Town to Hire Independent Firm to Review Plan For Former Dump

The council unanimously voted at its meeting Monday night to have the town attroney hire an independent engineering firm to review the closure put forth by the developer of the old Rocky Hill dump.

In October, Meadow Properties LLC signed a Stewardship Permit that would allow them to reopen and cap the old town dump, which has been dormant since the 1970's. A group of concerned citizens called the Rocky Hill Riverfront Preservation Society has been actively fighting the threat of dumping on the site, even starting a petition.

Many of them argue that Meadow Properties LLC "plans to make money" from the dumping of the "462,000 tons of fill" on the site with some of it containing items such as "lead, arsenic and mercury along with many other industrial type chemicals."

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According to the Meadow Properties LLC website, Department of Environmental Protection employees noticed that there were areas where the cap had eroded and "areas of landfill leachate outbreaks" during a visit to the site on Aug. 21, 2008. The company states on its website that it is taking corrective actions "to bring the facility into compliance with the state regulations."

The decision by the council came down after approximately 30-minute long executive session Monday night. Following the vote, there was no discussion among the councilors.

However, the public, mostly members of the Rocky Hill Riverfront Preservation Society group, did have plenty to say about the site and the topic of capping the dump.

"There are no good guys or bad guys related to the dump, just people with goals," said Charlie Wisnioski, Rocky Hill Riverfront Preservation member. "I urge you as the town council and the mayor and maddam manager to protect the people of the town even when group such as DEEP appear to support an application."

In his notes for the council, Wisnioski handed them information regarding the building of a dock at Ferry Landing in 2010. After a public hearing was held, the town staff determined the application "did not accurately reflect the site conditions" and was denied.   

"Everyone asssumed that was a done deal because DEEP issued an approval of a permit," he said. "The point is just because someone says something does not mean it exists."

Several residents asked the council during public comment to hire a license environment practitioner to review the site and to seek alternatives to the plan   being presented by Meadow Properties LLC. And no matter what to look for a "no pollution solution" for dealing with the old dump.

Maureen D Mullen said she wanted the town to explore a scientific solution to the capping of the dump, if there is a problem. Members of society along with town officials and state lawmakers have all previously stated that "there is no evidence of any contamination on the site."

"I just want to ask you to investigate it and review it," Mullen said.
 

Last month, said she visited the Great Meadows Conservation Trust, which surrounds the old dump, with a member of the Audubon Society. The pair discovered four new species of birds with three of them nesting on land adjacent to the site. 

Meadow Properties LLC is considering turning the old dump into "a passive recreation area and/or open space." The company does plan to reopen the dump or accept trash. However, Farnham was cautious about the statement by the company.

"I know there is a lot of money at stake, but no amount of money is worth the health of our citizens, and the threat to our environment and clean waterways," she said.     

For more information about the Riverfront Preservation Society visit their website.

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