Last modified: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 12:44 AM EDT Residents of the Hickory Woods subdivision in North Attleboro have taken it upon themselves to show everyone how unhappy they are with the incomplete work done in their neighborhood. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwell) Report faults North boards for woes at Hickory Woods BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - "Infuriated." That's how Nicole Riel of Jon C. Barry Drive said she felt while flipping through a just-released report detailing problems in the flood-plagued Hickory Woods subdivision. The report in some cases notes problems on a lot-by-lot basis. Riel said the report, made public on Monday, was the first she had heard of possible seepage from a slope near her elevated septic system and pool onto a neighbor's property. "I'm very angry it's come to this," she said. "I've lived in my house for four years and I want to know if it's possible my children could be playing in septic waste. And I want to know today." About a dozen neighborhood residents had similar reactions as the board of health released the 13-page report by Mill River Consultants, which was paid $4,000 to delve into the neighborhood's problems. And the report details a myriad of problems - from septic systems designed for a three-bedroom home installed for four-bedroom homes, to other homes built 30 feet from the locations listed on preliminary plans. Hickory Woods residents have long been asking that roads in their subdivision be completed. However, flooding undermined the roads, and unless that problem is fixed, a new coat of asphalt is expected to be wrecked, as well. Frustrated residents have planted signs in their yards with slogans like "Spring has begun, there is work to be done." "We have categorically said we want to finish the road correctly," developer Fred Bottomley said. "It is very frustrating for me to drive up the road and see the signs that say "three or four years - what are we waiting for?" Bottomley said he wants to finish the roads, but only if the town will indemnify him and hold him harmless if the road becomes undermined again, a proposal the town has rejected. As the report suggests, selectmen are calling for a joint meeting of all town boards to go over issues raised in the report and find solutions. "This report found lots of errors, lots of mistakes and lots of boards not doing their diligence," Selectwoman Marjorie Kraskouskas said. "It's a real look at town government, and what is wrong it with it. It's a real look at particular boards not being elected anymore. I'm not willing to place blame, but there's a lot to go around." Residents are just hoping to see a definitive plan to solve the neighborhood's problems. Lee Beatrice of Harold Bishop Drive said he has been attempting to sell his home, but well-publicized problems in the neighborhood are making it difficult to find a buyer. "I'm getting a lot of people seeing my home but no offers," he said. "I think much of it is that people are concerned about what is going on in this development. "At a planning board meeting two years ago, I said two years from now we're still going to have this issue," Beatrice said. "And here we are two years later. We just want a finished street, sidewalks and street lights." Residents who are only now learning that their septic systems may have been installed incorrectly also want to know how the systems passed inspections by the former health agent. "Who is going to be ultimately responsible?" said Richard Harris of Harold Bishop Boulevard. "We had to take in good faith that someone checked every nail to make sure it was done correctly. How do we hold the residents harmless because we've been at the mercy of this process?" Selectman John Rhyno said if the town inspected and passed systems, he believes residents should not be held responsible for the problems.