Debate continues on who should keep fallen wood

SHARON — It has been two months since resident Bill Kelsey first spoke to the Board of Selectmen about developing a policy on whether wood fallen on town property belongs to the public or the town. And as winter slowly ends, the selectmen are still no closer to developing a policy than they were two months ago.

Kelsey feels that Sharon residents should be allowed to pick up wood cut down by the power company, so they can burn it at their homes to offset the high cost of fuel.

During the selectmen’s regular meeting on March 10, First Selectman Malcolm Brown said he spoke to Town Attorney Judith Dixon about the issue, but Brown has not received any determination from Dixon on the matter.

Kelsey said he has consulted with a tree foreman from Connecticut Light and Power (he would not reveal the name of the power company worker).

“She told me that none of the other towns she deals with has this problem,� Kelsey said. “We cut the trees down, we leave them there and scavengers pick up the wood. We’ve had maybe two or three complaints where someone wanted us to pick it up from their property. The town crew should not be in the business of picking up wood to begin with.�

Brown reiterated his point from the last selectmen’s meeting: an attorney who wishes to remain anonymous said wood that comes down by the side of the road belongs to the landowner, up to the middle of the road.

Kelsey gave the selectmen a “consent to proposed tree work� form from Connecticut Light and Power; on it, the landowner can indicate whether wood should be left on the property or whether the power company should remove it.

Selectman Tom Bartram said the town needs to come up with a policy where wood cut by Connecticut Light and Power would not be picked up by the town unless it obstructed a road or a right of way.

“We can’t just blanket say the town won’t move the wood at some point,� Bartram said. “If it creates a problem, like say wood blocks a snow plow, then we have to move it. But I agree, the town should not pick up wood chopped down by Connecticut Light and Power.�

However, the selectmen did not come up with a policy, and by the end of the meeting, the subject remained up in the air. Selectman John Mathews said the town should come up with a general wood policy which would include wood cut down by Connecticut Light and Power. The other two selectmen agreed.

“This is not a big deal,� Kelsey said. “This is just a gesture of niceness to help each other out.�

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