COPY

Dr. Lloyd Novick

Onondaga County Health Commissioner

421 Montgomery St.

Syracuse, New York 13202

June 6, 2002

Dear Dr. Novick:

Enclosed is a photo essay that graphically shows a critical health and safety situation in

the Town of Spafford. Also enclosed is a recent petition served on the Spafford Town

Board that remains largely unanswered. The Citizens for Rural Improvement want the

listed properties condemned and the Town of Spafford ordered to demolish the structures

and arrange for remediation of any contamination on those properties.

In addition, there are many other abandoned and derelict properties in the area. These

include properties with junked vehicles and rusting barrels that could contain hazardous

materials. Some of these abandoned properties, vehicles, etc. are along stream banks

whose waters lead to Otisco or Skaneateles Lakes. The lakes serve as water supplies for

Onondaga County or the City of Syracuse respectively.

Eighteen months ago, you phoned me to say that you were granted permission to enforce

all of the laws, rules, and regulations in the Skaneateles and Otisco watershed areas. You

promised to keep me informed of progress - yet I have not heard from you since that day

on January 8, 2001.

Until the Onondaga County Department of Health requires that the various laws, rules,

and regulations are routinely enforced, no filtration waiver should be granted for

Skaneateles Lake.

Yours truly,

Peter Pirnie

Enclosures:

Photo Essay (PDF)

Citizens’ Petition