Schools

Town Leaders React To Third WHS Violation

Local Officials Are Frustrated With Third Write-Up On Construction Project

Thursday, , the company charged with managing the , after Environmental Planner Maureen Fitzgerald issued a third violation for work on the site.

“This is an embarrassment to the town of Waterford,” Conservation Commission Chairman Gary Johnson said at the Thursday meeting.

Friday, Patch interviewed some other local leaders about the third violation. This is what they said.

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Planning Director Tom Wagner

Although Fitzgerald issued all three violations, it was in conjunction with Wagner. In Friday’s interview, it was clear he is not happy with O & G Industries.

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“There is a credibility issue on the site,” Wagner said. “We have been lied to at times. We are told things are done that are not done, hoping we don’t check.”

There are two independent soil remediation experts on the site, along with O & G Industries, which is paid mor than $2 million to manage the site. With that many people, there should be no need to “babysit the site,” but yet it seems like the town is doing just that, Wagner said.

The fundamental problem is that when an issue arises, people are pointing fingers instead of one person taking responsibility, Wagner said. In other current jobs, such as the , issues arise as they always do, but there is always “one clear person to scream at,” he said.

That needs to change, Wagner said. And ultimately, while and some of the other contractors have caused problems, it is O & G’s responsibility, he said.

Superintendent Jerome Belair

Meanwhile, Belair was more optimistic. When the , there were major issues as site contractor C.J. Fucci was giving the town trouble. Since, the cooperation by Fucci is much improved, Belair said.

Obviously, it is not good the site was hit with another violation, he said. But unlike last time, where it underscored a major problem, this was a mistake and it will be corrected, Belair said.

“The standards are very high, and they need to meet those standards,” Belair said. “They are trying, I have no doubt that they are trying.”

Belair said the key is to be proactive in anticipating these weather events before they happen. But the project is still on time, and the problem will be addressed, he said.

“Nobody wants a violation,” Belair said. “The good news is we are moving along on this project.”

First Selectman Dan Steward

Steward was as disappointed as Wagner. O & G Industries is being paid a lot of money to manage the site, and mistakes should not keep coming to the level of the Conservation Commission, he said.

“We are paying a couple of million dollars and sometimes we are questioning if we are getting the quality of service,” Steward said.


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