FACT: A bi-partisan commission led by Wallingford Center, Inc. made suggestions to the mayor which included:
a) A diverse array of species instead of the same two balled-and-burlapped varieties the town was planting.
b) Better quality tree stock that would survive longer and with fewer dropped limbs and diseases. The commission even confirmed with two CT-based nurseries that they had the recommended species in stock at a price of $20/tree instead of the $550/tree the town was paying.
c) Smarter planting locations to primarily to get the trees out from under power lines and no longer block business signs.
d) Creating and training a volunteer force to plant and care for trees, thereby saving the cost of installation and maintenance to the town. The commission secured support from the Town Council chairman for this.
Ultimately, the town disregarded these suggestions, bid the job out in the as they intended to, and it cost taxpayers more than it should have.
Source: Wallingford Center, Inc. Recommendations, Wallingford Bid Specifications