Lewiston Adopts Community Forest Ordinance‏

Lewiston, Maine - The Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board is announcing that a Community Forest Ordinance was unanimously adopted by the Lewiston City Council at its meeting on June 19, 2012.  The vote was the culmination of several years of effort by the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board which had drafted and revised the ordinance based on feedback from city officials.

The ordinance officially establishes the position of Municipal Arborist, now held by Steve Murch, and gives that person authority to regulate the cutting and pruning of trees in the community forest, including trees located between the sidewalk and the street within the public right of way.  An appeal process will be instituted as part of the new ordinance.  Homeowners will also be able to request that the Arborist cut or prune dangerous or disfigured trees abutting their properties.

The ordinance also encourages the adoption of a management plan to guide the management and harvesting of trees within larger areas of the community forest.  Lewiston has already adopted a forestry management plan pursuant to which timber harvesting is currently proceeding.  The timber harvest will generate revenue for the city while at the same time helping to maintain and regenerate Lewiston's community forest.

The new ordinance requires public utilities to give advance notice in the form of a conspicuous advertisement in the local newspaper of their intention to cut street trees in order to protect power lines.  This will provide citizens with information regarding the cutting of trees abutting their properties in time to prepare a response.

The Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board, which will act as an appeals board under the new ordinance, was created by joint action of the Lewiston and Auburn City Councils in 2000.  It was therefore one of the first organizations created by the two cities to deal with shared issues.  In this case, the issue was the proper management of the substantial forested areas belonging to the two cities and their school departments.

The ordinance officially establishes the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Board, which will consist of nine members appointed by the Mayors from both cities.  The Board will also include as ex officio members the heads of municipal departments whose duties are related to the work of the Forest Board.  A companion ordinance has been submitted in Auburn and is being reviewed by the heads of the relevant departments.  A copy of the Lewiston ordinance can be obtained at www.lewistonmaine.gov

Inquires about Lewiston’s Community Forest Ordinance may be directed to Jay Braunscheidel, Chair of the LA Community Forest Board, at  632-5854.