SAUGUS — The owners of Indian Rock Stables are not horsing around with allegations that their facility has a manure problem. They say their neighbor has been harassing them with complaints for more than a decade.
Walden Terrace resident Daniel Silva has asked the Saugus Board of Health for consistent inspections to be completed at Indian Rock Stables to ensure the business is in compliance with local and state regulations. Silva, who owns a six-stable barn next door, also requested the town update its animal keeping bylaws to include rules for the removal of animal manure.
He described “a persistent fly and rodent problem” that he’s convinced is caused by improper storage of horse manure at Indian Rock and brought used fly tape with dead insects attached to the Board of Health meeting as evidence.
His wife, Joetta, described upwards of 30 flies swarming her guest bedroom when a friend was sleeping over.
“She was afraid the flies would get into her ears,” she said.
Bill Heffernan, chairman of the Board of Health, said the panel would research modifying the town bylaw, but noted that Indian Rock has never failed an inspection.
Manure is removed from the five-acre property weekly, said stables manager Paige Benson. Indian Rock Stables, which has 45 horses, has always complied with regulations and would be willing to participate in weekly or even daily inspections, she said. Additionally, Benson offered to use her equine expertise to help the town craft a bylaw if the panel chose to go in that direction.
“I have a degree in animal science, equine business management and equestrian studies,” said Benson. “I took a whole course in manure management. So when I returned home in 2013 and kind of took the barn over, that was my first step.”
Every facility removes manure differently, she said. Some people spread it out, some haul it and others have a compost pile.
Instead, Benson said the issues are being raised as a way to harass her and her mother, Karen, who purchased the property in 2001.
“My husband passed away unexpectedly the day after Christmas in 2008,” said Karen Benson. “Not even two months (after) he was in the ground, Mr. Silva was filing complaints here about flies and all kinds of stuff.”
They believe Silva is harassing them to try to get them to sell the property. He has allegedly flown a drone over Indian Rock Stables to take photographs while children are receiving riding lessons. They are considering filing a harassment order with Saugus Police.
“I’m not selling my property,” she said. “I’m not selling it to a developer. It’s my home.”
Both the Bensons and the Silvas will return to discuss a potential bylaw change with the Board of Health in October.
