September 23, 2010

City cracking whip on Boulevard tree-cutting

A business owner’s bid to clear away some trees and brush along the back of his lot beside the Pequabuck River has landed him in the hot seat.
The problem that American Auto Sales’ Bob Vitale faces is that by clearing greenery beside the river may have violated wetlands regulations and some of it may have been on city land – and not just any municipal property either.
Some of what got chopped down may have been part of the Veterans Memorial Park running alongside Memorial Boulevard.
“For the veterans of this city that is hallowed ground and this guy has desecrated that ground,” said Tim Gamache, who chairs the Bristol Veterans Council.
“We won’t be satisfied until that guy has replaced every tree that he cut down with a 6-foot evergreen,” Gamache said.  Click here for the full story.

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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Give it a rest . So a few bushes are gone to improve a business . These eco-weirdos are losing it . Go hug a tree and leave real people alone.

Anonymous said...

hallowed ground my eye! it's not a cemetary, it's a park, where kids have sex in the parking lot and people take their dogs to take a dump on this so called hallowed ground. Gamache needs to get over himself.

Why doesn't the mayor crack down on his friends in the business and slumlord community that are guilty of blight? at least this guy is trying to do something. Or is this guy a Zoppo friend, that's why they are making such a big deal about him?

Anonymous said...

I am a veteran myself, but sometimes I think that members of the Veteran's Council get a little bit too reactive or protective when it comes to Memorial Blvd issues. Memorial Blvd is a city park like any other city park. The last time I checked, no one was buried beneath the Blvd or its monuments. It is not Arlington Cemetary...a true and legitimate "hallowed ground". I appreciate the passion as a resident that the members have for the Blvd, but the owner of the auto business did not deserve such a cheap shot.

Anonymous said...

Gamache has lost it!

Fed Up Too.... said...

About 9 months ago I was driving down the Boulevard and several CITY PUBLIC WORKS trucks were in the parking lot of the building Ted Dzeikian owns and city crews were cutting down several(large) trees that were between the side of Ted's building and the river bank. Yes, it was during the time that Ted was on the city staff, in the building department. Can anyone explain that desecration of hallowed ground?????????????

Anonymous said...

This autoshop guy should be put in jail for disrespecting veterans like this.

Anonymous said...

7:39 PM

Do you really think that this was his intent when he cut down some trees...to disrespect the veterans of this city? Maybe we should add a processing disorder clinic to the list of social services provided in Bristol.

Anonymous said...

After driving down the Boulevard today at lunch time, which by the way the city has done a great job at making it look beautiful for this weekend, it is obvious that the all mighty dollar is what prompted this man to cut the trees down. Now his used cars are facing the Boulevard with their prices listed on the windshield. It was clearly done for advertising reasons. While at first I thought the city and some veterans were over reacting, after seeing it for myself I can see why. People do not walk the Boulevard to look at car advertising. They do it for the beautiful scenery and somewhat quietness of the area. Then you come along the stretch where this auto shop is. It looks horrible and trashy. If they had cleared the trees and replaced them with shrubbery and some nice ground cover like flowers or mulch it may not look as bad. Instead it looks as if a greedy used car salesman took a chainsaw to the trees bordering his property and cut them down for his own financial gain. What ever fines the city can impose on him they should and should also make him pay for either new greenery to be planted or an visually pleasing fence to be installed to block the sight of his property.

Anonymous said...

As was pointed out some time ago, when the leaves are gone, as one drives down the Boulevard, the whole stretch looks like hell.

Check it out on veterans day; graffiti, junk, broken windows etc, etc.

Mayor, check it out yourself!

Anonymous said...

Mayor Ward only jumps on the band wagon that he feels makes him look good. Hallow ground? Its not a cemetery Tim!

Anonymous said...

Oh get over it. Left wing Tim will bitch when someone at the dealership loses their job over the fine he gets for cutting down trees.

Go to tunxsis take econ 101 trade not aid. A park isn’t hallowed ground and god forbid a business owner wants to make a profit. Is it still legal to say god forbid?

Anonymous said...

We need to get Dave Pasqualichio to advise the city on this one. He has done a great job in Forestville! We need more of Bristol to look like what he has created. Hopefully Dave can drive by this spot and offer some suggestions.

Anonymous said...

The guy cut down trees that weren't on his property so that his business would be visible on the boulevard. A boulevard that is a memorial. The city and the veterans have a right to be pissed off.

incumbents OUT !!!!! said...

All the damn memorials should be moved to a New Park on North Main street on the old mall site . Plenty of parking and no problem with pedestrian concerns . Then the "sacred" boulevard could be developed as PRIME commercial property w/ direct access to routes 72 and 84 . PLAN AHEA

Anonymous said...

Hallowed ground? Tim no one is buried there. Hey Ward - just because you are a so called veteran doesn't give you the right to jump on this one. Besides shooting yourself in the foot shouldn't give you a purple heart but if that is what you need to feel like a man- then go for it.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to Gamache Boulevard.