Shade Tree Commission dedicates tree to retired director of public works

In late 2024, the Shade Tree Commission planted a black gum tree along the Quittapahilla Creek near South 6th and South 7th streets and dedicated it to Robin L. Getz, who retired as director of public works in late 2023.

Chad Yeagley succeeded Getz as public works director.

Getz, who is enjoying her retirement after almost a decade of service to the city of Lebanon and more than three-and-a-half decades’ tenure in local government, spoke with LebTown about her former role as liaison between the city and the commission.

With a push from Mayor Sherry Capello in 2015, Lebanon reactivated the Shade Tree Commission along with the founding members after a period of dormancy. Getz described them as “very dedicated” and “very knowledgeable.”

“It was a matter of education with the residents more than anything,” Getz, herself nearly a lifelong Lebanon County resident, said.

“I have to be honest with you — I didn’t have a whole lot of knowledge with the purpose of it until I kind of dug into it. And I’ll tell you, it was incredible what you can learn. When I started digging into what a shade tree is, its purpose, you know, the vitality of it.”

Getz learned that homeowners can benefit from shade trees in various ways, including enhancing aesthetics, more effectively managing stormwater, and saving on heating and cooling costs. That is, if homeowners plant a shade tree that is right for their property.

“And that’s what the Shade Tree Commission is all about,” Getz said. “They review where the properties are located, you know, specific trees do better in certain areas than others.”

When determining the right shade tree for a city property, the commission takes several factors into consideration, including the location of the property, anything on the property, such as wires, that could conflict with the shade tree, the location of the shade tree on the property, and the characteristics of the shade tree.

The commission is responsible for educating homeowners on the right shade tree for their city property. Homeowners are then responsible for purchasing, planting, maintaining, and potentially removing the shade tree.

“It’s just remarkable what they do,” Getz said. “And people don’t quite realize the importance, which is a shame. They just look at them as, you know, tree nazis, and that’s not what they are. They’re very thoughtful and diligent, and I mean a great, great committee. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.”

Homeowners in the city of Lebanon can direct their questions to the Shade Tree Commission, which meets at 3:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the second-floor conference room, 735 Cumberland St., Lebanon.

Jerry Kalinoski, Charles Wertz, and Richard Wertz volunteer on the commission, which currently has two vacant volunteer positions.

Getz’s former role as liaison between involved advertising the commission’s meetings, creating agendas, and taking minutes. She would send information to homeowners and notices of violations if necessary.

Getz attributed her hesitancy towards the commission eventually growing into a passion, in part, to her exploration of its archives, where she discovered that “one of the members took it upon themselves to go and do a complete inventory of the entire city and documented every tree in the entire city.”

She told LebTown that the Shade Tree Commission decided to recognize her transformed perspective and former role as liaison with a tree dedication, which she said was “something that was totally unexpected.”

One of her favorite native trees is a black gum tree, specifically for its canopy and vibrant fall leaves, and she often suggested it to the commission as it attempted to get more native trees planted in the city. This inspired the commission to surprise Getz with a black gum tree for the dedication.

Getz, who has been married for over 50 years and has a daughter and two grandsons, looked back at her career from her retirement.

She started working at the age of 12 for a catering business, and one specific event — a police association’s banquet with over 500 guests — sticks in her mind: “It was a full setting of silverware and glassware, and I was standing on a milk crate washing dishes. That’s where I started. I started with the city of Lebanon, and I ended with them.

“My time with the city was great. I’ll tell you, the people were great. I mean, there’s always problems. It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do. There’s always issues. But for the most part, I can’t complain. I enjoyed what I did. I loved the challenge of it. It just was a great environment.”