Well we will never know since that tree was cut off at ground level by Carpenter Costin and taken away So we may not learn why it snapped at trunk level. This same company I was stood up by them in the past. For a job they deemed a 100 yr old Silver maple tree - "NOT dangerous" though in response to my concern about the 200lb limb that fell was: "Shedding branches is typical of those trees"
and since it was springtime with gusty windy days I was worried and stood up twice with a no show no call even. I did hire someone else for that job thank god. Now their back and next door to me nad this time left me with this mess above my garage and along my driveway when its an illegal spite fence and should be removed instead. I am still awaiting a fence viewer for salem...............

I'm not sure Salem has a fence viewer. What does a fence viewer do? What is the legal height for maple trees?

Every city is supposed to have two appointed by the mayor. I believe one is the bldg inspector. Maple trees are banned due to invasiveness. Trees taller than 8 feet should NOT be used for a partition fence or planted too close to the ajoining property. The legal height for a "Natural fence" of hedges, sm trees is (i believe) 2 ft taller than man- made fences, which is: 4' front yard and 6' side yard. Fence viewers enforce city/state fence laws. Planting anything even one tree along the boundary line changes its status to a "Fence" and it must abide by fence laws. Below is copy/paste of state laws website.
M.G.L. Chapter 49:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter49

Well, good luck with all that. Let me know how that goes.

I am now told by bldg inspector that its not his jurisdiction or Salem has NO fence viewer.... No one should have to be subject to a continuous cost at the discression of his abutting neighbor dictated by their choice in growing Maple trees so close to the bondary line they fit legal definition of a fence or "Free Hedge" as hes called it. One windy day the entire tree broke in half not just branches as in past. Maybe i can sue city for damage since not having a fence viewer. Amazing i have been threatened with harassment for my concerns. Yet its the other way around instead. Salem does things differently though.

I thought I read something about this In our "Constitutional rights." I guess Government likes to sweep old laws under the rug!

I'm guessing you're new to Salem. You're right: Salem does thing differently. Quite so. If you're expecting a response like if you lived in Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge or even Newburyport you're in for a disappointment.
But good luck suing the City though.

Im told recently by atty that real estate laws are the oldest laws and yes its our constitutional right to protection of person and property. Any state law that contradict this and leaves us with need to ongoing defend ourselves against a GROWING threat should be challenged and MA was first state to enact a "Spite Fence" law. The tree law is questionable but trees dont make good fences or legal ones that should not have to go to court to be argued. We could all plant invasive Maples on our property line and watch the destruction unfold if we are evil.

You can cut anything hanging over you property line.

I went and looked at thoe trees in question and one of them is really big and cracked and leaning over towards the house that are growing them , Tenants cars are parked right beneath the cracked tree. Hopefully no one gets hurt because one of those tree's next to it already broke off in the last wind storm. That home owner will get sued when the cracked one falls on the cars , hopefully no one gets killed! That home owner is aware of the condition of that cracked tree since he had a tree guy there a few weeks ago that topped some of the trees that still stand 30 feet height and clearly you can see they are top heavy because of his actions and leaning towards his neighbor. I hope she gets a lawyer on this one. "A civil rights lawyer to uphold her constitutional rights with the laws she stated that are on the books." That neighbor is also putting his tenants in danger of this cracked large tree hanging over their cars."

Is actually the fence viewer who is liable. Some claim that cronyism is such a big problem in Salem they forgot what the actual laws are. Myself I have seen some pretty egregious "Mistakes" of procedure called "Tricks of the trade" athat benefit some at the expense of others who dont lawyer up as a lifestyle.

I am lost trying to follow this issue. The initial comment about illegal and to tall is questionable. They have obviously been there for a very long time and I have never heard of a tree height limit. As for a city fence viewer, never heard of that either. We have a building inspector and a shade and tree department. If this is a private issue between you and your neighbor on private property the city will stay clear as there seems to be no new illegal action. Unless I am missing something?

jeanie, you say that "its actually the fence viewer who is liable". But Salem has NO fence viewer, and I've never even heard of one, so I think this is going nowhere for you.

