A civil dispute involving Robert Brona’s property on Main Road dominated the commission’s deliberations. Brona’s initial approval for an in-ground pool construction was later retracted by the historical commission, leading to a civil court case. The controversy arose due to discrepancies between Brona’s submitted plans and those presented by opponents, who hired Lawrence Beals to propose conflicting plans. This situation raised questions about the plans’ accuracy and the construction’s compliance with approved plans.

During the meeting, a member expressed that the matter had become complicated and advised against issuing an enforcement order against Brona. The commission was urged to wait for the civil litigation’s outcome before taking any action. The member emphasized the risk of intervening prematurely, which could complicate the case further. The consensus was to refrain from any intervention until the civil matter was resolved, with the commission revisiting the issue once a clearer understanding of compliance requirements emerged.

This approach was formalized through a motion. This decision underscored the committee’s cautious approach, weighing the potential implications of acting on new plans without full clarity on the facts.

In other business, the commission addressed several requests for soil and septic permits. The renewal of a soil permit for Margaret Sylvia on County Road was approved without contention, involving the straightforward process of stockpiling and transferring earth minerals. Similarly, Cody Flynn’s request for replacing a cesspool with a pump chamber on Donovan’s Lane was approved, falling under a minor exemption for septic repairs in a riverfront area.

Another septic system issue involved John Beisa’s property at 1985C Main Road. Beisa required a new septic tank installation following the conversion of a garage into living space. The commission debated the tank’s placement relative to the velocity zone but ultimately approved the project following the Board of Health’s prior approval.

David Marian presented a proposal for a 35×35-foot addition on North Bolt Street, encroaching into a 100-foot buffer zone. Marian assured the commission that the addition would be within an existing lawn, with the closest point to the wetland being 26 feet. The commission approved the addition with conditions for erosion control measures.

Jonathan Buckman sought confirmation for resource areas on Pine Hill Road, with his team providing detailed delineations of wetland systems. The commission agreed with the delineations and approved the order of resource area delineation, laying the groundwork for a future single-family home proposal.

Certificates of compliance for completed projects were also considered. Joselyn Gambone received approval for a new house construction on Main Road, with the area showing sufficient stabilization and growth. Chris Souza’s property on Kyle Jacob Road also received a certificate, clearing an encumbrance from an order of conditions dating back to 2010.

The meeting also touched on financial matters, approving bills for East Bay advertising and office supplies. Minutes from previous meetings were unanimously approved.

A separate discussion addressed a flood zone construction project and its compliance with regulations. An engineer argued that the project, as an accessory use to a dwelling, might be permitted by FEMA, despite being in a V-zone. This claim suggested that the project might remain intact without adverse effects, given its distance from the water’s edge. The commission debated the project’s elevation and the historical commission’s authority to take retroactive action against approved plans.