Newcastle officials fined two landowners and a landscaper a total of $3500 Monday for cutting brush on the shore of the inlet running from Damariscotta Lake to the Damariscotta Mills.
The town’s Board of Selectman levied the fines after determining the cutting of the brush violated the town’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance bars cutting most trees and plants within 75 feet of the shore.
The selectmen fined Boothbay Landscaper Kevin Steele $2500 saying he should have known it was improper to cut the brush and several alder bushes from the shoreland.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” said Steele.
“The customer said she had permission to cut the brush. When the customer tells me (she has permission) I usually believe it,” said Steele.
Landowner Mike McKee was fined $500 for permitting the cutting of plants on his land. He was given 30 days to have a landscape architect to prepare a plan to replant the shorefront. He then has 90 days to replant the shore. He was not at the hearing.
Marcia Trentin, who lives near McKee’s land, admitted asking McKee if she could cut the brush. When he agreed, she said she hired Steele to cut brush and trees so she could view the water. She said she did not believe she did anything wrong.
The Selectmen voted to fine her $500. Selectman Brian Foote convinced the board to give her two years to pay the fine.
Bob Whear, who owns the Mill Pond Inn on the other side of the inlet from Mrs. Trentin, described the cut down trees as 10-foot high alder bushes. He said their cutting removed a visual barrier protected others from viewing his property and his guests.
“Now people will be pulling boats up on the shore and kids will be jumping in the water from the shore,” he said saying the removal of the plants, trees and brush would disturb him and his guests.
Trentin, 80, admitted hiring the arborist to cut the brush, but denied being a disturbance to neighbors
“I pay taxes and my daughter and I wanted a view of the water,” she said.
She said she looked at the town codes and said they regulated tree cutting. She said she had brush cut.
“I am sorry I misjudged. I am sorry but I don’t believe it is less attractive,” she said.
“I don’t think I understand how I or my daughter and my cat can be a disturbance,” she told selectmen.
