PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission is disappointed to see wetland violations at the Pittsfield County Club, stating the new maintenance superintendent should "know better."

Last week, the panel ratified an enforcement order for unauthorized land disturbance and vegetation removal within bordering land subject to flooding, bordering vegetated wetlands, inland bank, and buffer zones.

"Essentially what happened was the golf course superintendent had cleared woody vegetation, some of the woody vegetation was substantially sized, along areas that the commission regulates," Conservation Agent Robert Van Der Car said.

He displayed pictures of the violations within the golf course playing area, with vegetation removed near an intermittent stream and at the edge of a pond. There was also hydrophilic vegetation and a substantial amount of trees removed.

"The enforcement order required restoration and White Engineering, they're working on a restoration plan here now," the conservation agent reported.

Chair James Conant recused himself from the conversation, as he retired from the club last year after a long career as the course superintendent. Commissioner Thomas Sakshaug commented that he is sure Conant instructed the new superintendent "quite well" on the rules.

"I will just put it on the record as saying that as a golf superintendent in this community, the current one, it's disappointing," Commissioner Jonathan Lothrop said, pointing to the certificate of compliance that was issued to the club for a culvert last year.

"It just slightly boggles the mind, this is somebody that should know better, frankly. That's a huge worry for me."