Officials: Toxic waste found in soil at some Fairfield school fields

Officials in the Town of Fairfield learned Tuesday that toxic waste may have been used as fill in the soil at some school fields.

News 12 Staff

Aug 21, 2019, 9:48 PM

Updated 1,702 days ago

Share:

Officials in the Town of Fairfield learned Tuesday that toxic waste may have been used as fill in the soil at some school fields.
First Selectman Mike Tetreau says environmental tests along the sidewalks of Gould Manor Park show levels of arsenic, lead and asbestos. The town says the fill was taken from a site at a Fairfield Public Works facility.
The town hired Julian Enterprises to bring in clean fill. But over several years, toxic waste was being dumped there.
"That should not have been done to our town,” says Tetreau. “I'm royally upset about that and I can't believe that anybody would do that to our town and we're going to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."
Two town employees were arrested – Scott Bartlett, the town's superintendent of public works, and Joe Michelangelo, the public works director.
Tetreau says Bartlett has been fired and Michelangelo is on administrative leave. The town says the sidewalk at Gould Manor will remain open.
The town has been working with the state Department of Health and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and hired an environmental company. The Fairfield Health Department says testing will continue for the next month.
Superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools Mike Cummings says there are many questions that still need to be answered.
“Our primary objective every day is student safety,” he says.
News 12 reached out to Stratford attorney Thomas Cotter, who is representing Julian Enterprises. He has yet to issue a statement.
Two public meetings are set for the issue. The first was Wednesday night at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. The next is Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Fairfield Woods Middle School.


More from News 12
1:40
Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

Preliminary report uncovers over 100 potential unmarked burials at historic Rye cemetery

2:10
Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

Scattered showers for Friday throughout the Hudson Valley before dry, breezy Saturday

0:12
Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

Police: Woman hurt in Yonkers stabbing

0:43
City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

City of Yonkers to run Nepperhan Community Center following financial mismanagement report

0:56
Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

Retail prevention plan to include harsher penalties, additional patrols

1:47
'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

'Evening in Good Taste' helps feed hungry in Westchester County

0:45
Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

Authorities: Mahopac man captured sexually explicit images of children with hidden camera

0:30
Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

Hearing for New City stabbing suspect rescheduled for next week

0:53
Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

Carmel School District closes in on budget agreement following months of debates

0:44
Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

Greenburgh's ex-Parks and Recreation commissioner honored with renaming of multipurpose center

0:37
Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

Virginia man was sentenced to 20 years to life in fatal 2021 shooting of New Rochelle cab driver

0:34
Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

Westchester DA: Yonkers man sentenced 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for fatal June 2023 hit-and-run

0:28
White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

White Plains police: Teenager arrested in connection to stabbing of 17-year-old outside gas station

1:54
Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

Middletown couple fight through lawsuits, zoning problems to open New Paltz cannabis dispensary

0:41
State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

State budget proposal would consolidate Medicaid program used in hiring home health aide

1:35
Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

Double Up Food Bucks program comes to Yonkers market

1:45
Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

Surveillance video captures 58 water trucks in South Blooming Grove neighborhood in one month amid water crisis

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

1:44
Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

Discover a Gothic Revival masterpiece of art and architecture at Lyndhurst Mansion

0:51
Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips

Save money while helping the planet with these 12 energy-efficient tips