Bangor, Trees, and Responsibility

By code and policy, all trees in the city of Bangor, unless otherwise determined, are the ownership of the city. If the tree is not damaged or dying from whatever reason (in which case it is covered by the city forester), any removal or altering of the trees must be covered by a council vote. The trees are the City's property.

So when those tree's roots damage pipelines which flood basements, or breaks through the walls of someone's basement, it should be the city's responsibility to pay for the repairs. Similar to how a parent is responsible for their child's actions legally, the city should be responsible for our trees.

I've heard several complaints about how the city denied responsibility and place the cost of repairs to several homes where a tree's roots damaged the water line to the house and broke through the basement walls thus flooding the basement. The tree caused the damage, but the city did not do the responsible thing. From what I know of the situation the homeowners were at no fault.

I will make certain the council takes responsibility for damages caused by our trees, and anything else we "parent" in the city.