Frequently Asked Questions

The Leaf Pick Up Schedule will be posted on the home page of the Town website before we begin the leaf pick-up program each year.

The Trumbull Tree Warden plays a vital role in the communication between the homeowner and their utility company. Under the law, the removal or pruning of trees in or around utility lines should only be performed by United Illuminating (UI) and Eversource contractors. All removals and pruning are performed to the specifications approved by our Tree Warden, who will issue permits on a tree-to-tree basis to UI and Eversource contractors to remove and clear electrical utility lines.

All recommendations made by the Trumbull Tree Warden are intended to reduce the risk of tree failure and hazardous conditions that public trees may pose. This process cannot eliminate such risk, especially in the event of a storm or any other “Act of God.”

The United Illuminating utility company handles all work that has to deal with their wires. To report a tree trimming problem, please call United Illuminating at 800-722-5584. When you call, please have the following information ready:

• Address of tree problem
• One of the following pieces of information:
  • Cross Street
  • Landmark
  • Pole Number
• Your contact information

It is vital that you do not attempt to trim the tree yourself. Serious injury or death could result.

A request for service can be submitted via he following:

• Calling the Tree Warden via the Parks & Recreation Department at 203-452-5061.
• Online via the Request for Service form

Information on UI’s  Tree Care Program can be found in the "Outages" section of their website- https://www.uinet.com 

The Trumbull Tree Warden utilizes the International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.) standards for mitigation and American National Standard Institute’s (ANSI) A300 pruning practices as follows:

•  Extreme Risk: Trees, whole or in part, that are determined to be hazardous to the Public will be addressed as soon as possible.
•  High Risk: Trees that may be remediated as soon as practical.
•  Moderate Risk: Trees that may be mitigated when budget, work schedule or pruning cycle allows.
•  Low Risk: Trees that will be monitored, if appropriate, and if and when deemed necessary will be mitigated.

Most tree checks are completed within two weeks. The more urgent situations will be given priority.

Before any tree work can be performed on private property, utility contractors must notify tree owners, except under certain easement conditions. Door hanger notifications are provided when tree owners are not home. For work on public property, the appropriate highway official or municipal tree warden generally grants permission.

Eversource and UI undertake two types of tree work:

1. Scheduled Maintenance Trimming (SMT) is performed on a regular basis area, with a goal of trimming roughly 15 to 25 percent of circuits every year. The clearance required for SMT is eight feet on sides, 10 below, and 15 feet above the line.
2.  Enhanced Tree Trimming (ETT) is higher-priority tree trimming and involves work closer to substations that would potentially impact more customers. ETT protects the "backbone" of the electrical distribution system and requires clearances of eight feet on the sides, 10 feet below and removal of all overhanging limbs whenever possible or a minimum of 20 feet above the line.

Trees that are decayed, insect-infested, damaged or structurally weak may be removed.

Small trees and saplings that are capable of growing into the conductors are normally removed before they grow tall enough to interfere with the lines.

Limbs are pruned using a tree-care industry technique known as “target pruning”. Each limb is pruned back to a point where it meets the branch collar so that the pruning cut will callous over and prevent decay of the pruning wound.

If there are any concerns or questions regarding this program please contact our Tree Warden.

When a tree falls from private property into a town road or into the “Right-of-Ways” the town will remove all the branches and wood within the “Right-of-Ways” up to the property line to allow movement of traffic for the public and emergency vehicles. The town will remove materials within the “Right-of Way” as soon as possible, however, during storm events the town may temporarily push the tree or its branches to the side of the road until further clean up becomes practicable.

Yes. Just provide the Town with sufficient notice of your intention by contacting the Highway Department by calling 203-452-5070.

The Town of Trumbull will regularly mitigate a hazardous tree and leave the larger portions to be cut and removed at a later date when Department of Public Works crews are available to assist. Logs or debris must be left in a safe location, not to pose a risk or hazard to the safety and well-being of the public.

There are certain safety circumstances that the law allows the electric company to trim or remove a tree without notifying the property owner, with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) making the final decision in most cases.

If the ETT assessment recommends that a tree be removed, the property owner has the right to object and is under no obligation to sign off on the removal recommendation. The property owner may request that a tree only be pruned if  said pruning will satisfy the maintenance and safety requirements of the utility provider.

• Trees that are decayed, insect-infested, damaged or structurally weak may be removed without notifying the property owner.
• Small trees and saplings that are capable of growing into the conductors are normally removed before they grow tall enough to interfere with the lines.
• Limbs are pruned using a tree-care industry technique known as target pruning. Each limb is pruned back to a point where it meets the branch collar so that the pruning cut will callous over and prevent decay of the pruning wound.

If there are any concerns or questions regarding this program please contact the Tree Warden.

The problems associated with the decline of Ash trees within the state is twofold; Initially a disease commonly called “Ash Yellow” severely weakened the stands within the state’s forested areas only to be followed by the introduction of an invasive insect call Emerald Ash Borer about a decade ago.

At this time it has fully matured within our natural stands and we are now experiencing mass failure.

Unfortunately this is not reversible and will result in the virtual elimination of the ash tree from our forests as did similar events of decades past with the Chestnuts and American Elm trees.

The most recent Trumbull Tree Warden Presentation can be found here:  /DocumentCenter/View/6057/Tree-Warden-Presentation-PDF