This tree clearly has been dead in the public right of way for quite some time, “Joshuatown Road tree tangled up in jurisdictional mess,” (Aug. 3). The tree collapsed under its own weight and decay, but somehow it becomes the utilities responsibility? I beg to differ, when in fact, each town’s selectman is directed by state statue to appoint a tree warden, and their responsibilities are to “have the care and control of all trees within the limits of any public road.”

So, possibly, there has been some neglect on behalf of the town prior to this tree’s collapse. As I have driven the roads recently in the region, I noted a myriad of silhouettes of dead trees that have suffered mass defoliation during a recent gypsy moth infestation. What is left carries dead heavy limbs that cantilever over our roads. Collectively there should be a public and private effort to remove these dead trees. They are a risk, should they fall onto passing vehicles, risking injury and possible death.

Town fathers, tree wardens, public works and public safety officers should be canvasing these trees and collectively notifying the private owners as well, before this potentially becomes a willful neglect and liability issue.

Dennis Harlow

Waterford