Acting as mediators in the second such neighborhood dispute in as many months, Edgartown selectmen approved taking legal action against a resident of Slough Cove Road who has failed to remove junk from his property.

Robert Sequeira is in violation of zoning laws, according to members of the Dunham’s Corner residents association who appeared at a selectmen’s meeting Monday.

Attorney Daniel Larkosh, who was representing the residents, argued that the junk on Mr. Sequeira’s property poses a potential threat to the groundwater.

“An illegal junkyard abuts our community,” said Mr. Larkosh. “We’re looking for some intervention from the selectemen before we go to the [zoning board of appeals].”

Mr. Larkosh said the junk on the lot includes junk cars, fuel tanks and tractor parts.

This is the second recent collection of residents to complain about a resident storing junk on his property. Residents of Holly Bear lane appeared before selectmen in December to request similar action on a property at the bottom of the lane.

As in the Holly Bear Lane case, questions were raised about what constitutes a junkyard. Once again, building inspector Leonard Jason equivocated.

“I don’t think it’s a junkyard,” he said.

Margaret Serpa argued that it was likely that the junk constitutes some infraction.

”He can’t have more than one unregistered car in his lot,” she said.

Mr. Jason said he sent a letter to Mr. Sequeira last May and at a meeting with the resident worked out a clean-up schedule.

But the deadlines were not met.

“It’s got to go to a higher authority,” he concluded.

Mr. Jason said he will seek an injunction in Edgartown district court. Selectmen scheduled another meeting on the subject for March 2.

“When you get an extreme case like that, this is what happens,” said selectman Arthur Smadbeck.