Westport Island officials signed a consent agreement Monday evening with Anthony Keefe, settling the disposition of code violations at his Old Woods road property after more than a year of discussion.

On Sept. 20, 2015 Keefe was cited for violations which included excessive clearing of vegetation in a protected zone and failure to obtain the required permits for the construction of decks, filling and earth-moving to extend a driveway and installing a ramp and float.

In the 2015 letter from Code Enforcement Officer Gary Richardson, Keefe was given an Oct. 12, 2015 deadline for submitting after-the-fact building permit applications, but they were not received by then. Keefe appeared at the Nov. 7, 2015 selectmen meeting and discussed the issue with town officials It was agreed that Keefe would complete and submit after-the-fact applications which carry fines of triple the usual amount ($50 for a minor project and $150 for major projects.)

The selectmen agreed to an extended deadline of Nov. 20, 2015. Keefe paid the $450 fee in December 2015. A tree plot was also required for the protected zone and although Keefe provided one last April, town officials have been waiting since that time for vegetation to be planted.

Keefe appeared at a Nov. 21 selectmen’s meeting to inform the town he had completed the planting and wished to resolve the matter completely because he had received an offer on the property.

The consent agreement is the last step in clearing the dispute with the town. The agreement states that penalties with interest for the violations are $2,500 to be paid by Keefe.

In return, the town has agreed not to prosecute Keefe for the violations, providing that Keefe obtain after-the-fact building permits, re-vegetate the buffer zone and ensure that the plantings are monitored.

As part of the agreement, Keefe is required to contract with a licensed forester or other arborist to monitor the growth of the planting for the next three years.

Keefe is required to file the consent agreement with the property records at the Registry of Deeds.