In early August of 2019, Fairfield, CT residents awoke to a Soprano’esque drama where it was revealed that a contractor, hired by the town to manage an aggregate fill reclamation yard, was accused of receiving hazardous materials. Lead, Asbestos, PCB’s and Arsenic were among the toxins brought into our community and dumped at our Public Works Yard illegally. Incredibly, the Director and Superintendent of the Department of Public Works (DPW) were both arrested along with one of the owners of the outside contractor. Contaminated fill from the aggregate fill yard was used in Town projects on fields, parks, and sidewalks. What’s more, since 2013, there were numerous opportunities to identify and mitigate the criminal activity that put the safety and well being of Fairfielders at risk – yet our Town Administration failed us. The following is a chronological timeline of the events related to the Fairfield’s Fill Pile:
Fairfield Dumping Scandal
RFP Issued for Management of Fill Pile
In April of 2013 the Town of Fairfield Issued an RFP for management of the Public Works Yard Fill Pile. A key provision was to reduce the height and volume of the stockpile as it existed in 2013. What many people might not know is that the RFP was originally..Read More
RFP was awarded to Julian Development, LLC
Julian Development wins the bid to manage the Fairfield Public Works Yard Fill Pile despite misrepresenting that its principals were never involved in a lawsuit over its operations, that they never had a contract cancelled by a customer, and that they did not have any relatives of Town employees working..Read More
No Contract is Created. Why?
In violation of the Town Charter this lease wasn’t brought before the requisite town bodies as required. No contract is created between the Town and the contractor despite the potential for environmental and liability issues that could (and have) ensued in an arrangement where a third party is receiving and..Read More
Julian Development Presents Fraudulent Bond
Julian Development presents a fraudulent $50,000 performance bond to the Town of Fairfield. No due diligence is performed to verify the bonds by Town Administration employees or First Selectman Tetreau (himself a member of the Purchasing Authority). In fact, this bond (and subsequent bonds) are not vetted by anyone at..Read More
First Emails Sent about Gould Manor Park
Dana Kery sends the first of what will end up being a 19 email (over 15 plus months) exchange regarding ASBESTOS and glass at Gould Manor Park. Hi Joe, The fill soil used around the Gould Manor Park sidewalks has a lot of broken glass and small pieces of what..Read More
Email RE: Gould Manor sent to Board of Selectmen
Dana Kery sends an email and photo to the Board of Selectmen (Tetreau, McCarthy-Vahey, Kiley) regarding Gould Manor Park. “Below is a picture of the glass and asbestos pieces that I picked up today from a 12″ x 12” area. I added the penny for size comparison. Similar debris can..Read More
First Selectman Tetreau Responds to Gould Manor Email
First Selectman Tetreau’s only response to Dana Kery – during the multi-month email back and forth – was a six-word email acknowledgement: “Thank you for the follow up” Mike Tetreau
DPW Confirms Gould Manor Soil Came from Town
The Director of the DPW responds to Dana Kery (copying First Selectman Tetreau) confirming that the soil used for the project at Gould Manor came from the Town: “We very rarely purchase topsoil from outside sources. We are generally able to produce and stockpile topsoil material from other construction projects,..Read More
DPW Covers Over the Problem
In April 2015, it is clear the the promise the DPW Director made to “remove and replace” the soil at Gould Manor Park wasn’t kept. Dana Kery emails DPW and First Selectman Tetreau: Hi Joe, Last fall, topsoil and seed were placed on top of the debris in the area..Read More
Multiple Complaints Ensue Regarding Soccer Fields
A parent sends a message to First Selectman Tetreau via the Town Service Request Website: “Hello, I am a parent who lives in Southport. My daughter’s soccer game at McKinley this past Sunday was canceled because of the poor condition of the field. Glass pieces were found all over. Very..Read More
How could you?
Parks and Rec staff emails DPW and First Selectman Tetreau’s team about multiple complaints regarding glass, tiles and shingles in fill on multiple soccer fields: “I have been taking angry phone calls from parents, players, coaches and referees for two days about the dangerous conditions of various soccer fields. I..Read More
CT DEEP Serves Notice of Violation
The Aggregate Fill Pile is deemed in violation of multiple statutes by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in a Notice of Violation (NOV) letter to Julian Enterprises – the contractor running the Aggregate Yard. Among the violations cited were: Failed to submit for the General permit..Read More
Complaints begin from Beach Residents
Early in 2016, complaints from neighbors in the Beach community – over the height of the fill pile – start to make their way to Town Hall. Even at this early stage the legality of what is transpiring at the Public Works Aggregate Fill Pile is being questioned with First..Read More
Beach Residents Question RFP, Compliance with MSHA & OSHA
Beach residents email the First Selectman’s Chief of Staff questioning provisions of the RFP and whether the site is compliant with Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules. Additionally, neighbors indicate that they will report the site to CT DEEP and the..Read More
Beach Residents Turn up the Heat
The Beach residents have formed an association that includes doctors and lawyers and they are demanding answers and action. In advance of a public meeting being held to assuage concerns, the Beach association presents a series of questions that – in part – seek clarification on: Process to monitor and..Read More
RFP Officially Expires
The RFP granted to Julian Development officially expires. The Town Administration allows the contractor to continue to operate the Public Works Aggregate Fill Pile site for six more months without a contract or extension.
Citizen Identifies Conflict of Interest
The Town administration is made aware that the Superintendent of Public Work’s son is employed by the contractor running the Aggregate Fill Pile in violation of the contractor’s agreement with the community and the Town’s ethics policy. No action regarding the conflict of interest was taken by the Town administration..Read More
Internal Audit Identifies Deficiencies in Fill Pile Operation
The Town’s Finance department performs an internal audit on Bid #2013-73 awarded to Julian Development for the Construction Material Processing Facility. The audit identifies numerous deficiencies including: The arrangement was expired for more than three months at the time of the audit The Contractor wasn’t making it’s required payments to..Read More
PCBs Discovered/Fill Pile is shuddered
Logical Environmental Solution’s Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) Cindy Knight receives a lab report indicating soil samples taken on November 29, 2016 contained PCBs. She reports this finding to the Town and Public Works Aggregate Construction Yard was closed pending further investigation. The subsequent testing and remediation plan indicates 3,627 tons..Read More
RTM Members Informed Performance Bonds are Fraudulent
In an email to RTM members, a Plainfield citizen informs of our elected officials that the Performance Bonds presented by the Contractor are fraudulent, discloses legal and performance challenges he had when working with Julian Development and identifies what he believes to be numerous problems with the Bid Application and..Read More
Public Works Committee of RTM Votes to Request Police Investigation
The Public Works and Planning Committee of the Representative Town Meeting votes to request that the Fairfield Police Department initiate a criminal investigation to look into possible fraud perpetrated on the Town of Fairfield by Julian Development.
Town of Fairfield Files Lawsuit
The Town of Fairfield filed suit in state Superior Court in Bridgeport against Julian Development, seeking up to $3 million in payments over the fill pile on One Rod Highway. Claiming a breach of contract, the town requested and was granted a prejudgment remedy of $2 million.
$396,000 Fill Pile Remediation Begins
From June through October, a total of 134 Tri-Axel truckloads containing 3,627 tons of contaminated soil are brought to a facility in Pennsylvania. The remedial action report can be viewed here. Total cost of testing and remediation for this phase of the clean-up was $396,260.
Fairfield Police Department Initiates Criminal Investigation
Fairfield Police Department Initiates Criminal Investigation of the Fill Pile.
Town Initiates Building Berm without CT DEEP Permit
To quell complaints from the Beach Association and neighbors of the Public Works Aggregate Fill Pile, the Town proposes building a berm which would require State of CT DEEP approval. The Town begins building the berm prior to receiving CT DEEP approval. The berm construction is completed providing the Town..Read More
Lawsuit Withdrawn in Violation of Town Charter
First Selectman unilaterally withdraws civil suit against Julian Development and agrees to move the case to private arbitration without consent of the full Board of Selectmen in violation of the Town Charter. The initial impact of this change is that the case is no longer being argued in the public..Read More
Draft Response to CT DEEP RE: Unpermitted Landfill Closure
In response to comments from CT DEEP regarding the Unpermitted Landfill Closure of the Aggregate Recycling Yard in Fairfield, CT – the Town’s Licensed Environmental Professional – Osprey Environmental Engineering provides the DPW Director a draft response. In the draft the LEP asks the DPW Director – “Also, what tense..Read More
FEMA Denies $3.8MM in Funding for Penfield Pavilion
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Denies a $3.8MM dollar Grant to the Town of Fairfield – in part – due to fill utilized to elevate Penfield Pavilion. FEMA indicated that the Penfield Project was subject to regulations under Connecticut Coastal Management Program under the auspices of CT DEEP. The..Read More
Fairfield Citizen Reports on Bribes and Toxic Dumping Scandal
On July 29, 2019 the Fairfield Citizen reported that the town’s Superintendent of Public Works was “accused by police of accepting bribes and favors to allow a local construction company to dump truckloads of demolition material containing high levels of PCBs and lead onto property adjacent to the public works garage.”
Dana Kery Contacts Police & State’s Attorney Office
On July 31st, 2019 and August 1st, 2019 Dana Kery contacted the Fairfield Police and State’s Attorney Office regarding concerns over fill from a 2013 side-walk project adjacent to the playing fields and playground/picnic area at Gould Manor Park. This was in reaction to reports of illegal dumping of PCBs..Read More
Arrest Warrants Issued
The Director of Public Works, Superintendent of Public Works and co-owner of a local construction company were arrested and charged with illegally dumping hazardous waste on public property. The associated affidavits were nothing less than stunning. Since then we have seen a Soprano’esque scheme recounted where – it appears – the Town of Fairfield hired..Read More