Fred Bondi opens up on the public hearing with the comment that this public hearing is on the issue of whether we move some of the trash transferring to meadow street and saving the City of Norwalk $1 million dollars or not. Talk about leading the witness …
The public starts speaking.
The first speaker claims that the 500/tons of approved transfer station at Meadow ST. He claims that the tonnage is under review, and that the environmental justice will file a lawsuit to eliminate even the 250/tons that is currently going through the transfer station.
John Murphy of LaJoie’s speaks to the sloving the traffic issues on Meadow ST. He says that he has a meeting with the Mayor and Chief Rilling next week. They are willing to hire police officers to manage traffic going in and out of their facility. Volunteers to attend whatever committee and groups to speak about what they do and that they employ people in Norwalk and that they want to be part of the solution.
Patty Genuario, of Harborview, reads from statement, is seriously concerned about quality of life issues including health hazards and traffic.
Ann Farrow of Harborview, reads from statement, claims that 50-100 peopel showed up to voice their concerns. Says that council is unresponsive to neighborhoods concerns. Claims that there are no penalties for things like odor violations. Claims that Bondi squashed Hilliard on odor issue. Wants saved money to go to contribute to improving Meadow street.
Jerry Crowley, of Harborview, speaking for Bitsy Farnsworth, reads from statement. Asks if council members have visited the site. References aerial photos. Runs out of time.
Diane Cece of East Norwalk, reads from statement, claims that Bondi said neigbour would oppose the laocation of a transfer station at Taylor farm and that Hal Alvord didn’t work on this issue last year. She goes over the 3 minute limit and the audience supports her continuing her statement.
Diane Lauricella of a mailbox address, and and the secret society of neighborhood open government, and wants to enforce health, noise, odors , traffic and runoff. Wants the environmental justice issues addressed, says it doesn’t meet the master plan, reads from DEP minutes sometime in April that a 1200 ton regional transfer station was made. Submits her written statement and the permit process. Thinks that the 3 minute is ridiculous.
Bondi threatens to stop meeting becuase lauricella keeps talking. I applaud, outloud. The audience doesn’t like. Oh well.
???? Rutenberg, transfer station on Meadow St already exists, doesn’t understand what the opposition is. The tax savings are substational urges approval.
Bill Villaso, of East Norwalk, formerly lvied next to a junk yard and urges the council to approve it and get on with more important bsuiness.
John Frank, of East Meadow Lane, and chair of shellfish commission, reads from statement. Concerned about village creek. Doesn’t think village creek can handle a big increase to village creek and the shellfish beds, and questions the real costs savings to the city. Bondi questions if he is peaking for the shellfish commission and he confirms yes.
John ???, representing South Norwalk, and is concerned about the health issues of young children. Concerned about accidents at Crescent street. There are no accidents at Crescent street. Says that Bondis phone rings with “the saints come marching in”
Deb Kreter, of village creek, reads from statement, is concerned about unresolved traffic issues. Concerned about leachate. Concerned about the bonding issue, and environmental impact study that the public was denied access to the report.
Bobby Burgess, of South Norwalk, reads from statement, concerned about April issue at Meadow Garden and is concerned about the closing of Crescent street closure, claims that Alvord doesn’t provide concrete answers. Says he will nto allow any more garbage dumping in SOuth Nrowlak. oops I guess he doesn’t know where the existing transfer station is located.
Al Ames, of South Norwalk, representing South Norwalk, claims that South Norwalk has been lacking services by the city. Says that Harborview, Village Creek, Wilson Point, Shorefront Park would be affected.
John Rule, of South Norwalk, says that the existing transfer station should not be used in as a reason for why the Meadow street transfer station should be used by the city. Claims all of South Norwalk is contaminates that the children have asthma. Saving a million dollars is not worth it.
Reverend Jeffery Ingram, of South Norwalk, concerned about health imapct if transfer station is going on Meadow st. Says that youth and children are adversely affected by these types of projects and cites a study to support it. Asks that savings be balanced against health of children.
Walter Briggs of Rowayton, reads statement from District E Democrats, (which I believe have no members from Harborview and Village Creek, let alone anyone from Meadow street) naturally they oppose it. Claims that residential garbage is going to Meadow street instead of C&D which is what was in the plan.
Timothy Butler, attorney for Enviroexpress, which is the company that tried to circumvent the bidding process.
Shirely Green, of Elmwood ave. but speaking of Meadow Gardens. Says that people think that it is low income housing and that people work on this street and that this is a health issue for kids and the people that live there. Says that West Norwalk or Silvermine wouldn’t like this.
Ann ????, of village creek, says that since village creek was founded they have done everything possible to preserve the environmental impact. Claims that the city of Norwalk is trying to push more bad things on that street but wants a state of the art recycling center. Claims that these plans that the city has aren’t well thought out. Makes claim that this is like saying you are being raped and you should relax and enjoy it.
Nelly Mann, of Lawrence St., asks if the transfer station is moved next to Bondi and that the children need to be saved, from asthma, and that there is smoke that is so thick in the morning. Is appalled at the decision.
a, Meadow Gardens Housing president, speaking as advocate for the children. Has lived there 4-5 years, traffic is unbearable and that the stench is unbearable. Asks that council spend more time considering the health concerns.
John Elling, Secretary/Treasurer of Harbor Shores, says that there are problems on Meadow St. Says that the proposal will make it a little bit harder to make things better. Would like to see the savings used to see what improvement are going to make Meadow st better, including the drainage and increased trucks.
Diane Lauricella asks for a point of order to continue speaking. Bondi says no.
The hearing is over.
