Stonington - First Selectman Ed Haberek said Monday that the town will hire an independent arborist to examine 23 large, decaying trees slated for removal along North Main Street, after some residents complained that the arborist who originally examined the trees works for the company that would be taking them down.

The town also announced that it will hold a public forum at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Stonington Community Center to detail the condition of the trees and discuss the issue with residents.

Because the trees are located along a road designated by the town as scenic, their removal must first be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

A group of residents opposed to the plan have been e-mailing and phoning town officials. They have also criticized the town for cutting down two of the trees last week without the required PZC approval.

But Haberek said the two maple trees, whose roots the original arborist said were unstable, had to be cut down because they posed an immediate threat to passing cars.

Haberek said that Town Attorney Tom Londregan had said the town did not need to go to the PZC for approval because it was an issue of safety.

While there is no such explicit exception in the town's scenic road ordinance, the ordinance does allow the town to maintain the road "in good and sufficient repair and in passable condition."

Longtime North Main Street resident Christopher Dixon said Monday that while he has no problem with the removal of dangerous trees, North Main Street is a scenic road and all changes have to be approved by the PZC.

He said the town needs to meet its open space commitments along the street, which serves as the unofficial entrance into town from Interstate 95.

Dixon said that if trees are cut down, the stumps should be removed, the properties restored and new trees planted, work that he said is not planned.

If the town has no money for such work, he said residents could form a public-private partnership to raise money for the work and maintain the greenway.

The trees are located along a 1.3-mile stretch of road between Pequot Trail and Route 1, marked with orange circles near their base. Signs have also been posted on the trees explaining that the town tree warden, by state statute, has determined the trees on the town right of way need to be taken down and that anyone who objects should send a letter to the town.

The town made the recommendation to cut down the trees after a resident complained about their condition to town Tree Warden Paul Rohacik, who then had the first arborist inspect them. The trees, which have diameters as large as 40 inches, show signs of decay, split limbs and other problems. Some are just dead, according to his report.

Director of Public Works Joe Bragaw has said the town would face liability issues if an identified tree falls on a car or causes an accident. He has said it is possible that not all the trees will have to be cut down.

Haberek said he would get recommendations of arborists the town could hire from the Conservation Commission. He said it would cost the town about $500 to $1,000 for the new arborist to re-examine the trees and submit a report.