Conservation Board Fines Pair $4,500 for Shoreline Work

Conservation · Meeting of August 3, 2026

Webster Conservation Commission fines landscaper and homeowner $4,500 for defying a cease-and-desist order on Webster Lake. Conservation Agent Rich testified that contractor Reggie and homeowner Mary Smith continued unauthorized shoreline hardscaping and loam dumping at 23 South Shore Road despite repeated warnings between June 23 and July 13; the commission voted 5-0 to impose $250-a-day fines on each party for nine days, totaling $4,500, after one member said the homeowner "blatantly disobeyed the rules." Smith said her ADHD and dyslexia caused the confusion, telling the board "I never meant to go over his head." In a separate matter, the commission ratified an enforcement order against John and Kathy Petto for dumping play sand into the lake at 49 Birch Island Road but imposed no fines, approving a restoration plan from an engineer identified only as Glenn. The board also closed out five routine certificates of compliance and voted 4-0-1 to give its environmental leadership honor to a second nominee after members split over recognizing both candidates.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,673 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of August 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.