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IPSWICH — If last night’s water subcommittee meeting was anything to go by, developers on Linebrook Road will get nowhere asking for a water-ban exemption.
The board voted unanimously to recommend to the select board that the request be denied when it is heard Monday.
“It’s a pretty nice slap in the face,” said committee member Michael Dougherty of the company’s continued use during water restrictions.
Selectperson Linda Alexson, who is not a member of the water subcommittee, described Symes Associates use of water as a “flagrant disregard” of the town’s bylaws.
“We’re all equally incensed by the disregard that’s been shown,” said committee member Jim Engel.
“I wish the penalities were even higher,” said committee member and selectperson, Kerry Mackin.
Subcommittee member Brian Kubaska agreed and said $300 a day wasn’t enough of a deterrent.
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Symes is building 51 new houses in the area near the intersection of Linebrook Road and Mile Lane.
Phase one consists of 16 homes on Linebrook Road where at least one has been sold and others are on the market.
The company clear cut the woods near Linebrook Road and is now watering a lawn area while homes are on the market.
An entity called Village at Linebrook LLC was set up by Symes to handle sales. It has sold one property so far for $808,105, according to the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds.
Water director Vicki Halmen said Symes is using between 180 and 500 gallons a day. Townwide, around one million gallons of water a day are consumed, she noted.
Water restrictions are currently in force and people can be fined for using automatic sprinklers. Only hand-held hoses are permitted, and that is between 7 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Penalties start off with a warning and work up to $300 a day for fourth and subsequent offenses.
Symes is at the $300 level, having received its first warning June 4, Halmen said. The bylaw allows for exemptions and those requests go to the select board, which acts as the water commissioners, she added.
Symes is on the agenda for Monday, June 15, but the two selectpersons who attended Thursday’s water subcommittee meeting said they have received angry public feedback.
“It’s a huge slap in the face, especially today,” Alexson said referring to the rainy weather Thursday when the sprinklers were left running.
Mackin said she got “a flood of emails” and all were against the waiver. Alexson said she also got correspondence and none was in support.
Halmen said four water meters were possibly being used. “Two accounts are more egregious than others,” she said. Fines could be issued per meter, she suggested.
“We should give ourselves the benefit of the doubt,” said chairman Jim Engel.
The bylaw requires a water department designee or police to observe water use. On Friday morning, police were called out to the development, according to scanner chatter.
The officer who responded radioed that the builders would leave the water running and take the $300 fine.
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Anger at continued outdoor watering on Linebrook Road - The Local Ne.ws
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