With a growing number of trees losing their battle against invasive insects, violent storms, and age, Chester is looking to expand the amount of money in its tree removal line item by almost 70 percent to help ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

“We have already spent $50,000 of the $80,000 budget and the rest will be consumed by the end of December,” said First Selectman Lauren Gister.

The Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance have already approved the use of an additional $55,000, for the remainder of tree maintenance, removal and trimming, in town until the end of this fiscal year on June 30.

A special town meeting to vote to release the funds will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Town Hall.

“This is a state-wide problem and a big maintenance job for Chester that we didn’t have before,” said Gister. “Eversource is only willing to take down trees that are on a major line of theirs, not the minor lines, so the town has to step up so we can ensure the safety of all our residents.”

She added, “We love our trees in Chester, thank goodness we have so many and we are so forested. Even though we have had to remove so many trees over the past few years, due to disease and age, we still don’t look bare.”

Gister explained that the town has begun discussing a replanting program.

The additional money for tree maintenance line item will be taken from the reimbursement of FEMA funds that the town received for damages that occurred due to the 2018 flood. The special Nov. 13, town meeting is being held to release the money so it can be transferred to the capital line item for tree maintenance and removal.

“We have the money...and we desperately need to take care of this situation,” said Gister.

Many trees in town have suffered the consequences of the destruction of the emerald ash borer beetle, an invasive, insect first discovered in Connecticut in 2012. Over the past several years, this unwelcome hitchhiker and its ravenous larvae have hit the state’s forests hard.

A native of Asia, these beetles feed on ash trees almost exclusively. In Connecticut, there are three species of ash trees in danger, the white ash, the green or red ash, and the black ash.

In addition, many trees in Chester and the surrounding area have simply aged out and are old and dead and others have been devoured by the gypsy moths. Deep River and Essex are also undertaking additional tree removal efforts; along with Chester, they have also increased their budgets for tree maintenance and removal programs.