Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Appleblossom-Lane-pollution

Full Text:

Town Officials Seek Consultant For Neighborhood Pollution Clean-Up

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Newtown officials, as part of a consent order with the State Department of

Environmental Protection, are seeking to engage the services of a consultant

to design a solution for a groundwater pollution problem affecting more than

30 homes in the Appleblossom Lane area.

The state recently awarded Newtown a $500,000 grant to be used to supply

potable water to the homes and to hire a professional environmental consulting

and design engineering firm to "study, analyze, identify and design a

solution" for the groundwater pollution problem which could affect as many as

40 homes.

On Thursday, September 28, town officials held an informational session to

explain the project to firms that may be interested in submitting proposals.

The deadline for submission of the proposals is Thursday, October 6.

Once town officials select a consulting firm and it is approved by the

commission of the State Department of Public Health and Addiction Services,

the firm will produce a detailed proposal.

The firm will be required to investigate and report in detail on the exact

area and population affected by the pollution and identify which properties

presently or potentially may not meet the requirements for potable drinking

water.

The firm also must describe water supply alternatives, associated costs and

design criteria for each alternative. A detailed engineering report also is

required which would provide a recommended alternative water supply source and

a construction schedule for this rememdy.

In the consent order issued on August 23 by the DEP, the state said that the

extent of pollution in the wells of the residences can "reasonably be expected

to create an unacceptable risk of injury to the health or safety" of persons

who drink the water or use it for bathing or cooking.

Because the state has been unable to determine the source of the pollution,

the DEP ordered the town of Newtown to act. Most of the pollution has been

caused by petrachlorethlene, a solvent used to clean industrial machines.

The problem came to light about four years ago when the septic tank on the

Dual-Lite property on Simm Lane was discovered to be contaminated. Tests of

the leaching fields and of other properties in the area also found pollution.

Many wells closest to Simm Lane showed no contamination, however, so a

hydrogeologic study is required to determine whether the Dual-Light property

or some other property was the source of the problem.

The Dual-Lite divison of General Signal Corporation took over the property in

1987. It leases the property from Insilco Corporation, formerly known as the

International Silver Company, which operated the site for many years. Last

February the state reached an agreement with Insilco for a $2 million cleanup

of the Simm Lane property as part of a multi-million dollar bankruptcy

reorganization. Insilco filed in US District Court in San Antonio, Texas, for

Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Homes with water supplies that showed low levels of contamination are being

supplied with potable water for drinking and cooking but may use their well

for such activities as taking showers and washing clothes. Whole house filters

have been installed in homes where water contamination has been found to be

high. First Selectman Bob Cascella has said one solution may be to hook those

homes to the city water supply.

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 06-Oct-1995

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