What Happened to the Courthouse Pine Tree?

I happened to glance over towards the courthouse yesterday in Binghamton and there was something wrong. Very wrong. A pine tree was missing. It wasn't just any tree, it was our Christmas tree!

New York City has their Rockefeller Center tree and we had our Courthouse tree. Now it is gone.

I watched reports that Debra Preston only found out yesterday that the tree removal was part of planned maintenance.Who made that decision and why? Preston was quoted as saying they will get to the bottom of it.It's not like the tree was visibly sick or a hazard.

All I know is, it was a County decision with the City not being informed. And correct me if I am mistaken, but all decisions must go through the County Executive's office, right?

The damage is done and hopefully the right fix will also be done: to place a new pine tree in its place.