Greenwich House

Clear For Teardown

By Kendra Bobowick

One recent email dispels doubts about current and intended Fairfield Hills work.

“We are all set to proceed” regarding demolition at Greenwich House, wrote Newtown’s environmental consultant Russell Bartley, based on results of materials sampled on-site. In past months the state’s Department of Public Health, for one, sought to confirm asbestos levels as crews either tear down or revamp former state hospital buildings for new purposes. Much double-checking and resampling has taken place since September, when anonymous calls to the state brought scrutiny to Fairfield Hills.

Answering one point in question, Mr Bartley’s email clarified, “The ceiling plaster at Greenwich is considered nonregulated material.” This week’s email confirmed what Public Works Director Fred Hurley has maintained since questions arose. Are hazardous materials in the ceiling plaster, for example, and are crews handling it properly? “The answer is, yes, we are,” he insisted. The message is clear to Selectman Herb Rosenthal: “The plaster does not have to be abated,” he said Wednesday. Mr Hurley added, “The bottom line? The town did all it should have done, it was not regulated waste,” clarifying one question hanging since the fall 2008.

“It’s what we thought all along,” Mr Rosenthal also said, noting that the “arduous” task of resampling and awaiting test results added time to plans for revamping the former hospital grounds step-by-step. With Greenwich down, plans can proceed for permanent centralized parking to serve the new Newtown Youth Academy and a renovated Bridgeport Hall to house education and municipal offices. The work is part of overall goals to create a thriving business and municipal hub on the former state property. Mr Rosenthal is among outspoken officials frustrated by delays, which he stressed this week. “It’s too bad; we knew it all along.”

Choosing his words carefully, Mr Hurley is critical of the “delay” facing Fairfield Hills work since. “I’ll make my point one more time: The process that was followed — if no one raised issues — would have been adequate, but issues raised more scrutiny.” He explained that as contractors completed their work, all the required filings and documentation would have been filed and available; however, scrutiny created an immediate need.

In the fall, officials in the state health offices and the Department of Environmental Protection received inquiries about ongoing Fairfield Hills projects.

Work at Bridgeport Hall and Greenwich House faced questions that the state ultimately needed to clarify. Late last year Mr Hurley realized something was wrong as he spoke with state officials. “There was [an anonymous] charge that soil around Greenwich was contaminated.” He called a meeting with state officials. “They needed to be brought up to speed.” In essence, doing its due diligence to confirm and agree upon work practices for the campus, the state sought documentation. By December much of the state’s probe found little to criticize and by midmonth, only several questions remained, although Mr Hurley noted that delays “have caused some problems.”

Often expressing his concerns and seeking clarifications about Fairfield Hills work is resident and Independent Party of Newtown Chairman Bruce Walczak, who was pleased to hear the ceiling plaster at Greenwich is considered by Mr Bartley to be “nonregulated material.” The state Department of Public Health contact regarding the Newtown work could not be reached in time for publication this week.