I have watched from 200 miles away how Old Lyme selectmen have neglected the law and their responsibility at the expense of an 82-year-old resident. As detailed in Mary Biekert's article, “Seven months later, Old Lyme residents still search for solutions to beaver flooding,” (Jan. 25), for four years Dave Berggren has watched his home and property be destroyed by beavers who continue to block the Bucky Brook Waterway, causing his property to be flooded.

With black mold now rampant in his house, the town of Old Lyme is to blame for Berggren's nightmare. Neither former First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder nor current First Selectman Tim Griswold have cared enough to take action. Years ago, Reemsnyder directly and cruelly ignored Berggren's plea for help. Now Griswold disputes the statute and falsely claims he doesn't know where the dams are located.

The law is clear, it is Old Lyme's responsibility to clear waterways whether natural or man-made. It is infuriating to read article after article over the last seven months about this man's property becoming uninhabitable and politicians who apparently don't care. I find the leadership in Old Lyme as well as Old Lyme Land Trust (owners of the dam-riddled property) behavior to be egregious and shameful.

Berggren should sue the hell out of them.

Lee Detwiler

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania