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Palermo Postpones Action Against Land-Use Violation

June 08, 2010 - PALERMO -- Selectmen postponed action on land use violations Thursday and heard requests from two part-time residents that Sheepscot Lake be more actively protected.

Code Enforcement Officer Darryl McKenney presented three issues -- two ongoing and one new to selectmen.

The new one, a wide clearcut on the Haskell property in the area called Babock Shore, brought summer residents Elaine Cole and Maureen Standish to protest.

Their view is that -- as long as selectmen allow violators to get away with fines -- anybody with money can do as much damage as necessary to get what he or she wants built on the shore.

In this case, McKenney said, the Haskell family had permits to tear down and replace an old camp and install a septic system. Because the lot has ample shore frontage but little depth, they had to clear parallel to the shore for the septic system.

McKenney said he directed them to leave one tree out of seven along the shore. They cut all seven, telling him the one supposed to be left was damaged when the others were felled.

Selectman Harry Dean Potter tentatively proposed a $2,500 fine. Board Chairman Sophia Glidden suggested inviting the Haskells to a selectmen's meeting. Action was postponed until state environmental officials decide what they will require, if anything.

The nearly-final consent agreements with Laure and Real Robidoux and contractor Larry Knowles for cutting in wetlands and along the shore off Banton Road were postponed to June 17.

Knowles was expected to attend Thursday's meeting. When he did not appear, McKenney telephoned him. He reported that Knowles thought the meeting date was June 6.

Meanwhile, he said, the Robidouxes intend to start planting trees by mid-June to replace those that were removed.

Board members have proposed a $7,500 fine against Knowles and the same against the Robidouxes. The Robidouxes are asking for a reduction because they have incurred more than $100,000 in restoration costs.

McKenney and state officials are also dealing with Merton Hickey's illegal gravel road through a wetland off Banton Road. Selectmen took no action, again waiting to see what the state does.

In other business:

* McKenney said he notified five property owners of structures built without permits. Assessors found them during annual inspections, he said.

* Selectmen postponed whether to close Morse Road off Level Hill Road to winter maintenance.

* Town Clerk Sheila McCarty announced a Planning Board on the long-discussed Plummer Road subdivision, now proposed as four lots. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. June 23 in the Town Office.

* Selectmen unanimously approved 20 people as members of the 2010 Palermo Days planning committee.

by Staff Reporter, Morning Sentinel, June 8, 2010

Lakes: Sheepscot Pond
Regions: Belgrade


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