WESTON — For decades, the management of Weston’s "urban forest" has been a reactive endeavor, often dictated by the next big windstorm or a failing silver maple. On Friday, March 30, 2026, that approach began to shift toward a long-term vision as the newly established Tree Commission held its inaugural meeting at Village Hall.

The commission, currently comprised of members Logan Wick and Dean Babcock, sat down with Councilmember Brittney Klockowski, Mayor Rick Easterwood, and resident Jeremy Schroeder to move the village’s green infrastructure from a liability into a managed asset. Joining them was Stephanie Foster-Miller, a Regional Urban Forester with the ODNR, who provided a blunt look at the risks and rewards of municipal tree management.


Evolution of Village Management


The formation of this commission is the latest step in a multi-year effort to stabilize village forestry. In 2019, the village officially allocated a budgetary line item of $16,000 to address tree removal and planting. As the immediate needs of the village were assessed and addressed, that figure has since settled to a consistent $10,000 per year.

Along the way, Weston has been active in revitalizing its landscape, planting many native varieties in the tree lawns and parks. The village parks, in particular, have seen a significant influx of oak and maple trees. However, not all past efforts aged well; the village previously planted a round of Cleveland Pear trees—a variety that has since been identified as an invasive species and could be slated for eventual removal.

The session featured spirited debates over how much authority the village should exert over residents and how to balance a tight budget with the need for growth.


The "Planting vs. Removal" Debate


One of the most pointed exchanges involved the strategy for replacing trees. The draft ordinance originally suggested a "one-for-one" replacement policy, but Mayor Rick Easetwood questioned whether the village should pause all planting until every dangerous tree is removed. He expressed concern that the budget could not support new saplings while high-priority risks still stood. "I don't want to bind our hands, especially someone's nitpicking this and saying hey this is what you said you're doing why isn't it done yet," Easterwood noted.

Jeremy Schroeder countered this "removal-only" stance, asking pointedly, "Is tree planting off the table until every dangerous tree is taken down?" He argued that if the village stops planting for decades due to removal costs, the canopy would eventually vanish.

Foster-Miller contextualized the current struggle, noting that Weston is likely caught in a "boom and bust" cycle common in urban forestry. Historically, mass plantings often followed major events like World War II, the Great Depression, or the arrival of Dutch Elm Disease. Because so many trees were installed during these surges—some dating back to the sanitation reforms that first created "tree lawns"—communities are now seeing entire generations of trees reach the end of their lifespans simultaneously, necessitating the current high rate of removals.

While the two commission members, Logan Wick and Dean Babcock, ultimately agreed to strike the "one-for-one" replacement language to maintain financial flexibility, Foster-Miller reminded the group that planting serves a vital psychological role. "Planting is fun and it's sexy," she noted, but cautioned that the village must be careful not to "have more babies before you can care for the ones you got." She mediated the debate by suggesting that a professional "planting design" allows residents to see a 50-to-100-year plan on a map, providing vision even when the actual budget is directed toward high-risk removals.


The Liability Quandary and "Duty of Care"


Foster-Miller warned that "not knowing is much worse than knowing." She explained that the village already carries a "Duty of Care" for its public trees, and inaction only increases municipal risk.

The discussion touched on a "triple fatality" in Toledo during the 1990s, which occurred after residents were forced to replace sidewalks and inadvertently killed trees by cutting their roots. To avoid similar tragedies, the commission discussed:

  • Proactive Risk Assessment: Identifying "high-risk" trees before they fail on property or people.
  • Teeth in the Law: Treating trees as vital infrastructure—like fire hydrants or streets—and making it illegal for residents to "top" or remove public trees without a permit.


Protecting Residents from "Fly-by-Nighters"


A lengthy discussion occurred regarding whether to require tree service vendors to be licensed by the village. While Foster-Miller advocated for licensing to protect residents from underinsured or "unscrupulous" contractors, some members worried about the administrative burden on village staff. The group eventually pivoted toward providing a "recommended vendors list" on the village website as a service to residents.


Other Items Addressed

Operations & Procedures

  • Leadership: Logan Wick was appointed as the Chairperson, with Dean Babcock serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
  • Meeting Schedule: The commission formally moved to meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM at Village Hall.
  • Transparency: All meetings and documents will strictly adhere to the Ohio Sunshine Law.

Policy & Infrastructure

  • Utility Clearance: The board debated lateral spacing near primary electric lines, opting for a 25-foot buffer for most species to prevent future "V-cutting" by utility crews.
  • Mapping: The commission plans to to "tag" and track the health of individual public trees as an ongoing effort to wrangle data.
  • Cemetery Trees: While the village cemetery is outside corporation limits, the commission will offer advisory risk assessments to the Cemetery Board for their historic trees.

Next Meeting: The Tree Commission will meet on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM to continue a line-by-line review of the new Tree Ordinance, one of the goals of the Tree Commission. It will also be planning and announcing this year's Arbor Day event.