East Rockaway waiting for trees

Holes lined Centre Avenue where mature sycamore trees once stood. More than 200 trees were cut down in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Nick Ciccone/Herald

Several remaining sycamore trees on Oceanview Road.

Nick Ciccone/Herald

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Last week, the Village of East Rockaway mailed tree-replanting forms to homes in the vicinity of more than 200 trees that were cut down in the fall, giving residents the option to opt-into a program that would replace them.

“The species of trees have not been determined by the Village, as we are waiting for the most suitable species for the utility right-of-way locations by our certified licensed arborist,” the letter signed by Mayor Bruno Romano reads.

The information gathered from the forms, as well as feedback from arborists at Colgan Tree and Landscaping Service Inc., will help guide village administrators as to the most resilient and cost-efficient trees, Romano said.

“We are in the meantime inquiring with several companies for the best trees suitable for sidewalks, streets and overhead wires,” he said. Through applications for grant money at the state, federal and local level, Romano said the village is hoping to fund the replanting effort. “It takes months to hear back,” he said.

Peter Colgan, arborist and owner of Colgan Tree and Landscaping Service Inc., said that the trees removed in November were damaged due to saltwater flooding attributed to Hurricane Sandy.

“Different species of trees will react differently to exposure to [salt water],” Colgan said. To the untrained eye, many of the trees that were removed could have looked undamaged, Colgan explained, but root flares, irregular branch growth, mushrooms and fungus were some of the signs of decay. The entire tree could be hollow, Colgan said, but it will look perfectly fine on the outside.

“Although many of you are anxious to replace these trees,” Romano wrote to residents, “please be patient and understanding of the process necessary to properly execute the best practice for a successful tree-replanting program.”

The letter, mailed to homeowners who had damaged trees removed by the Village, asks that they fill out and sign an enclosed request form, indicating if they are interested in the tree replacement program. The Village informed residents that they are waiting for the most suitable species for the utility right-of-way locations by their certified licensed arborist.

The forms should be returned to the Village Hall no later than May 1 so that they can secure an accurate count of trees to be replaced.