By Kelly Morgan,Staff Writer

NORWAY – An ongoing dispute between two Hobbs Pond Lane neighbors had its first airing before the Norway Planning Board on Thursday.

“I should have been here a year ago,” said Steven Siskowitz, of 79 Hobbs Pond Lane, who has appeared before the Norway Board of Selectmen several times to complain about Paul Eirman, of 89 Hobbs Pond Lane.

Siskowitz has accused Eirman of improperly filling a drainage ditch and altering Hobbs Pond Lane, causing storm water runoff problems. He also has said Eirman has clear-cut trees.

Eirman, in turn, has accused Siskowitz of failing to build a hammerhead turnaround at the end of Hobbs Pond Lane, as required by the Hobbs Pond Estates subdivision plan, and removing a culvert from the road.

The dispute has resulted in a restraining order against Siskowitz, a civil suit, and also questions about Norway’s handling of zoning and subdivision violations.

For months, town officials regarded the neighbors’ disagreement as a private matter. At a Jan. 6 meeting, however, it was decided that changes made to each property required subdivision plan amendments approved by the Planning Board.

Planning Board member Anne Kinney on Thursday told Siskowitz she was unsure whether the original subdivision applicants should be handling the applications. She also said all property owners in the subdivision may need to be notified.

Some matters may have to go before the Appeals Board, she said.

Siskowitz was asked to have the Fire Department evaluate the existing turnaround on his property and also have a surveyor produce a map of the site.

Eirman is scheduled to meet with the board Feb. 10.