Railroad Is On The Wrong Track

To the Editor:

Thanks to you, the people and officials of Newtown and surrounding communities, Ed Rodrigues and Colin Pease of the Housatonic Railroad Corporation have begun the modification process of the permit application for a solid waste transfer facility and volume reduction facility to the state DEP. Your voice is making the difference.

 Since the 1840s the railroad has enjoyed economic prosperity due to the generosity of the Hawleys’ land donation for rail. The federal Stagger Act of 1980 enhanced rail prosperity through deregulation, and the 2000 CT DOT grant of $385,000 to the HRRC established the Hawleyville Transload Terminal to handle food grade commodities while strengthening the ability for small and large businesses in western Connecticut without a rail connection to compete in what was considered a highly completive market.

Ed Rodrigues was reported as telling then-first selectman Herb Rosenthal that no hazardous materials will be handled. It was believed that there would be minimal if any impact on the neighborhood. In April 2000, Newtown Planning & Zoning modified zoning in sections of Hawleyville consistent with the Hawleyville Center Design District East, which would permit businesses to include retail, personal services, banks, offices, restaurants, museums, galleries, meeting halls, places of worship, parking, and transportation terminals. It would seem that we were all headed down the same track, so why did the railroad decide to make a contractual agreement with Stamford wrecking/Standard Demolition/Newtown Transload LLC/ Strategic Disposal LLC?

In Section 6.03 of the permit application Assignment Change and Control, it demonstrates that the agreement is for the primary benefit of either Stephen or Irving Goldblum or both of them or their family. Somehow we are off track. It is nicer in Newtown and it seems that we are being taken advantage of. This triangular relationship (Town of Newtown, HRRC, and Standard Demolition) has created mistrust between the HRRC and the town that has been long enjoyed.

We are interested in the railroad being viable, but not at the expense to our community and to the only benefit of one lower Fairfield County business. Their ability to low bid on contracts for the Fairfield Hills demolition seems to be an unfair advantage as they seek the refuge under the umbrella of the federal exemptions that railroads have been given the privilege and the responsibility to safeguard and not use at the expense of the quality of life of individuals and neighborhoods and small towns. So what can you do? Ask the town to exclude any company that is willing to destroy our natural resources and quality of life from contract process, be present at the Inland Wetlands Public Meeting, Wednesday, October 14, 7:30 pm, 31 Peck’s Lane, where Goldblum and Rodrigues will be defending their notice of violation to the commission, sign the petition at www.dontwastehawleyville.com and call Attorney General Blumenthal at 860-808-5318.

Ann Marie Mitchell

PO Box 171, Hawleyville                                          October 7, 2009