Notice of violation issued over alleged pond‑filling at 120 Chamberlain Hill Road; homeowner to be asked to appear

At the July meeting the Middletown Inland Wetland and Watercourse Agency discussed a notice of violation alleging that an existing pond at 120 Chamberlain Hill Road had been filled.

A staff member reported that a certified‑mail notice to Amy and Eric Peterson was returned marked "refused," so the agency plans to arrange personal delivery by a marshal from the courthouse. The staff member said he spoke first to the contractor on site, told the contractor to stop because a permit was required, and that the homeowner was not cooperative when later contacted.

"You don't have a permit. I'm gonna tell you to stop right now," the staff member said he told the contractor, and he added that he made clear the contractor could have liability as well as the homeowner. The staff member reported that he did not initially speak to the landowner and that the contractor later told him the homeowner planned to finish filling the pond by the end of the week.

Commissioners asked whether construction equipment remained on site; the staff member said the equipment was no longer present but that the agency needs to make contact with the homeowners and have them appear at a future meeting to answer questions. The matter remains under review and staff said they will coordinate delivery of the notice and the homeowner's appearance before the commission.

The agency did not take an enforcement action at the meeting beyond directing staff to arrange delivery and secure the homeowner's appearance; the record shows the commission will follow up at the next meeting once delivery and appearance have been arranged.