SPRINGFIELD — The City Council has finalized revisions to the tree ordinance, creating a revolving fund that will allow fines and fees to go toward new plantings.
“It is designed to protect healthy trees that are providing a benefit to the city,” said Alex Sherman, city forester.
The updated ordinance, which was officially passed in April, mainly focuses on preserving public shade trees in the hopes that utility companies will be more mindful of trees when they are doing work and contractors and homeowners will do their best to save mature trees when making changes to their property, he said.