NORWAY – Town Manager David Holt told two Hobbs Pond Lane property owners Thursday night that selectmen are concerned about the environmental health of Hobbs Pond, but will not get involved in a dispute between subdivision property owners.
Hobbs Pond Lane resident Steve Siskowitz and fellow property owner Paul Eirman asked the town to take action to stop gravel from washing into Hobbs Pond from an adjacent business because of poor drainage on the private road.
“The town feels it is a private matter for the people involved in that subdivision,” Holt told Siskowitz and Eirman. “The board is willing to do whatever is necessary, particularly if it involves the water, but it’s a civil matter.”
Siskowitz and his neighbor Eirman, who now lives in Dayton but is selling his house in the subdivision, told the board the road washes gravel from abutter Larry Todd’s business into the pond. Todd developed the subdivision.
Irwin said he has tried to talk to Todd about the issue but was rebuffed.
Todd was not available for comment Thursday night.
Siskowitz said the town should take care of the road because it owns the cemetery at the top of the lane near Watson Road and that section of the land. The lot owners have deeded access across that property to get to their house lots.
Additionally, Siskowitz said the town should have regulated the use of Todd’s land.
Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman told Siskowitz that the Planning Board previously approved a change of use for the land which allowed Todd to operate his business. Because it is outside of the 250-foot shoreland zoning restriction, it is not regulated by shoreland ordinances and not subject to a site plan review.
“It’s not the town’s responsibility,” she said.
Despite that, Corey-Whitman and Holt said they would try to help to ensure the gravel is not posing a threat to the pond. Corey-Whitman said she would contact the Oxford County Soil and Water District for assistance.
The board also took issue with a complaint by Camp Cinnamon Road property owner Marcia McAllister, who asked the town to put a culvert in the private road to prevent washouts every spring.
Holt told McAllister that residents voted to discontinue the road as a public way many years ago, and unless the owner could find records that the town had maintained it for the past 30 years, the town is not obligated to do so.
McAllister contends that the town recently put in a culvert farther down the same road to assist in a drainage problem and that her property should be afforded the same.
But Holt said that the culvert, which was paid for by the resident but installed by the town, was done so mistakenly when it was believed that section of the road was maintained by the town.
In other news, the board approved applications by Dogfish Bar and Grille and Dandelion Catering Co. for a catering permit at the Wedding Barn at 65 Delano Drive. The Wedding Barn is part of the Granite Ridge Estate and Barn complex that hosts events such as weddings.
The board also issued beer, wine and special amusement licenses for Tucker’s Pub on Main Street.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
Send questions/comments to the editors.
