Call Before You Dig in Westport

Conservation Director Alicia Mozian Monday reminded residents and contractors doing work in Westport that they should “call before they dig” if their property, or the property they have been hired to do work on, has or is adjacent to wetlands, a watercourse and, or a pond. “If one is uncertain whether their property contains wetlands a public on-line search is now available to access wetland information on individual properties,” said Mozian. The Town of Westport Geographic Information System (GIS) can be accessed at www.westportct.gov or the Conservation Department should be contacted at (203) 341-1170. In 2012, the Conservation Department issued five Notices of Violation along with three Citation Notices. Citations adding up to $2,500 were issued to property owners with the town receiving $1,750 in payments. Since 2004, the department has issued 123 Notices of Violation and issued 49 fines. The sum of the fines issued is $72,400 with the town receiving $44,000 in payments. “These Notices of Violations are a response to the unauthorized work that includes cutting, clearing, filling and building in wetlands and their upland review area or buffer,” she said. In addition to the fines, these violations can result in a variety of additional consequences including but not limited to: the owner having to stop work; placement of a corrective order on the land records; removal of the violation; appearance at public meetings; submission of plans; and or, posting of bonds to ensure corrective action is taken. “It is more trouble than it’s worth to do work without a permit,” Mozian said. “Make sure you or your contractor has contacted the Conservation Department before work starts to see what permits are required.”