Protect Fat Trees Ordinance

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An open letter to the Fair Haven Mayor and Council
Re: Tree Removal Permits
I see your mistrust of the Fair Haven property owners has you passing a new Protect Fat Fair Haven Trees Ordinance. Now if a resident wants to cut down a tree on his own property that is fatter than 10” diameter at breast height (unclear if this is the property owner’s breast height or the average breast height of all Fair Haven registered voters) a permit is required:
1. Fill out a $25 Tree removal application.
2. In some cases this means hiring a licensed tree expert who you must pay. This document is then given to the code enforcement officer who will inspect your property. The code enforcement officer has an additional 13 hoops you will have to jump through. #5 whether the tree is worthy of preservation (how will the tree feel if the officer judges it to be unworthy).”
Failure to comply with any of the above intrusions on your private property rights are subject to a $2,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail for each day you don’t comply. The Mayor said “It’s not a tremendous infringement on property rights”.
Barry Caulfield
Fair Haven