An old tree at Derby’s Irving School was cut down because it posed a threat to the safety of students and staff, officials said Tuesday.
The tree’s trunk is still standing on the Seymour Avenue side of the school across from the Derby Public Library — but it’s been stripped of its top half and all branches.
It’s not a pretty site, but the tree had to come down, officials said.
“One of the kids could have been killed if that thing fell,” said Ron Culmo, the city’s director of public works who doubles as the Derby tree warden.
Tree Mourning
The tree had strong sentimental value in Derby because it was carved with the initials of countless generations of Irving School students.
Ron Sill, president of the Derby Board of Aldermen, said he’s been peppered with questions from residents about why the tree was removed. The school district should have done more to let elected officials know, since elected officials are the ones fielding complaints from residents, Sill said.
Sill said the tree may have been planted in honor of a former Derby official or businessman. He said he was on a school building committee in the 1990s and they were advised to create plans that specifically avoided disturbing the 60-foot tree.
“We couldn’t touch it,” Sill said.
School officials said there was no plaque or mark on the tree indicating it had historical value.
There was no information on the specific tree available through a cursory check of Valley historic resources — although Derby’s Jack Walsh noted Edward Nelson Shelton lived on the property in a mansion before the Irving School was built.
Shelton was the owner of the Ousatonic Water Company and the City of Shelton is named after him.
Sill said Tuesday constituents have been calling him complaining about the tree’s destruction.
Furthermore, Sill said Derby local law — chapter 182 of the Derby Charter to be precise — clearly states that no tree on public property is to be cut down without the approval of the Derby Board of Aldermen.
Local law also states that any tree to be removed on public property is supposed to be marked with a sign for 10 days prior to the removal date.
Except …
However, that same chapter of the Derby Charter states those rules do not have to be followed if there is an emergency — and that was the case with the tree outside Irving, Public Works Director Ron Culmo said.
Just prior to removing the Irving School tree, Culmo said school officials showed him photos of the tree’s poor condition. It was a dangerous situation, he said. The tree had to go.
“The bottom of the tree looks fine. But the top of the tree was hollow from rot,” Culmo said.
A large branch fell off the tree and hit a car earlier this year, causing $3,000 in damage, said David Nardone, the facilities manager for Derby Public Schools.
Another large branch was dangling precariously over school property, so an inspection was requested, said Irving School Principal Jennifer Olson.
A tree company hired by the city inspected the tree.
Nardone said the inspection showed a large crack in the tree, where inspectors discovered the rot. School officials were advised to remove the branches and lop off the majority of the tree because it posed a threat.
“The tree was dangerous and our main concern has to be the safety of our staff and students,” Nardone said.
Nardone said school officials are sensitive to the fact Derby residents are unhappy because the tree was removed. But the district had to act quickly to protect staff and students, Nardone said.
The tree’s trunk will be removed and the stump will be mashed using a grinder, school district officials said.
Nardone said the district will plant a new tree in the spring to make up for the one that was removed.
Sill said school officials still need to make a better effort to communicate with the city.