Tempers flared at a meeting in Westbury Thursday over a tree that was taken down.

The debate began after Denise Casares served the Westbury mayor with documents at the Village Hall earlier in the day.

Casares, who chained herself to the tree in an effort to save it, is accusing the village of ordering the tree to be removed for no reason.

Casares says the order was unannounced and unnecessary because an arborist told her the tree was healthy.

"When they came, they took a piece of me down," Casares says. "And now...I'm not going to be brought down. I want to know why."

The Westbury mayor says the decision to cut down the tree was difficult, but necessary.

He says five new trees will be planted in its place.