Diagnosis

Two independent arborists have been hired to assess the state of the trees.  Please see the reports below.  Both reports are in corroboration that there are no appreciable safety issues associated with the coral trees that Beaches and Harbors put on its first elimination list.

 The new report was prepared by Jan C. Scow, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist # WE-1972B. Mr. Scow is ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and holds a higher level of certification than both of the Department of Beaches and Harbors’ arborists.

Read full report here:  Arborist Report – Jan C. Scow

The previous report was prepared by Edward Sinnott, ISA Certified Arborist #WE-12894A.

Read full report here: Arborist Report – Edward Sinnott

Regarding the fifth tree DBH added to its elimination list:

DBH retained a second arborist who attended the site to do a “re-assessment” of one of the trees not on its first elimination list that had been identified by Sinnott (and later Scow) as the only imminent safety threat. The other trees were not reassessed. DBH has changed its FAQ to reflect that they are now cutting down this fifth tree, however, they are not questioning any of the other original assessment’s findings, which the independent arborists strongly disagree with and which contains a significant inconsistency that was brought to DBH’s attention by our group but has been ignored.

If there is no real public safety issue posed by those other four trees, why are they insisting that they be removed?