CL&P's plan to cut 100 trees in Simsbury backfires

WFSB ^

[matt04]

Connecticut Light & Power's plan to cut some 100 trees on Owens Brook Boulevard is drawing fierce protest from some residents.

Town officials said they've got a half-dozen letters and calls from residents opposed to the utility company's plan because it would change the look and feel of the boulevard.

CL&P targeted the trees as part of its newly installed tree-trimming program aimed at preventing wide-spread power outages like the one during the freak October snow storm, which toppled trees and left thousands of its customers in the dark for up to 10 days.

...

"Well the town has asked and encouraged CL&P to increase its tree trimming but at the same time we have a responsibility to our residents to make sure we hear their objections," Roy said

Because most of the trees are on town property, the town is holding a public hearing March 22 to discuss the fate of the trees. An arborist hired by the town will talk to residents.

[matt04]

Of all the towns in CT impacted by the outages, Simsbury was the worst hit and loudly complained.

They demanded better tree trimming, they get it, and now they don't want it.

[matt04]

Watching the video of the story this was all started by a bunch of what appear to be middle school school aged sisters.

[mcswan]

Simsbury was one of the hardest hit towns in terms of lost power, partly because lines that should have been cleared in years past, weren’t. First Selectman Glassman made a big deal about CL&P’s response to the storm, complaining and pouting like a little child, as if other towns weren’t effected as well. What, your pampered residents require priority treatment?

Over the ridge here in Bloomfield - where we were hit hard as well - we just dealt with it as we needed to, helping each other, and not complaining.

My advice to Simsbury,”Get over yourselves”, let CL&P do it’s job. Your whining tells us a lot about who you are.

[muir_redwoods]

Simsbury is largely populated by the beautiful people. Their town is, of course, “special” and needs to be treated as such.

No tree trimming and no power outages, let others work out the details.

[whattajoke]

I’m sorry, this is hilarious. And we KNEW this was going to happen too. I live in W Hartford and drive through Bloomfield to work in Windsor. I’ve seen Asplundh out every day in all 3 towns, doing what needs to be done. I cannot believe they are fighting in over the mountain. Simsbury was devastated.

I like to remind people here, on both sides of the aisle (so to speak) that when our governor tried to shut down a few rest stops to save a few bucks, people flipped out. I’m so sick and tired of everyone whining about the CL&P response and the government spending but then when push comes to shove, they fight it every step of the fricking way.

Drives me nuts.

[sthtexaslady]

The whole island of Mackinac, Michigan has their electric lines buried. Seems to me that would be a solution. I think it should be done more often.

[libertarian27]

Well then, give Owens Brook Boulevard their own radial feed with their own fuse and the next time there’s a storm the electric company will get to them after the rest of the town is back up. :>)