During the last Borough Council meeting, a member from one of the fire companies discussed with the council the need, especially along East Hector Street, to have the trees pruned back. Fire trucks are being scraped/scratched as they travel around Conshy. If you have a tree, you are supposed to provide for a 13′ clearance over the street. Below is the the section of the ordinance that deals with this topic:

1. Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the Borough shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not (severely) obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of 13 feet above the street surface or nine feet above the sidewalk surface. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The Borough shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with proper spread of light along the street from a streetlight or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign or sight triangle at intersections. Trees that grow near high voltage electrical conductors by the electric utility company in compliance with an applicable franchise agreements. A utility tree trimming policy must be reviewed by the utility company and Borough Shade Tree Commission with approval from Borough Council prior to any trimming by the utility company.

2. Notice to Prune. Should any person or persons owning real property bordering on any street fail to prune trees as herein above provided, the Municipal Arborist shall order such person or persons, within 30 days after receipt of written notice, to prune such trees.

3. Order Required. The order required herein shall be served by mailing a copy of the order to the last known address of the property owner, by certified mail.

4. Failure to Comply. When a person to whom an order is directed shall fail to comply within the specified time, it shall be lawful for the Borough to prune such trees and the exact cost plus 10% thereof shall be assessed to the owner as provided by law in the case of special assessments, with citations issued and with appropriate fines levied as provided by the Borough Code.