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Business & Tech

Lower Merion Finance Committee Recommends Contract for Tree Replacements

The tree plantings are to replace trees that have been lost due to age, decay and storm damage.

The Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners Finance Committee unanimously voted to recommend that the full board approve a nearly $20,000 contract for township’s Street Tree Planting Program.

Dean Dortone, the township chief financial officer, recommended that the township award the contract for the planting of trees to the low bidder, J. Margerison Landscaping, Inc., for a total bid of $19,950.

“This is for the replacement of trees that have been lost,” Dortone said.

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The planting of trees will occur throughout the township, Lower Merion Director of Public Works Don Cannon told Patch after the meeting.  The tree replacements are normal, routine replacements from tree loss due to age, decay and storm damage, Cannon said.

Commissioner Brian Gordon said he wanted to emphasize the importance of the Street Tree Planting Program.

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“Our trees are a huge payback to our taxpayers…It keeps Lower Merion green, desirable and cool.”

Gordon said the trees are also “part of the township’s storm water management system” because when it rains, the tree cover temporarily holds the rain water.

Gordon said he encouraged the Public Works Department not to ease up on tree planting next year when the department was looking at ways to save money in its budget.

This is the third and last phase of the annual Street Tree Planting Program, Dortone said.

Funds for the program are available through the $190,000 Public Works Shade Tree Operating Budget, according to the Finance Committee agenda. 

This includes funding for the Phase One tree removal contract, which was awarded in April 2011 for $95,362; the Phase Two tree removal contract, which was awarded in September 2011 for $29,975; and the Phase Three tree planting contract, which represents 10.5 percent of the Shade Tree Operating Budget, the agenda stated.

The total for all three phases is $145,287, which is 76.4 percent of the total 2011 Shade Tree Operating Budget, the agenda said.

Dortone said Phase Three is under budget but as a result of recent summer storms, additional funds have been expended for emergency tree removal.

In another bid, the Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full board award the contract for the Bala Gym Pedestrian Lighting to the low bidder Lenni Electric Corp. for a total bid of $55,986.

Commissioner George Manos said the community has been waiting a long time for the lighting to be done at the gym.

“This lighting should really enhance the appearance of the lot,” Mano said.

In another meeting last night, the Telecommunications Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full board continue the operation of the township’s Public Access Channel by Lower Merion and Narberth Public Access Television Corporation (PATV) for a two-year term starting in November.

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