Barnstable Conservation Commission Issues Seven Enforcement Orders at August Meeting

Conservation · Meeting of August 11, 2026

Barnstable Conservation Commission issues seven enforcement orders and continues contested pond herbicide application to September 8. The seven-member commission, chaired by Tom Tangney, voted unanimously on every enforcement order at its August 11 hearing, including the most serious case of the evening, a coastal bank topping at 130 Clamshell Cove Road in Cotuit where a landscaping contractor topped trees on a coastal bank in direct violation of a prior determination of applicability that explicitly prohibited the practice; Agent Brady Hill stated "this was clearly intentional" and the commission is pursuing a civil fine against the contractor through town legal counsel, with property owner Mark Byers saying he was "beside myself" at the contractor's conduct. A proposed aquatic herbicide management program for a small private pond on Cobalane in Barnstable, filed as an ecological restoration limited project by Water and Wetlands on behalf of Stephen Robinson, consumed nearly 45 minutes of debate, with Commissioner Bill DeMello arguing the pond's condition was a natural eutrophication process and the treatment "an aesthetic thing," and Commissioner John Kashulik saying he leaned in favor, calling the applicant "a marvelous professional company"; the commission unanimously continued the matter to September 8 and directed the applicant to return with a specific applicator identity, license, step-by-step treatment protocol, and monitoring schedule.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Roll Call
• New Business: Chapter 701 Amendment, No-Hunting Properties
• Revised Plans — Block of Five
• Enforcement Orders — Seven Cases
• Notice of Intent — Donahue Kevin and Sonia, 25 Harbour View Road
• Notice of Intent — Robinson/Cobalane Pond Aquatic Management Program
• The complete report — 4,127 words

Source: the Conservation meeting of August 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.