Inland Wetlands Takes No Enforcement Action in Neighbor Dispute

Lisa Gangnath filed an Inland Wetlands complaint over a pipe leading from State Rep. DebraLee Hovey and her husband Paul Balsano's pond to where she says her mother's Fan Hill Road property is. Balsano countered with a complaint accusing Gangnath of ripping up a three-foot area of grass along the edge of the pond, which he says de-stabilized the vegetative buffer.

The showdown before the Inland Wetlands Commission in the long simmering neighborhood dispute ended with no enforcement action from the town. On Wednesday night, the commission agreed to send formal letters to both sides explaining its decisions.

All commissioners who walked the properties agreed that the disturbed area around the pond was stable and that Gangnath would not have to re-plant the grass there.

When discussing the drainage pipe, Chairman Jeremy Hayden said, "I think it would cause more problems having that pipe removed."

Gangnath, who attended the meeting, stood in the center aisle with her arms folded and said, "You mean the pipe on my property?"

Hayden reminded her that there is no public comment when the commission is deliberating.

When it was clear that the commission would not take any enforcement action, Gangnath could be heard saying, "All right, I'll take care of this myself. This is a total waste of time."

Hovey was reached on Friday, but declined any comment until she received the letter from the Inland Wetland Commission.