by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Returning from a simple trip to the grocery store, the handyman in our complex saw me come into the campus and flagged me down. He explained that everyone was looking for me and that my husband could fill me in on the details. I felt like driving right back out the gate. I happen to be the president of the home-owners’ board.
My husband told me, that as soon as I left, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing and that several people even came to our door. All of the excitement was over a genuine tree hugger in our midst. Betty freaked out when the tree cutters arrived to cut down a large 30 year- old tree in front of her condo. Anything outside our individual gates is considered common area so she could not claim it was her tree.
I tried reasoning with her while she was in her hug position as the tree cutters watched from across the driveway. Betty explained she had tree separation issues. When she was nine years old, her parents left her alone at home when tree cutters arrived and cut down her favorite tree without even telling her. She has had issues ever since. She goes to a psychotherapist and at age 68 is still having issues. She felt she should have been asked and been able to give permission to cutting down “her” tree.
I explained that two of the board members had told her the tree was up for removal as it was causing many expenses to all of the other one hundred and eleven residents with the damages it was doing to three driveways and her front sprinkler system. She didn’t care as she was not ready to let go yet. She explained that it took her four years to have a tree removed from her inner court that was destroying her patio. She used the argument that now her electric bill would be higher. I pointed out to her that the tree did not even shade her condo. Well, she liked to see it from her patio. I again brought up all of the money the association has had to pay out for the damage from this tree. She had to be reasonable. She asked me not to treat her like a third grader and I replied that she shouldn’t act like one.
I was done. I went back over to the tree cutters who explained they needed to go to their next job and could return later. I gave my permission and then called our management company. Kimberly, our manager, was up to speed as Betty had already screamed at her earlier in the morning. Kimberly said the next step was to call the police. As there were seven policemen out front of our gate investigating a fatal motorcycle solo accident, I replied I would go to them to get their input. The policeman explained to me that the woman in question was doing civil disobedience and they could arrest her and take her down for a mental evaluation. Still thinking I had a possible solution before bringing in the police, I went back to Betty to explain her options. She was now more adamant than ever. Somehow becoming a martyr was appealing to her. This happened on a Friday and there was a strong possibility that if she was booked, she could spend the weekend in jail before anyone could bail her out.
I felt it was now out of my hands. Then Cindy, another board member, jumped in and thought giving Betty a delay would make everyone happy. I disagreed but Cindy had made the phone call back to our management. Meanwhile Kimberly had called back the tree cutters and the police. The tree cutters returned escorted by three of the seven policemen out front of our gate. I should have sold tickets as neighbors were watching every move. The word spreads so quickly within this complex. Cindy was panicked as she thought she had stopped the process. She made another phone call to Kimberly and ran out to personally stop the arrest process.
A few hours later I received a long email from Betty thanking me for all of my understanding and flexibility. I was at a point where neither of those terms could apply. Betty then volunteered to be in charge of how the tree project could proceed and all of the details she would work out. We had created a monster. After forwarding this email and a phone call to Cindy, Cindy apologized. Now it was time to clean up the mess.
Betty received a letter from our management company informing her of a hearing where she would be presented with a bill for the time the tree cutters spent watching her protest. We will then schedule the date for the tree removal with an alert to the police in case we need their help in making this happen. How was this democracy in action? The needs of one hundred and eleven units took precedence over one resident’s tree separation issues. But did this incident really benefit all with the outcome?
It is now two years later and Betty is ready to let go of “her” tree. It is causing a lot of damage to her driveway and landscape. The board made note of her change of heart and vowed privately that her tree removal had now moved to the back of the line. Her first hissing fit cost the association over $400 for the tree cutters’ wasted time. Betty refused to pay the fine and was ready to take her case to court. Her case would have been a case for small claims court where lawyers are not allowed. All of this we found out after the hearing.
What her performance did was push the board to make an official tree removal policy. Sanity finally came through as everyone now knows how, why and when a tree is removed. Betty is now famous in our complex and has added another story to what could become a book about the daily lives inside this complex.
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