Costain says "I hope she gets a lawyer on this one. "A civil rights lawyer to uphold her constitutional rights with the laws she stated that are on the books."

If you lived closer to City Hall you'd hear them laughing at that one. As I said, this isn't Cambridge.

Enjoy the ride!

John, I seen the trees they are young trees and a ton more maples only a few feet high growing in between the large ons, that tree owner is clearly growing a fence with them and they don't even have room in between them once the smaller ones grow as big as the ones that are there. My neighbor has the same issue with a row of trees the owner refuses to cut down and they are destroying her 100 year old rock wall as well as her walkway and she can not cut the roots or they will fall on the owner of the trees building. It cost her money every year to have the bracjhes cut away from her roof. So I know that this issue is not an isolated issue.

The MA law that states owners have "RIGHTS" of "SELF-HELP" or fend for yourself basically at your expense also called "Remedy" is no protection since that "RIGHT" equates to work and cost and in the case of trees (a growing thing) its also an ONGOING growing expense. That judge may have had an OLD tree on his property? Though trees similar to hedges being grown near the property line and being nurtured and vigilantly protected at the constant expense to an ababutting owner is spiteful at the very least.

I took this picture of one of the trees that over hang the parked cars of the home owner growing this line of trees, I blew up the picture and its clearly cracked and you can see the cracks beneath the falling off bark. None of these trees look healthy.

ok Its hard to see new trees in the photo. Good luck but I would not expect any help from the city.

I have some experience with trees and that appears to be a combination of a split and bug and rot damage. If the branch will fall on someone's property other than yours why worry?

All the trees I looked at while walking by there today and taking picture, all have bark that looks like that and bug holes and are top heavy except the one in the photo you just commented on is leaning towards the other property, all the rest are leaning towards Jeannies property..

All these trees have cracks and some issue going on One has a 2-3 ft long section of bark ripped off by animals or birds maybe since its about 20feet up that tree Maybe squirrels building nests

There is an OLD huge stump hollow with some large animal living inside it.

Building Inspector responded to inquiry directly.

My issue was seeking a FENCE VIEWER for SALEM. Regardless of comments on this issue. Since these trees are dangerous when breaking in half on windy days and cracking without wind and are a "Natural fence" if not proven spite fence yet. I have NOT seen nor heard from any fence viewer yet. My reply from Bldg inspector is only: "I enforce Salem zoning, Mass Building Code and the Mass Architectural Boards handicap regulations. Nothing else. I do not know of a Town that has a fence viewer but merely heard that a couple of towns still have them. If they are not in Salem, they would not be able to come here and do anything to help your situation. This issue of a non existant fence viewer should not be closed until a fence viewer is named?

So there you have the official response, issue closed. Not an unusual outcome. Good luck

Thanks for your comment John Youre right Its very familiar not surprising yet im still seking this invisible Fence Viewer for Salem. Im doing all i can do within my means to prevent danger and she/he should too.

This is not a taxpayer friendly city. Department heads are told what to do or they will be replaced. A good example is the transfer station. The building inspector allowed that operation to exist even though the building was collapsing. When Northside filed suit the building was torn down at the taxpayers expense.

Hi John I doubt that any city is "Taxpayer friendly" but all try to smokescreen issues to avoid liability. It does sound like they maybe tried to keep that transfer station going as long as possible? since need maybe? It was outdated since he heavy lifting of the barrels was against laws decades ago. I always felt sorry for those guys get many were very grumpy (justified) but that was too hard a job this day and age.
I still believe salem has a qualified fence viewer since I was told this by attorney. Also told that the fence viewer is liable to damages if not acting. These trees are being grown specifically as a hedge and legally defined as a Natural Fence by its possition and even fact that they are consentrated to a particular area along the boundary line and no where else in his yard shows its a partition fence. Also its over the legal height limit for hedge or fence and dangerous due to overcrowding (on top eachother as one example) they break easily. The hostile owner hing behind "Tree Law" since remedy is no help to me and his intention is to aggrivate and harm due to an actual Mutual hedge farther down my driveway that he has no right to rip out as he had threatend years earlier.

You have a point but I bet the people on Chestnut St think its a taxpayer friendly city.

Building Inspector has responded to this inquiry directly.