Has SaveStratford.org Actually SAVED Stratford?

On Monday May 14th at Town Hall, the Town Council plans to take up a resolution that could be the start of the final chapter in the seemingly never ending saga involving the EPA, Town officials and SaveStratford.org to remediate the Raymark toxic waste disaster.

Our district Councilman, the Honorable Matthew P. Catalano, together with SaveStratford.org Director Tom Smith have sponsored a resolution that puts forth a REAL solution of what to do with the toxic waste that Raymark spread over our entire town. The resolution asks the Town Council to officially state and agree that it will:

• Work with "Federal, State and Local agencies (namely the EPA) ... to provide the Town of Stratford with a fully funded, comprehensive clean-up plan that uses technology, specifically thermo-chemical processing, to remediate all affected properties and permanently eliminate toxic waste from Stratford.
• NOT endorse any plan put forth by the EPA or other parties that attempts to consolidate the Raymark toxic waste in or near residential zones.

Thanks to Matt and Tom Smith, the thermo-chemical processing solution is now on the table after over 6 months of resistance, due diligence and wranglings with the EPA and Town officials. 

If you care about the safety of your families and neighbors you will come to Town Hall Monday May14th at 6:30 pm and lend your voice to support this resolution. Its time for Town officials and the EPA to DO THE RIGHT THING and approve this resolution to finally clean up the mess we have lived with for decades.

If you wish to speak during the Public Forum time, contact the Council Clerk no later than 6:30pm on Monday the 14th at (203) 385-4035 or via email at councilclerk@townofstratford.com. Each person will be allowed 5 minutes starting at 6:45 pm. 

Here are some important facts to remember:

• In 2008, the Connecticut State Legislature passed House Bill 5606 that prohibits the storage and disposal of toxic waste near residential properties. The former Governor Jodi Rell came to Stratford to sign the bill into law.
• The proposed thermo-chemical processing technology and company ARI Technologies was approved by the EPA in the late 90's to do exactly what needs to be done to the Raymark toxic waste here in Stratford. 
• This technology and the company have remediated sites managed by the EPA since that time, HOWEVER, the regional and local EPA agencies had no knowledge of this option or the prior EPA approvals until brought to the EPA's attention late 2011 by Matt and Tom Smith.
• The EPA has conducted 3 months of due diligence with ARI Technologies to verify that this remediation option and ARI can do what they say and have already proven at other EPA managed sites with the same toxic waste materials.
• Our congressional delegates - Rosa DeLaura, Joe Lieberman and Dick Blumenthal have been briefed on this approach and are ready to support what the Town wants to do.
• This remediation option would also be able to eliminate the toxic wastes found at the Army Engine Plant (SAEP). 
• The EPA remediation fund for Stratford has the money (over $20mm) to get started now.
• To understand the full extent of the Raymark superfund site, read the EPA Bulletin #44.

It is unconscionable that the EPA and some local officials have dragged their feet in pursuing options that would solve the toxic waste disaster that exists in virtually every neighborhood in our town. This option is the ONLY one that has been put forth in the 34+ years of this environmental nightmare that will solve the problem. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent over that time with little or no results. 

We now have a viable solution and the money to get started. It's time for Town officials to DO THE RIGHT THING and pass this resolution and get the REAL remediation project started ASAP.

Join me and other neighbors to  Town Hall May 14th at 6:30pm to tell Town Council to take action now.

- Henry Bruce, OSNA President

Devil in the Details

About 50 neighbors showed up for last evening's Zoning Commission meeting to hear details of the proposed redevelopment of the former Keating Ford property.

There weren't many to be had, but what attendees heard was unsettling, to say the least.

Speaking on behalf of property owner the Armando Genga Limited Partnership, developer Nicholas Owen asked the commissioners for blanket approval for one of two proposals -- to be chosen by the developer at a later date:

1. A 34,000-square-foot shopping center with a restaurant, possibly a drive-through;

2. An apartment complex including 129 units of "affordable housing" (we know what that means).

Needless to say, this did not go over well. Moreover, when pressed for details about what kinds of tenants might occupy the strip mall, Owen offered nothing -- "We're not talking to anyone right now," he said.

Most infuriatingly, Owen said, "The demographics of Stratford are just not conducive to high-end" projects such as hotels or nice restaurants.

Really?

Pressed by commissioners about his proposal's lack of specifics, Owen said, "Mr. Genga's approach is to get [town] approvals now and wait until the economy turns around to see which way to go."

Following Owen's presentation, citizens were invited to comment for or against the proposal.

There were no comments in favor. About 11 citizens spoke in opposition, including OSNA's president and vice president, Town Councilman Matt Catalano (R-3), Ed Goodrich, several people named George Mulligan, and others. In addition the Zoning Commission accepted two written pieces of testimony from neighbors, both in vehement opposition.

The tenor of the objections? Homeowners in and near the Historic District do not want any more junk development -- nail salons, fast-foot eateries, dollar stores. How about extending the "village" concept that has begun to achieve traction in Stratford Center to Hard's Corner, with higher-end, more family-friendly uses like ice-cream parlors, flower or gift shops, boutiques, cafés, bookstores -- God knows Stratford could use another bookstore since the Whistle Stop closed.

The Zoning Commission took no action on the Genga proposal, so there is still time for neighbor input. Here are your zoning commissioners -- talk to them and let them know how you feel. They listen!

I.	Robert Connolly (R)	1165 Stratford Road
II.	Robert Galello (D)	2220 Main Street
III.	James Sheridan (D)	118 Freeman Avenue
IV.	Christopher Silhavey, Chairman (R)	111 Hickory Woods Ln
V.	Michael F. Henrick (R)	165 Brookbend Dr.
Alternate Members – Appointed by Town Council, 3-year term
	Ronald J. Hojdich (D)	260 Post Oak Rd.
	Adam Bonoff (R)	115 Blueberry Ln.
	Ronald Moreau (R)	279 California St.

Shakespeare Theater Update

"It's going to happen." That's what Councilman Matt Catalano (R-3) confidently predicted about the Shakespeare Theater at an informal neighborhood meeting Friday at the Housatonic Boat Club (see previous and subsequent posts). Working with theater consultant Jim Volz of the University of California/Fullerton (author of How To Run a Theater: A Witty, Practical & Fun Guide to Arts Management), the town put together a Request for Qualifications that attracted 12 submissions. Six were invited for interviews, and the first two interviews -- Frank Tobin Associates and North Carolina-based Michael Hardy Management -- took place July 15. The remaining applicants will be interviewed July 21 and July 26. They are:

• Victor Gotesman of New York;

• Willem Brans Theater Arts Consultants, also of NYC;

• New Jersey-based Maggie Harrer;

• AMS of Fairfield.

Catalano also estimated it would cost "easily" $15 million to finally reopen the doors to the long-shuttered playhouse. Scary!

But...Catalano also said he had induced Middlebury-based Timex Corp. to commit $41,000 to restore the sundial on the east facade of the theater building. If spending 41 grand on a project that's been dormant for 21 years and doesn't yet have a developer sounds a bit fanciful...well, whatevs.