In a stunning reversal, the Hereford Board of Supervisors moved to begin the process to repeal the controversial dead tree ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, June 21, in person and via Zoom.

            Following a discussion, where cooler heads prevailed more than in previous meetings, supervisor Karla Dexter made the motion, which will allow the ordinance to be reversed through the same legal process that led to its approval.

            Dexter noted earlier in the meeting that the ordinance was "discriminatory" and pitted the "haves and the have-nots" of the township against each other.

            Representatives of the citizens' committee who had been advocating for the repeal offered potential alternatives to the ordinance, including donating toward the purchase of a used bucket truck that would have long-term value for the ongoing problem with the dead and dying trees. They also encouraged the township to hire an additional crew to do the work.

            Citizens' committee representatives said they would begin to take their dead trees down if the ordinance was repealed. The process will take at least a month.

            Additionally, Hereford Fire Company representatives mentioned a recent accident on Conrad Road where a tree fell on a passing car, sending the driver to the hospital. Efforts to get PennDOT to act on these trees were unsuccessful, although Conrad Road is a state road.

            Hereford Fire Police Chief Harold Albitz reported further unwelcome news following the accident. He said that a barrier used to block off Conrad Road had been stolen. He noted that it had identifying stickers on it, if someone finds it.

            Another snag in tree removal occurred following the opening of the bids for the dead trees on Hollyberry Road. The bids came in at $75,000 and $63,300, well over the budgeted amount of $25,000. The lower bid also was lacking some necessary documents, including a certificate of insurance. The supervisors moved to reject both bids.