Tree feller may be civic dignitary (8)
I believe the answer is:
alderman
'be civic dignitary' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'tree feller' is the wordplay.
'tree' becomes 'alder' (alder tree is a kind of tree).
'feller' becomes 'man' (a feller or fellow is a man).
'alder'+'man'='ALDERMAN'
'may' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for alderman that I've seen before include "Member of a local legislative body" , "Civic officer" , "Bigwig" , "Former civic dignitary" , "In England and Wales, a former senior local councillor" .)