As one more example of its efforts to protect its trees, the town will soon put into effect an updated tree ordinance.

The new, 13-page ordinance that was presented to the town council last month, which the council was expected to pass formally Aug. 4, replaces a three-page document that had not been updated since 1984. Twenty-one definitions were added to provide further clarity, and a tree technical manual will serve as a reference to all the documents mentioned in the ordinance.

Under the new guidelines, a property owner must still verify the condition of a tree that was removed during an emergency situation after the fact. The ordinance also requires an owner to have a qualified arborist submit a hazard evaluation form before the town issues a regular tree-removal permit.

The revised ordinance sets forth additional criteria that must be met before the town will approve the removal of a protected tree. It also streamlines the disclosure of information relating to existing trees that the town requires of development projects.

The new ordinance includes sections on new development, protection of trees during development, pruning and maintenance, enforcement, fees and appeals of town decisions, none of which had been specifically mentioned in the earlier ordinance.