Tree Commission Responsibilities
- Develop the Conneaut City tree ordiance regarding the planting and care of trees and shrubs on public properties.
- Inspect and make recommendations about problem or hazardous trees.
- Celebrate Arbor Day (the last Saturday of April of each year).
- Develope and help maintain the Arboretum at Malek Park.
- Grow seedlings in the city nursery into plantable trees on public properties.
- Educate the citizens of Conneaut about trees and shrubs for use on private properties.
- Classes/presentations for small groups;
- Videos about identification, use and care of plants;
- Newspaper articles;
- Tours of the Arboretum at Malek Park and other horticulturally interesting sites;
- Distribute new species and cultivars of trees from the City Nursery.
- Plant trees and shrubs on public properties where needed.
- Assist the Public Works department in addresssing the needs of public owned trees and shrubs in order to have a safe and more beautiful City of Conneaut.
Tree Commission History
At the suggestion from Dean Horton, the Conneaut City Council by ordinance no. 182-84 established the Tree Commission in 1984. The following citizens were founding members:
- Dean L. Horton - Chairman of Parks & Cemeteries
- Thomas J. Boyce - Acting Commission Chairman
- Jacob Chicatelli
- Wilbert Andrews
- Paul Coccitto
- Eddie Tuttle
- Edward Wolfe
- Jay Bernardini
- Laurine Brewer
- Collette Brunot Shugerts
- Marthha Dudley
- Harry Vernon
The Tree Commission applied for the Tree City USA award in 1984, but was denied because the activities of the Commission did not include a ceremony for Arbor Day. However, the Commission has received the Tree City USA honors every year since. To date Conneaut has been recognized as Tree City USA for 23 consecutive years. Other Conneaut citizens who have served on the Commission in past years and helped make it the award winning service organization that it is include:
- Dorothy Shumake
- William Wilson
- James Haney
- John Falcone
- Paul Sammons
- Frank Lundgren
- Bob Golden, Jr.
- Fred Monda
- Pat Burr
- Arthur Niiesto
- Bob Baldwin
- Anthony Christopher
- Bob Sabo
- Carol Salsbury
- Carmen Zeppettella
- James Stroeter
- Fred Blood
- Jason Dalton
- Henry Brooks
- Cindy Brooks
- Mike Colby
- Luanne Laasko
- Cheryl Moscare
Current Members
- Rod Raker - Chairman
- Merrylee Brady - Vice Chairman
- Sue Swigunski - Secretary
- John Williams - Treasurer
- Jacob Chicatelli - Council Rep
- Greg Mooney - Council Rep
- Harry Beals
- Matt Crawford
- Eric Downing
- Wendy Gore
- Karla Guarino
- Dennis Gadley
- Dean Horton
- Mark Lytle
- Judy Parlongo
- Vince Parlongo
- Sue Simon
- Gina Stroeter