What A Mess

In case you haven't been following the news lately, my hometown of Fairfield has a major scandal on its hands.

Recently, it was revealed that public works officials illegally dumped toxic waste on town-owned land.  They then used soil associated with this waste as fill material in town projects, such as the improvement of Gould Manor Park.  This being a significant news story, I thought I'd sum up what we know so far.

Here are some of the facts involved in this case.

• In 2013, a company known as "Julian Development" was awarded a three-year contract to manage Fairfield's waste pile.  

• Town officials used contaminated materials from the waste pile as topsoil for various town properties.  These properties include Gould Manor Park, as well as fields at several public schools.  

• The Superintendent of Public Works has been fired, and another senior official has been placed on leave.  In addition, the State's Attorney is pursuing criminal charges against Julian Development, as well as certain town officials. (1)  

• Through the environmental firm of "Tighe & Bond", various sites are being tested for soil contamination.  

• Four out of the nine sites already tested are contaminated, and will require remediation.  These sites include Gould Manor Park, Jennings School, Mill Hill School, and Riverfield School.  

• Remaining school athletic fields have been closed for testing.  The Board of Education will decide when these fields are re-opened.  

• Contamination notwithstanding, the First Selectman's Office has remarked that athletic fields "have low levels of contamination", and are "safe". (2)  

• Evidence shows that the town may have known about this issue as early as 2014, yet done nothing about it. (3)

• A check of related documents reveals that the town has a lease with Julian Developments regarding a building belonging to the Board of Education.  This monthly lease continues to be in place, even after the filing of criminal charges against Julian. (4)

• This is not the first scandal involving current First Selectman Michael Tetreau.  Last year, a matter arose involving the composition of the Board of Selectmen (with the resignation of a selectwoman from the GOP, the town tried to force a special election.  This was ruled improper by state courts). (5)

Now, some personal questions that I have on this matter.  

First, if athletic fields are "safe", as the First Selectman's office claims, then why is it necessary for these fields to be "remediated"? You don't fix a problem that doesn't exist....SHADY!!

Second, the First Selectman is responsible for the oversight of all town-related departments.  How could he have not known about this situation months/years ago? Basically, what did the First Selectman know, and when did he know it?

Finally, why is it that the town is maintaining a lease with Julian Developments, even after formal criminal charges have been filed against that company? Wouldn't it be better for the town to sever all ties with Julian?

It goes without saying that this "toxic" scandal is big news, and developing by the day.  I'll keep you posted on any and all significant happenings in this case.  

Matt's Quote Book

Just a collection of quotes that I've recently been thinking about.  

• "May ye be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead" -- Old Irish blessing

• "It's not easy being green" - Kermit the Frog

• "If you're going through hell, keep going" - Sir Winston Churchill

• "We should do three things every day of our (lives)...laugh...think...and...have (our) emotions moved to tears. That's a heck of a day!" -- Jim Valvano (1946-1993)

• "And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!', he chortled in his joy" - Lewis Carroll ("Jabberwocky")

• "It will soon pass, whatever it is" - Bobby McFerrin ("Don't Worry, Be Happy")

• "Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't come to yours" - Yogi Berra

• "It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant.  It's just that they know so many things that aren't so" - President Ronald Reagan

• "This above all; to thine own self be true.  And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man" - William Shakespeare ("Hamlet", Act 1, Scene III)

• "No one ever got anywhere by half-assing it" - My father

• "Be quick, but don't hurry" - John Wooden (1910-2010)

• "One good thing about music; when it hits you, you feel no pain" - Robert Nesta (Bob) Marley (1945-1981)

• "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds" - Bob Marley

• "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose unto heaven" - Ecclesiastes 3:1 (quoted by "The Byrds' in 'Turn! Turn! Turn!")

• "If you want respect, give respect" - Me

• "Remember that somewhere, someone somehow has it worse off than you do" - Me

• "Don't ever be afraid to see what you see, believe what you believe, and say what needs to be said" - Me, with thanks to President Ronald Reagan

• "You can't always get what you want; but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need" - Mick Jagger & The Rolling Stones

• "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat; his lungs breathe their final breath. (And) if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others...then his spirit will be immortalized...by the memory of those who honor him, and make the running the man did live forever" - James Hellwig, AKA "The Ultimate Warrior/Warrior" (1959-2014) (1)

1 Author's note: Mr. Hellwig passed away on April 8, not quite twenty-four hours after making this speech.