Lake Windsor residents air concerns

WANTAGE — The Lake Windsor Property Owners Association residents passionately expressed their concerns on March 10 at the Wantage Committee meeting for almost an hour regarding an issue they say is negatively affecting their quality of life.

Attendees alleged Joseph Maggio, of Maggio Construction and Demolition, runs a commercial business, dumping demolition debris on top of the mountain adjacent to their lake in a site designated as woodland management.

Maggio countered by saying all activity is authorized by permits and inspections.

Major resident concerns were: constant noise, lights, operations even at 3 and 4 a.m., and possible alleged lake contamination.

Deputy Mayor Jon Morris said Zoning Officer Patrick Stefanelli investigates complaints.

Committeeman Bill Gaechter said Stefanelli had been on the property several times. He said Maggio has a permit from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection for filling and soil conservation.

Glen Ball asked about laws regarding dumping requirements. Ball said Maggio is being assessed as a farm, not a landfill.

Scott Kirkpatrick said this year, no weeds were on the lake. The weed-control person asked what happened to all the weeds. Kirkpatrick said he is concerned about possible lake contamination from what is being dumped on the nearby mountain.

Maggio said if the anonymous complaints had names, issues could have been addressed. He added he has DEP Permits, Soil Erosion Permits, copies of inspections, silt fences, and he hauls dirt permitted by the state. Also, the state noise ordinance is 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Melanie Litrenta said originally the association signed off on a tree farm, not commercial dumping in a residential zone. Tempers flared when she mentioned the possibility of officials being paid off.

Maggio said, “That's a lawsuit," Maggio said. "You're all in a lawsuit,” specifically for defamation of character; and he left the meeting.

Mayor Ronald Bassani said unequivocally no one was being “paid off” on the Committee.

Sevean added, for the record, they did not trespass on Maggio's property, but took pictures one quarter of a mile away with a super zoom photo lens.

Lorine Barone said although expensive, the Association was checking into biological testing to determine the type of run-off into the lake.