The sheer number of questionable decisions made by DEP Assistant Shoreland Zoning Coordinator Jeffrey Kalinich should be concerning to all residents and DEP superiors. His recent actions suggest a pattern of ignoring egregious violations committed by Mr. Houy (our neighbor), while simultaneously pressuring the CEO to over turn our 4-year-old permits for our shed and gazebo, which we obtained in good faith. WHY would Mr. Kalinich be so concerned with our small structures, which were never an issue until the Houy’s attorney, Sigmund D. Schutz, contacted him?? Just days later, Mr. Kalinich was on scene issuing us violations and trying to legally justify John Houy’s violations. Clearly, Mr. Houy is not the only one who is benefitting from Mr. Kalinich’s questionable decisions.
We believe the role of DEP officials should be to help the Town and residents navigate the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. All residents should be held to the same standards; however, that is not what happened in our case and will likely not happen for most residents. Apparently, only a select few benefit from a two-tires system.
There needs to be some oversight to protect residents from these types of questionable decisions.
Below are some examples of questionable decisions:
1. Excavating and pouring a concrete foundation within the protective buffer zone of the pond.
DEP Assistant Shoreland Zoning Coordinator Jeffrey Kalinich and the Town ignored the fact that our neighbors excavated and poured a new concrete foundation within 50 feet of the Pond, without a DEP permit. They turned their garage and addition into a “mini mansion:.…… read more
2. Installing an unpermitted boat dock
Besides the fact that the neighbor’s boat dock had been discontinued for six years, the boat dock was granted grandfather status based on a “historic” picture (supposedly pre shoreland zoning laws) that only showed the presence of a swim float. Furthermore, our neighbor claimed that two docks were present when they purchased the property in 2010, but that’s untrue – the previous owner discontinued the dock in 2004.…… read more.
To prove bias, we presented the same picture as evidence to grant our gazebo grandfather status. We were denied because according to Kalinich our gazebo did not exist pre shoreland (then how did the neighbors boat dock?)..…… read more.
3. Moving a dock from its grandfathered location
The neighbors moved their other dock (T-shaped) from it’s historic grandfathered site to a location over the property boundary making it more non-conforming. This dock was still granted grandfather status..…… read more.
4. Unpermitted work in and adjacent to Wadleigh Pond
A July ’21 report from a DEP field inspector (prior to Mr. Kalinich’s involvement) concluded that there was unpermitted filling activities by the Houys along Wadleigh Pond Rd. and the shoreline. Why has DEP not followed up with this violation since that time?
Former selectman, John Houy, digging by the shore, to place posts for a spite fence.
5. The sheer number of questionable decisions made by DEP Assistant Shoreland Zoning Coordinator Jeffrey Kalinich should be concerning to all residents and DEP superiors. He submitted incomplete and inaccurate statements to ZBA members just prior to our meeting; he was involved in questionable email correspondence with John Houy regarding our structures; he tried to get a PRB to justify violations committed by John Houy; he granted John Houy grandfather status to two docks based on a single picture, yet denied us grandfather status for our gazebo which was is the same picture; he appeared to pressure the CEO into issuing us violations while simultaneous ignoring much more egregious violations committed by Mr. Houy; and many more.
6. Complete Canopy removal
Today only one tree remains on the Houy property. Trees were supposed to have been replanted. Google satellite image of 9/2015 (left) and 5/2023 (right).
All of the information provided on this site is publicly available in Town records and Court documents.