Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Machado-greenhouse-Fairfield

Full Text:

Veterans Group Pulls Out Of Greenhouse Project At Fairfield Hills

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Citing difficulties in reaching an agreement with the state Department of

Public Works (DPW), a veterans group which had planned to grow organic

vegetables in greenhouses on agricultural land at Fairfield Hills has dropped

its plans for the project.

Manuel Machado, Jr, a Danbury man who heads the non-profit Veterans Claims

Assistance Program (VetCAP), said this week the group has withdrawn from any

proposed agreements with DPW and from an existing contract with the state

Department of Agriculture (DoAG) in connection with the greenhouse project.

VetCAP reached an agreement with DoAG in late 1997 to build a greenhouse

complex on five acres of rich bottomland at Fairfield Hills where organic

vegetables would be grown. Disabled veterans and other disabled people were to

have grown organic vegetables, including tomatoes, which are required by

people who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), a malady in which past

exposure to toxins causes immune system malfunction. Pesticides used in

conventional food production are injurious to MCS patients.

The broad field which was planned for greenhouse construction lies northwest

of Wildlife Road and west of the Pootatuck River, near the Governor's Horse

Guard. It holds some of the best alluvial farmland soils in the state.

VetCAP was one of three groups which gained state approval to farm the land.

VetCAP is a private, non-profit organization that helps military veterans

obtain benefits from the federal government.

After encountering many delays and problems in dealing with DPW concerning the

extension of electric and water utilities to the greenhouse site, plus the use

of a barn, VetCAP's board of directors concluded that DPW is not interested in

reaching an agreement with VetCAP, according to Mr Machado.

"Finally, in April, with the prodding of the Attorney General, we received a

draft lease for the barn and utility permits [from DPW]. We found the terms of

these proposed documents absurd and unreasonable," he said.

VetCAP had its lawyer revise the proposed documents, but DPW delayed its

review of them and suggested a meeting on the matter in Hartford, Mr Machado

explained.

VetCAP then decided to withdraw from the greenhouse project at Fairfield

Hills.

"I don't understand their excuses," Mr Machado said of delays VetCAP has

encountered in dealing with the DPW.

"We are out of money, unable to raise funds until all agreements are in

place... and debt and expense continue without a reasonable expectation of

income," according to Mr Machado.

Mr Machado calculates VetCAP committed itself to more than $76,000 of debt and

expense for equipment and materials for site preparation and operations. "Our

major equipment must be returned to the vendor as we are unable to continue

carrying the debt. This will undoubtedly damage our credit history and make

additional equipment and material purchases essentially impossible," Mr

Machado said.

Mr Machado expressed mixed emotions about whether VetCAP would ever be able to

run an organic vegetable greenhouse operation at Fairfield Hills.

With its Fairfield Hills plans in disarray, VetCAP plans to sell organic

vegetables that it grows on a small plot in Danbury from a stand planned for

Meeker's Hardware on White Street in Danbury, Mr Machado said.

DPW Response

DPW spokesman Pat Nolan said Wednesday DPW presented its proposed agreement to

VetCAP in April concerning the extension of electricity and water lines to the

greenhouse site, plus the use of the barn.

"The ball's in their court," Mr Nolan said.

The proposed agreement is a fair one, but a lengthy one, Mr Nolan said, adding

that such lengthy documents are necessary to protect the interests of the

state.

"We can't move ahead until he [Machado] gets back to us," Mr Nolan said.

"We're ready and willing," he added.

"We're still open if he [Machado] chooses to move ahead. The ball's in his

court. He didn't sign. We're following the regulations here," Mr Nolan said.

Mr Nolan said although VetCAP has informed DPW it wants to pull out of the

Fairfield Hills greenhouse project, DPW is willing to proceed with an

agreement if VetCAP is willing and financially capable of doing so.