Radnor BOC OKs additional help for tree and brush removal due to ice storm

With hundreds of trees and thousands of branches down from the recent ice storm, the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners Monday approved hiring a contractor to help township employees clean up trees and brush.

While residents can put bundles of tied up branches out at the curb on Wednesdays as usual, the township will make additional collections, as well, said Steve Norcini, director of public works.

Residents should put those branches of no larger than 14 inches in diameter and no more than 2 feet long at the curb by March 16.

In addition, the grinders at Skunk Hollow will be open by appointment for residents or their landscapers to bring larger tree trunks and branches, Norcini said. Call the township at (610) 688-5600, ext. 155 for an appointment.

The outside help is slated to cost $9,500 per week and will continue for about four or five weeks, Norcini said.

Commissioners President Elaine Schaefer said most homes in the township have some fallen trees and branches and would benefit from the additional service.

Resident Jim Schneller of St. Davids objected to the plan, saying that it penalized prudent residents who took care of dangerous trees before the storm felled them.

The commissioners also discussed - but voted 5-2 against - a proposal to amend their ordinances to require that people submit written documents to the Planning Commission or the Board of Commissioners at least three business days before a meeting. Commissioner John Fisher said that staff members had requested the change because of the large numbers of documents generated by the Comprehensive Integrated College Development Ordinance requested by Villanova University and the Mixed Use Special Transportation Development Ordinance (MUST) for the BioMed site and three other properties along King of Prussia Road. Having the documents several days before the meetings would allow officials time to read them and also cut down on the confusion as to which version was the one under consideration, according to Fisher.

In addition, the BOC set a March 31 hearing date for the CICD ordinance. That hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the township building. The Planning Commission is expected discuss the CICD at its March 3 meeting at 7 p.m.

While residents can put bundles of tied up branches out at the curb on Wednesdays as usual, the township will make additional collections, as well, said Steve Norcini, director of public works.

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Radnor BOC OKs additional help for tree and brush removal due to ice storm