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Over 60 people packed the Brant Town Hall Thesday (Aug. 8) in anticipation of a discussion of a possible solid waste management facility on Cain Road.
They were disappointed because Supervisor Samuel J. Chiavetta Jr. immediately tried to derail the confrontation by saying the board is only interested in reviewing the facts of the proposal.
"We are going to set up a committee which will consist of a member from the Planning Board, Ellen Bowman from the Town Board, our town attorney, town engineer and a member of the community," Chiavetta said.
"There is nothing going on here. As our law now stands it is illegal to have a landfill in the town," Chiavetta said.
John and Betty O'Donnell had submitted a letter to the board against the proposed landfill, siting examples in other areas in the country where health issues have surfaced because of improperly used dumps.
"Bowling Green, Virginia is an excellent example of this," Betty O'Donnell said. There was a landfill, the company went bankrupt, there are all kinds of health issues coming from that area and the government is left holding the bag," O'Donnell said.
At the July board meeting, Robert A. Gehard III of Derby gave a presentation to the board members on creating a solid waste management facility on about 1,000 acres of land on Cain Road by Hammond Road.
Gehard said at that meeting, the land is already zoned industrial and has a lot of clay on it, which he said "made it good for a landfill."
If allowed Gehard said the facility would probably employ 60 to 80 full-time employees with the possibility of additional construction employment on a regular basis for the life of the site (40 to 50 years).
At the July meeting John Grennell, the town attorney said he would check what the proper procedures would be before the project proceeded any further.
"We want to evaluate the proposal, which is why we're forming a committee. We want to examine the law and possibly re-evaluate it," Chiavetta said.
There were some members of the audience who spoke out against Chiavetta's statement.
"Why do we have to have a committee if it is an illegal thing. Put it to sleep," one resident yelled out.
"We know what your agenda is", "It's a good thing it's not election year" and "Don't come to my yard looking for a vote," were some of the other comments from irate residents.
"This is just hysteria. We are only looking into it and we are not taking any action," Chiavetta said.
In other action the board tabled the request from Nextel Partners Inc. for a telecommunications tower on Hardpan Road.
Attorney Michael Barone who represents Peter Gugino whose property is being considered for the tower, reminded the board they only have 60 days from the public hearing (which was held on July 11) to make a decision.
The next Town of Brant Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept.12 at 8 p.m. at the Town
Hall.