Select Board addressing problem of seasonal occupants staying year round – SouthCoastToday.com

Daniel Schemer| Correspondent

MIDDLEBORO The Select Board, acting as the Board of Health, is currently dealing with a recurring issue of occupants in seasonal housing communities not leaving when they are supposed to.

The issue was first brought up at the November 16 meeting regarding the Woods Pond homes, specifically 28 homes along Kings Way. The area is essentially a campground and many of these cottage-style units in this part of Woods Pond are restricted to seasonal use from April 16 October 10.

The permit of occupancy does not allow habitation in these homes past the season.

This is not about someone not paying rent. Its about someone staying someplace not licensed for this length of occupancy. This is a danger, said Select Board Chair Leilani Dalpe at the November 23 meeting, where more details on the case came out.

As explained by Dalpe, the public water system for these campgrounds consists mostly of communal wells. The wells arent designed for year-round use and equipment for maintaining these wells shuts off at the end of the season.

Its not just a town permit thing. There are health reasons for that. It needs to rest during the off season to provide potable water, said Dalpe.

According to the Board, the limited licensing, both with the town and the states Department of Environmental Protections (DEP), is confirmed by the Woods Pond Condo Association.

The folks who own the association acknowledge this, said Dalpe.

Further digging conducted by the Board revealed this to be an issue stretching back at least several years. Available online materials for the November 16 meeting show email correspondence between the Health Department and the Woods Pond Condo Association confirming the issue of tenants squatting in the homes off season is a recurring issue.

I cant use my deck because of my home being covered with wood smoke. This has been going on for years, said Mike Lefoley, one of year-long residents of Woods Pond, who also expressed concern for his wifes underlying lung issues with regards to the neighbors burning wood for heat all through winter.

Lefoley also brought up recent failed test results of the nearest septic system to his property, which is in close proximity to his well water source.

If my well was 50 feet away from a cesspool, I wouldnt be drinking that water, said Neil Rosenthal, Select Board member, who advised Lefoley to improve his filtration system and seek testing of his well for nitrates.

The Board confirmed that the towns Health Officer will be going door-to-door to the 28 confirmed seasonal homes along Kings Way to find out who doesnt belong.

This whole ordeal has forced the Select Board, at the behest of Interim Health Officer Bridget Sweet, to take a closer look at the licensing process for many of these housing communities, whether seasonal, mobile, or manufactured homes.

At the November 30 Select Board meeting the Board voted that the Board of Health remain the permitting authority for seasonal housing developments, as well as manufactured housing communities.

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Select Board addressing problem of seasonal occupants staying year round - SouthCoastToday.com