The Conservation Commission continues to slog through discussions with Leisure Shores Marina over the business’s environmental transgressions and permit violations.

Since the summer, the commission has been trying to deal with the marina’s disintegrating Styrofoam floats, chemical runoff from boat washing and maintenance, and allegations of filling in wetlands.

From an enforcement order requiring the marina, owned by Robert Ringuette, to stop all unpermitted activities to heated arguments over how and when to replace the docks, the issues are far from resolved. Another discussion on Monday night with Ringuette’s attorney Shepherd Johnson made little to no headway.

The primary topic of discussion was the timeline for replacing the Styrofoam docks and a cleanup plan for the foam that continues to pollute the waters and marsh.

On the former topic, opinions amongst commission members ranged from two or three years to five years for replacing the docks with PVC encapsulated floats. The board holds that a 1995 law requires PVC and that the company’s 30-year-old exposed Styrofoam do not comply.

In a previous discussion, Johnson said his client was willing to do five years at most, averaging 20 percent a year and a minimum of 10 percent a year on the approximately $300,000 project.

“Financially that’s pushing it. That’s a lot of money to put into this project,” he said. “[Robert Ringuette] is willing to meet that timeline.”

Chair Peter Newton, however, requested that the company replace 50 percent of the docks by December 31, 2015 as part of an effort to ensure that Leisure Shores doesn’t wait until the end of the five years to do the replacements.

“There is significant damage with the floats the longer. The longer we sit here and talk about it…remediation isn’t happening,” said member Marylou Kelliher.

Recently retired harbormaster Horace Field said he gave the company two years to clean up the docks. Adding another three years to their deadline didn’t sit well with him.

“You’re just permitting them to pollute,” said Field. “Two years was, by all accounts, a little more than I should have done. I think I’m going to be sick.”

The commission also discussed cleanup. Leisure Shores representative Dana Barrow said the company is committed to monthly cleanups of floating debris and beads of foam that end up in the marshes.

Newton was disappointed that a formal cleanup plan was not submitted, and Buzzards Bay Coalition senior attorney Korrin Petersen expressed concern with marina's the method of vacuuming up the Styrofoam.

“Is that causing more problems with a sensitive salt marsh?” said Petersen.

She suggested having an outside consultant review the best method for removing the Styrofoam.

Mattapoisett Land Trust President Gary Johnson agreed and said, “There has to be a more sophisticated plan.”

He said the area has nesting birds and is believed to have diamond back terrapins that could be disturbed by monthly cleanups.

He added that a land trust property near Leisure Shores has been “inundated” with Styrofoam.

“I really do think you need some outside expertise,” said Gary Johnson.

Petersen said someone from the coalition would be willing to sit down with Leisure Shores to discuss cleanup options.

The Conservation Commission asked Leisure Shores to submit a cleanup plan before the next meeting on March 24.

Regarding the timeline for the dock replacement, no headway was made. A call by Shepherd Johnson to the Ringuette family did not result in an agreement to Newton’s proposal of 50 percent completed by the end of 2015.

“It hamstrings the operations of the marina,” Shepherd Johnson said. “He’s had some other major financial issues hit him.”

Newton admitted his dissatisfaction with this answer and said the commission could easily require a three year replacement plan.

“I’m frustrated,” he said. “This is not an insignificant issue.”

The hearing was continued to the March 24 meeting.