EPA Official Impressed By Work Done With Grants At FFH
EPA Official Impressed By Work Done With Grants At FFH
By Kendra Bobowick
Surprised by the crowd turning to greet her Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency Project Officer Jerry Minor-Gordon stopped short to shake outstretched hands.
Welcoming her for a site visit of Fairfield Hills buildings that have benefited from grant funds, Economic and Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker was among a handful of other town staff that filled a small meeting room this week.
âI wanted to see the site in person,â Ms Minor-Gordon said. Upon learning that a recent asbestos abatement project, made possible through a Council of Government (COG) grant, would be completed as soon as next week, she said, âGreat, thatâs great!â The $122,000 grant enabled the town to remediate the last two of the five duplex buildings. An earlier $200,000 grant stretched far enough in recent months to cover remediation at Stratford Hall and the first three duplexes, Ms Stocker confirmed.
âIn total, weâll have six buildings that are asbestos free,â she said.
The remediation efforts leave âthat much lessâ work and expense for prospective occupants for the buildings, Ms Stocker explained. Squeezed around the table were Public Works Director Fred Hurley, environmental consultant Russell Bartley, Ms Minor-Gordon, Health District Director Donna Culbert, Land Use Director George Benson and Deputy Director Rob Sibley, and Valley COG representative Arthur Bogen.
Mr Bogen added that he was âimpressedâ with the amount of work that community resources had accomplished. âA lot of communities are not sure where the hats would come from or the rabbits to pull out of them.â
Mr Hurley said, âAt best itâs a daunting task for the town to take over the campus. Itâs lonely at times.â Grant funds âkeep the momentum going,â he said.
Explaining the extent of soil remediation and asbestos in the buildings that requires remediation, Mr Bartley noted, âEach building is a big ticket item.â
Ms Stocker said that âNewtownâs team is moving forwardâ with the Fairfield Hills redevelopment efforts. She told Ms Minor-Gordon, âWeâre gratefulâ for any financial assistance.
Ms Minor-Gordon liked what she was hearing about past and future remediation efforts and said, âI am happy with the process.â
She added, âWe love success stories.â
Newtown is a subrecipient of EPA funds via the Valley Council of Governments, which âmade the grant to the town,â Ms Stocker explained. Regarding Tuesday afternoonâs visit with Ms Minor-Gordon, Ms Stocker said, âShe seemed impressed, and she should be. Newtown has made a lot of progress on the campus and weâre proud of that.â
In line for another potential $200,000, Newtown has an application pending for an assessment grant. Feeling âhopeful that weâll get the funding,â Ms Stocker said Wednesday that money would go toward assessing properties with suspected contamination. Receiving the grant âhas a lot of value,â she said. âWe would need to [evaluate] properties regardless of what happens â a need for demolition or renovation.â
In coming months she also is hoping to see developersâ interest âpick up.â The Economic Development Commission is âactively marketingâ the property.â