Goshen Inland Wetlands Commission: Parking & Dumping Violations
12/4/25, 7:15 PM
Present: Chair Lorraine Lucas, Commissioners Devin Stilson, Matt Wheeler, Dante Malanca, Adam Andrusia, and Tom Stansfield. Vice Chair Ray Turri was excused. Enforcement Officer Spencer Musselman was also present.
At the previous meeting, the commission asked Gary Stango, Jr., of 54 Bare Hill Road for more information, drawings, and where a fence was going to be located, regarding an after-the-fact application for adding a land bridge with culvert pipe for animal crossing between pastures over a wetlands area.
He modified permit language in a couple of emails for fencing and the land bridge. Grass has come in since seeded and hayed. There is a permanent outside perimeter wooden fence with wire mesh and an inside moveable electronic fence for rotational grazing plans. Mr. Stango clarified that the culvert pipe is 18 feet long and the crossing area is 12 feet wide.
Stango confirmed that this is an after-the-fact permit. He cannot get a jurisdictional permit. A jurisdictional permit is a legal authorization required for activities that may affect wetlands, waterways, or other regulated areas, ensuring compliance with environmental laws. Musselman had clarified this with Mr. Stango.
Stango was instructed at the November Special Meeting not to park cars in the upland review area, but he did so anyway, contrary to the Commission’s directive. A Violation Notice was subsequently issued. Stango admitted that they did park there but said that he sent an engineering survey indicating that the area in question was not a review area. He understands that the commission did not accept the survey. The commission disagreed with the Civil Engineer’s findings at the previous meeting.
Musselman requested that Stango write an affidavit stating that he understands that he needs to petition the commission before any future use, and that he does not intend to do it in the future.
A motion was made to approve the after-the-fact application and unanimously approved.
A permit for shoreline stabilization at 200 East Hyerdale Drive was granted 14 years ago. The ice has caused further erosion. Martin Connor wrote a letter with specifics on behalf of Rajiv and Jennifer Wadehra. The owners have hired a contractor. Musselman will be contacted prior to any work being done.
The work will be done at the dry time of the year and when the lake water level is naturally lower. They will not use any machinery. Wheelbarrows will be used to bring down any materials — about 4 yards of natural stone. The north side of the shoreline of about 100 feet needs to be level with the other side. The dock will not be modified except for the leveling of the first step. This should be good for 10 years. The permit for this will be useable for 5 years. A motion was made to approve the application and unanimously approved.
In the Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officers Report, Musselman spoke about illegal dumping at 225 North Goshen Rd, saying he went out there a couple of times and issued a cease-and-desist order. There appears to be a large open pit that is being filled with scrap building materials. The back corner is wetlands. There are many people concerned about this property. The property may be leased. He will wait to hear back on the cease-and-desist order and will be speaking with the Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), who will be taking the lead on the investigation.
Note: In response to an inquiry from The Goshen News, 1st Selectman Seth Breakell explained: “I contacted DEEP in response to a complaint from several neighbors. It’s their case at this point. I was instructed by DEEP to issue the Cease and Desist for enforcement on a local level which has been done”.
