Plainfield couple defies court order on home inspections

By JAMES PENTLAND

Staff Writer

Published: 08-04-2023 10:56 AM

PLAINFIELD — A dispute between town officials and two residents over alleged health, building and wetlands violations at their property has devolved into a legal stand-off, with the residents flouting a court order to permit inspections.

Town officials filed an enforcement action in Hampshire Superior Court in December, saying residents Gregory and Alyssa Miller were living with two small children in a barn on Bow Road with no plumbing, septic system or potable water. Also, the complaint states, the Millers have done work within a protected resource area and made structural alterations to the building — adding windows and a wood stove — without seeking permits.

According to the court filing, the Millers have ignored orders from the Board of Health, the building commissioner and the Conservation Commission to move out of the building until these problems have been resolved.

They have not appealed the orders, nor have they complied, the complaint states.

“They refused to allow us in the house,” Building Commissioner Charlene Baiardi said outside court Monday.

Ellen Dupont, chairwoman of the Board of Health, said it was a perplexing situation.

“We asked them to come to our meetings,” she said. Although they indicated they would come, she said, they never showed up.

The parties appeared before Judge Francis Flannery on the town’s motion to enforce Judge Karen Goodwin’s April 3 order requiring the Millers to permit inspection of the Bow Road property.

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Gregory and Alyssa Miller have filed numerous notices with the court, most prefaced with the statement that they “do not take on any titles such as pro se, trustee, PERSON, etc.; nor do i wish to contract nor give consent to any legal agents; nor do i, understand or agree to any legal codes, acts, or statutes at this time or any time without consent of i;”

They also frequently assert that they do not believe there is any contract between them and the plaintiffs, the judge or any court officials. They have informed the judges overseeing the case that they “consider any attempt to enforce legal codes, acts, or statutes to be a trespass by way of barratry or extortion;”

They occasionally conclude their communications with demands for compensation. In a July 24 notice to Superior Court Clerk Harry Jekanowski, they said their appearance at Monday’s hearing “does come with the fee of $10,000 per order and a dollar per minute to satisfy said order.”

Speaking by phone this week, Gregory Miller reiterated these arguments, saying the town government representatives have shown him “no verifiable claim that we’re in breach of contract.” He disputed that the couple had refused to allow town officials to enter their home, telling them only that he would regard such an action as a trespass.

He said he and his wife would be willing to meet with the town’s representatives but it would have to be on neutral ground.

“We have no ill will,” he said.

The couple’s arguments in court Monday held no sway with Flannery.

“What you’re saying makes no sense to me,” the judge admonished them. “The court order will be enforced.”

Flannery’s order requires the defendants to allow the plaintiffs’ representatives to inspect the property within 30 days, and states that town officials shall be accompanied by local or state police.

According to the town’s attorney, Jeffrey Blake of KP Law in Boston, the Bow Road property is owned by Christian Faith Ministries, of which the Millers are listed as trustees.

Gregory Miller said he created the trust as a legal entity for the purpose of buying the property.

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