s that were printed on the door hangers left by Lewis Tree over the past few weeks. Pruning guidelines to be used by Lewis Tree were approved by the Tree Warden.

Tree Trimming streets:
Holland Rd and all side streets
Brookfield Rd (Rt 148) and all side streets
Arnold Rd and all side streets
Cedar Street and all side streets
Stallion Hill Rd, North end of Leadmine Rd and all side streets
US RT 20 from Stallion Hill Rd west to Brimfield Town Line and all side streets.