An Eyesore And Hazard

(The following letter to Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has been received for publication).

Dear Mr Rosenthal:

On numerous occasions well over three weeks ago we discussed what to do about the burnt junked car and the pile of furniture piled up behind Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company.

You assured me it was gong to be cleaned up promptly and much to my dismay, it still remains. I am very upset about this as are the neighbors in the community. In addition, I am disturbed about the conflicting stories pertaining to this unsightly mess. You told me a representative at the fire department said that the gate was broken and that people are illegally dumping in the lot, yet the volunteer I spoke to said the debris is indeed from the fire department because they were renovating and intended to burn it like they have in the past.

The EPA department has been contacted and is now going to investigate this matter not only because of the obvious health hazard caused by burning furniture, but because of the polluted runoff created by burning the car for drills less is than ten feet away from a running stream.

I have collected over 87 names (and growing daily) on a petition from neighbors who are also outraged over what little regard the Town of Newtown and the Dodgingtown Volunteers Fire Company has shown to its neighbors.

I have come to the clear conclusion there is a definite reluctance on your part to rectify this matter and will seek an injunction in Superior Court against any further use of this property by the Dodgingtown Fire Department for any drills or disposal of garbage. Furthermore, I intend to file suit against the Town of Newtown for negligence and creating a willful public hazard, unless this is cleared up immediately. Your actions or inactions will determine this outcome.

Sincerely,

David J. Richardson

Bethel                                                                           January 10, 2005