North Canton City Council Members: Tree-Trimming Ordinance Necessary?

Some North Canton City Council members still aren’t convinced an ordinance regulating tree trimmers will do anyone any good.

Councilman Mark Cerreta had , saying an ordinance would help deter fly-by-night tree trimmers who aren’t licensed from coming into the city and causing a liability for residents.

“It protects them from the fly-by-night tree trimmers. It also create a blanket of protection in case something happens,” Cerreta said.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Cerreta said a tree trimmer would have to apply for a license to operate within the city. Applications would include information such as the person’s name, address, phone number (same for his business), and proof of workers’ compensation coverage.

He said the license would cost between $50 and $100. And, if caught operating without a license, the person could be charged with a third-degree misdemeanor.

Some council members expressed their concerns with policing the tree trimmers. Who would do it?

“It’s not going to be something the city’s going to do,” Councilman Pat DeOrio said. “We’re not going to drive around and find anybody.”

And some thought the city could achieve a better result by just putting a list of licensed tree-trimming companies on the city’s website.

Council took no action on the issue that night.

In other business:

•  Council discussed using about $38,000 to improve city park structures. The money originally would have gone to improve City Hall’s concrete fascia that now is rust-colored in certain areas.

•  Council held a special meeting directly following its regular meeting for the first reading of an ordinance that would allow Mayor David Held to extend an occupancy grant tax credit to Suarez Corp. Industries; LT Enterprises of Ohio, LLC; and Patriot Enterprises of Ohio, LLC; and repealing a previous ordinance. 

The city had been sued by New York law professor Andy Martin for improperly passing the previous ordinance on emergency. Council chose to pass the ordinance again — and this time not on emergency — to avoid battling the lawsuit.