A thick stack of Internet research regarding running bamboo is now in the hands of a state lawmaker.
The plant, which can grow at a scary pace if left unchecked, is the subject of a neighbor dispute in Seymour.
Edgehill Terrace resident Caryn Rickel said running bamboo planted by her neighbors, the Komaromis, has spread into her property.
Rickel has a civil lawsuit pending against the Komaromi family, who have requested the lawsuit be dismissed. Click here for our previous story on the dispute.
Rickel wants to see running bamboo added to the state’s list of invasive plants. She has appeared twice at the Board of Selectmen to discuss the issue.
First Selectman Paul Roy said he has passed Rickel’s complaint and paperwork to state Rep. Len Greene, Jr., R‑Seymour.
“I met with our state representative, Len Greene Jr., and I passed along to him the thick packet of information on the bamboos,” Roy said at a Board of Selectmen meeting last Tuesday, referring to Rickel’s research.
Greene said he’ll read up on it. He pointed out there are two sides to the story.
“Before I move forward with trying to get it added to the invasive species list, I’d like to get more information as to why they haven’t added it the list yet, and find what the alternative argument is. I’m not going to jump the gun based on one side of the story,” Greene said.
Rickel’s neighbor, Bobbi Konmaromi, said the bamboo issue is being overblown by her neighbor. She said the bamboo can be controlled.
Komaromi said Rickel is exaggerating the bamboo problem. “She’s the person who calls the town over every little thing. She is blowing this way out of proportion.”
She said she is going to meet with the First Selectman show him that it is not the problem Rickel makes it out to be.
Kamaromi also said she and her husband are working to contain the bamboo. They will complete work on a trench barrier system when the ground thaws.
“She (Rickel) wants my bamboos to come down. We told her, ‘Here is what we are going to do,’ and for her that’s not good enough. She also told us we should take out our choke cherries and grapevines because she doesn’t like those. My backyard is like an oasis,” Komaromi said.
