Dec 20, 2006

Don’t fence me in

Newton TAB
City Updates

Last week, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed into law a bill pushed by Newton state Rep. Ruth Balser that ensures fence viewers’ rulings will be enforced by making explicit that challenges may be heard in district court.

The bill was written in response to Newton resident George Foord, who spent many years embroiled in a neighborhood dispute concerning a “living fence” separating his property from his neighbor’s.

When the fence of trees grew out of control and damaged his front lawn, Foord found support from the city fence viewer, whose job it is to address boundary disputes.

The neighbor, however, refused to cut the trees down, and Foord was successful only after a costly battle in Superior Court.

Balser feels that by moving such disputes to district courts, the process of solving the matters will be made easier.

“Neighborhood disputes are often very difficult for all involved,” Balser said. “Working with George Foord, I was able to craft legislation that will settle disputes, and I am delighted that we were successful in enacting it.”

— Christopher Loh