MATTAPOISETT – The Mattapoisett Tree Committee visited the Select Board meeting on Tuesday to ask that trees be preserved and planted in the plans for the Main Street project.

“Our street tree canopy in Mattapoisett is rapidly deteriorating, and as we begin discussion of this project, we are worried about protecting the character of the town we love,” said Sandy Hering, chair of the committee.

The Main Street project, also called the Route 6 Connector project, is a project on the transportation plan by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It is a scenic route and connector from Route 6 to the waterfront. The town has been working on the design since 2012.

Hering noted that several trees are showing signs of age and are slated for removal as part of the project. The town currently has plans to remove 13 trees.

She had two requests for the board.

“First is preservation during the design, construction, and post-construction phases,” she said, adding that the plan does not currently include best practices for preserving trees along the roadway. Hering requested that a consulting arborist be brought on board as part of the project.

“I think it’s really important to preserve trees on the waterfront especially,” said Select Board member Jodi Bauer. “I know the replanting will be difficult in that area.”

Hering’s second request was the planting of more trees.

“With the approval of the selectboard, we would like to do preliminary work on finding tree sites along the route,” said Hering. “We’d like to do that now rather than after the project is complete.”

Lorenco said that the next time they meet with VHB Engineering, the engineering firm assigned to the project, they could ask. “I don’t think they’ll be opposed, but they would have to be involved,” he said.

With 13 trees being removed, Hering said she would like to plant at least 13, if not more.

Select Board member Tyler Macallister suggested that the committee come up with a “bunch of ideas” and they could assess from there.

Select Board Chair Jordan Collyer added that the committee should aim to do this by the first week of June so that they’ll have this information for the next stage of planning.

Hering thanked the Select Board and was able to close her presentation with good news: Four new trees will be planted in front of the police station on Arbor Day, April 29.

“We believe citizens and future generations of citizens will be grateful for our actions,” she said.