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Maine Alliance for Road Associations

land owner vs road assoc.

  • 17 Jun 2022 11:01 AM
    Message # 12819958

    Owner of 1000 feet of road upset at association for improper maintainence. Owner asked DEP & County to visit road and offer suggestions. He is following Gravel Roads Manual and their advice. He asked the road association to stay off his section with their maintainence. Some members refused. Members felt they had right to do what they wanted to the entire road. He is using his equipment and on occasion asked for 10 yards of gravel from the association. He is still paying his road fee. Most members felt he is doing good job and voted to pay for gravel. What are his rights? Deeded access for right of  way over his land is all that is listed. Thanks

    Charles Ramsberger

  • 01 Jul 2022 8:51 AM
    Reply # 12835208 on 12819958
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I've been hoping someone else would take a stab at this sticky situation.

    The perturbed owner seems to be following advice from good authority to provide volunteer maintenance for the section of your private road that crosses his land. He has asked you not to maintain his section.

    If all owners along your private road  were notified according to 23 MRS ยงยง 3101-3104, then met, formed an association, and are operating in compliance with the above Statute, then I believe your association has the right to maintain your road along its length and cannot be told to stay off one section by an abutting owner/member. A majority vote of the owners approves or denies maintenance projects. 

    You don't want to go to court over this. I suggest mediation as a means to resolve the dispute between the partially compliant owner and the partially accepting association membership. The MARA Private Road Conference at Maple Hill Farm Inn on October 1, 2022, has a speaker, Ms. Lucy Wess Esq., who will discuss useful mediation techniques for road associations. See you there! 

    Last modified: 02 Jul 2022 6:06 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 02 Jul 2022 10:26 AM
    Reply # 12836100 on 12819958
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I was also waiting for someone else to answer this one!  I think the suggestion to try mediation is excellent.  It sounds like this is not a hostile situation yet, but could become one if not handled carefully.  Professional mediators are trained in how to get both parties to listen to each other's concerns and understand each other's viewpoints so they can reach an agreement.  You could try FCM (Family and Community Mediation.)  Or, if there is agricultural or forest land involved, you may be eligible for mediation through the Cooperative Extension's Agricultural Mediation program, which is offered free or at nominal cost.

    As for who has rights under the law to do what, that's more complicated.  I would want to look carefully at the deeds to see exactly what is granted.  Part of the beauty of the road association statutes is that they do allow quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to deciding how to assess each property for its fair share.  I think it's generous for this landowner to maintain a significant stretch of road at his own expense (other than asking for gravel) AND to pay his dues.  In the old days, public roads were often maintained by the abutting landowners, who were then given credit towards their property tax, based on their time, materials, and equipment.

    I think my biggest concern would be liability, and you might want to point that out to this landowner.  If the road association has liability insurance, it probably would not cover the landowner if anyone were to be injured or to suffer property damage as a result of the way he maintained (or failed to maintain) the road.  But I hate being scared by attorneys and insurance salesmen!  If he's doing a reasonable job of maintenance, and apparently most of the members agree that he is, then what is the chance that anyone would actually make a claim?  He could somewhat reduce his liability by posting "pass at your own risk" signs.  Again, a good mediator might be the best bet for sorting this out.  I would request a mediator who is also a real estate attorney - I know there are some.

  • 05 Jul 2022 3:33 PM
    Reply # 12838916 on 12819958

    Complex as always. Alot of good thoughts. We willkeep trying. Thank You!

                            The Maine Alliance for Road Associations


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