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Arborist Dispute Ends in Court Order

February 6, 2006

Press Contact: Terry Bourgoin, Director, Division of Plant Industry
terry.bourgoin@maine.gov or call (207) 287-3891

A Maine arborist who has been the subject of numerous complaints from the public has entered into a Consent Order resolving a complaint filed against him in the York County Superior Court by the Maine Department of Agriculture. Mr. Gilman Lamarre, who was doing business as Lamarre's Tree Service, agreed to the terms of the Consent Order, which was approved by Superior Court Justice Arthur Brennan.

According to the Consent Order, Mr. Lamarre engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices and advertised, consulted, solicited, contracted and/or in other respects engaged for compensation in the business of an arborist without being licensed. Lamarre agreed not to perform any work requiring an arborist license without first being licensed, to pay fines and restitution, and to change some of his business practices in the event that he becomes licensed to do arborist work again.

"We have been working with a number of Mr. Lamarre's clients who did not receive satisfactory completion of arborist work contracted by Mr. Lamarre," said Terry Bourgoin, Director of the Division of Plant Industry with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. "Most of the complaints did not involve the quality of the work performed, as Mr. Lamarre has done tree work for most of his adult life. The subject of most of the complaints revolved around Mr. Lamarre's business practices. Hopefully we have resolved that issue through the Court Consent Order if Mr. Lamarre wishes to continue working in the arborist profession" said Bourgoin.

"Maine arborists perform a very valuable service to the citizens of the state, but the work can be dangerous and costly if not done properly. That's why arborists have to be licensed by the State of Maine before they can do any tree work" according to Bourgoin. "Arborists must first pass an exam and then show proof of adequate insurance before the Department of Agriculture will issue a license", said Bourgoin. All licensed arborists are issued wallet licenses, which they are obligated to show to prospective clients upon request. "If Maine citizens want to ensure that a person soliciting tree work is licensed, they can ask to see the individual's arborist license or can call the Division of Plant Industry with the Maine Department of Agriculture to check on the license status of that individual" said Bourgoin. The Division of Plant Industry also maintains a list of licensed arborists on its web site, which is being updated for 2006.