Tree Hugger Trying to Shut Me Down

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s37d

ArboristSite Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
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Location
Mass
So I live next to this real tree hugging whiner who has for whatever reason made it his main goal in life to shut my wood burning down. I'm in a suburban environment, but there are other wood burners near us, all within a 100 foot area of each other. It's New England, Near Boston, right on the ocean. It gets very cold and wood burning here is an American tradition going back hundreds of years to the founding of our nation. This guy claims that, even though there is another wood burner the same exact distance from his home, only my stove affects him. He also just so happens to not like my father and is friends with the closest other wood burner, who he's never complained about. Go figure. I always burn clean dry wood, and there's never an unusual amount of excess smoke. This guy is so hellbent on shutting me down, here's a list of things he's done thus far:

-Visited the town building department numerous(10+) times, forcing them to visit our home and make sure the install is to code and inspected. It of course was, and they've now labeled him a nutcase.

-Visited the fire department, prompting the fire marshal to visit. The marshal said this nut actually took a picture of my stack one day when it was a "smokey" fire, which probably stopped smoking seconds after he took the pic. The fire marshal turned out to be a good guy who said he had driven by the house several other times and couldn't even see any smoke. He also said that he even allowed outdoor fire pits, and had no problem with burning clean wood(showed him my clean wood pile). Now we have another town official labeling him a nut.

-Contacted board of health. I got a letter from the board of health(ridiculous, I know). The nut must have portrayed me as someone who burned trash in my stove, as I'm sure he did with the other two officials, because the clown at the board of health included what looks like a google copy and paste of 'tips for clean burning', which I've been fully aware of and followed since I was a kid. "Only burn clean dry wood, if your insert is old replace it(it's not, it's new), etc.

The last sentence of the letter from the director of public health reads "...I request that the wood burning unit not be used when the wind is coming from North Westernly direction toward the property..."

When it's coming from that direction? Are you kidding? Yeah sure, I'll just monitor the wind direction constantly and when it shifts, pour a bucket of water on it. How can such a thing even be enforced? This is a legal install with other wood burners in the immediate area, and they want to impose such a restriction on me? My guess is they'd open up a bag of worms if they tried to enforce it, and I don't plan to stop burning, ever.

Anyway, bounce your ideas back, let me know if anyone's experienced similar situation.
 
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I hate to suggest it, but perhaps the positive findings by the town officials, along with a letter from an attorney threatening action against him would be appropriate. Might be the best couple hundred you ever spent?
 
Document all this activity, times, dates, names of officials. You may need it in the future. He probably won't let up.

If you don't have one already, put up an Obama sign. He sounds like one of "them".
 
Give them an inch and they want a mile!
I would invite him over and firmly explain to him that it is my god given right to burn just as it is his right to complain. Once we had "an understanding" I would release his neck, um I mean tell him he is free to go about his merry little way. Don't forget to mention you heard there is a sale on Birkenstocks downtown! :blob2:
These people are going to be the demise of us free spirited Americans!:rock:
 
I hate to suggest it, but perhaps the positive findings by the town officials, along with a letter from an attorney threatening action against him would be appropriate. Might be the best couple hundred you ever spent?

I think this would be your best option too
 
Some people are crazy and you will never get through. It is your right and approved. I second the document everything just in case.

BTW: It doesn't matter where or how much space you have. I have a woman neighbor (on the next 12 acres mind you) that complained to me about my smoke "rolling down the valley". She did have a point - it was after I moved in an before cleaning chimney's to my spec's... but here's the kicker; this 75 y/o say's this as she is smoking her way through a pack during our talk!
 
The "key words" in that letter you recieved from the public heath is - I request !!! That is the same as asking you !!! Keep burning brother and kill 'em with kindness !!! These pepole are not worth hitting because somone else will end up doing it !!! Burn baby Burn !!!!
 
Definetly document each encounter and any interaction with public officials. Names, dates, anything... As others have said it may make a huge difference down the road, especially when the public officials start back peddling on what they told you.
 
Document all this activity, times, dates, names of officials. You may need it in the future. He probably won't let up.

If you don't have one already, put up an Obama sign. He sounds like one of "them".

OK, which are "them" and which are "us"? On the face of it, your statement is bogus. IMHO. Or is it just some sort of paranoia.

From what we've heard, the unnamed person is just a nut demanding special treatment. Like the Bachmanns, you know.
 
Honestly I can't believe the crap you guys put up with. I would have broke his jaw on the first complaint, 3rd degree assault, ACD-problem solved. BTDT-6 times.
 
Would that be a probation violation cause if you did it before?

Longest probation I got was a year and that was for screwing the barrel of an AK in the back of a punks head that I caught lawn jobbing my front lawn before I moved to the country. After court you just have to ride out your time and be careful, knock on wood I have been incident free for the last 18 months.
 
I've got four, maybe five, wood burners within 100ft, no problems here with smoke! Not sure what you are on about there Dan!
My fix for this, get an old riding mower, remove the muffler and run a straight pipe then add a quart or more used motor oil in the gas tank when the wind is in his direction. Nothing in the books about lawn care!
 
Longest probation I got was a year and that was for screwing the barrel of an AK in the back of a punks head that I caught lawn jobbing my front lawn before I moved to the country. After court you just have to ride out your time and be careful, knock on wood I have been incident free for the last 18 months.

What were the charges assault with a deadly weapon, possesion of a deadly weapon and intent to use a deadly weapon?
 
If you are within state regulations then you are good to go. We have some real issues here in CT that are not going to get better anytime soon, (some towns have actually legally banned them). I don't think they can touch you...I just feel bad for you neighbor. They should put more restrictions on these things...especially in dense towns.
 
What were the charges assault with a deadly weapon, possesion of a deadly weapon and intent to use a deadly weapon?

All they could get was menacing, I never gave a statement and there were no witnesses willing to come forward. One thing I learned Is never give a statement, that is what lawyers are for.
 

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