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COPY

DATE:  February 11, 2002
TO: Spafford Town Supervisor and Councilmen

FROM: Peter Pirnie, Ph.D.

Some residents here believe that the TOWN BOARD is preparing to forfeit the Community Development Grant rather than to investigate and remediate possible contamination on the FOUR CORNERS properties. If that happens, the Supervisor will claim the loss is due to community interference with his project rather than a lack of planning and/or coherent action on his part.

At last month's meeting, the Board refused to acknowledge that there was a motion (at the December meeting) to employ an "ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER". About 10-15 members of the audience witnessed that discussion and motion. The Development Grant requires an environmental investigation BEFORE the funds are made available. Many of the local environmental engineering firms carry out testing and remediation year around so finding an engineer and cleaning up the properties should not be a problem at any time.

Is the Board involved in a cover-up by expunging (from the December 2001 Minutes) any record of Chief Miller's warning in regard to the severe fire hazard posed by the IGA? (On prior occasions, Fire Chief Miller had included the Mini-Mart and Liquor Store in his warnings). What the Board forgot (or did not know) is that Miller's warning is required under TOWN LAW§ 176 (25) when the Board and Building Inspector fail to correct a known fire or pollution hazard. The Board not only appears to have violated the TOWN LAW, but may also be liable for any damage that results from failing to address the Fire Chiefs warning (or the many resident complaints).

Is there a cover-up in the failure by the Board and Building Inspector to correct the blight and slum conditions at the FOUR CORNERS? According to the Board's Resolution of one year ago (#3-2001 of February 8, 2001) the definitions of Blighted Area and Slum Area were written in order to meet requirements for Community Development monies to correct the Blighted and Slum conditions present in the area. For the Board and Building Inspector to now fail to do any investigation and/or remediation could be considered a false official filing. Supervisor Ireland claimed authorship of the definitions in Resolution #3-2001 and attested to their Town-wide applicability. Now, Supervisor Ireland must insure that this resolution is fully implemented throughout the TOWN OF SPAFFORD.

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