>The Village of Ridgewood did lthe right thing and entered into an agreement with Superfund Site Remediation in the late 90s for its parcel of property near the Tennis Courts that has ash underneath it.
The BOE did NOT enter into an agreement with this agency. Why? Don’t know. The agency would have monitored and advised the school board with regard to using this site safely.
The BOE also did NOT file a final deed notice as is required for the site. Why? Don’t know.
As of just recently the BOE decided to finally enter into such an agreement with superfund site remediation. Too bad it’s too late for our kids.
The agency monitored the field remediation in 1997 after ash was discovered in 1992. But the agency was kept in the dark and NEVER told or consulted with regard to the huge dig of the field to install an irrigation system.
Today, when I spoke to the Oversight Cast Mgr. was the first he’d heard of that major 2000 dig. This dig also undid the previous remediation of the field in 1997.
They were aware of the dig for the new addition but were told by the district’s contractors that all precautions would be taken.
Were they taken? Don’t know. We just have their word to go by. But now, there’s ash contamination very near the surface. So how did it get there?
I can hazard a guess……
>I want to know how it got there too. wonder who they will blame. I don’t expect that they will take any responsibility. Sheila should have the answers. she’d been there since the begininng of time.
>Charlie Reilly would also have the answers and he goes to all the boe meetings and even the math chat. The guy can’t let go so hopefully his memory hasn’t let go. Ask him! Ask Sheila! Ask Mark!
>It’s becoming obvious that standard portocols for excavations in a contaminated area weren’t followed to the letter of the law. Regardless we must all remember that this is just ash we are talking about. Let the BOE get back on track to correct this oversight. I recommend that the Village be the Responsible Party in charge of compliance not the BOE. The town should be held responsible. When we upgraded the sewerage treatment plant, was the BOE responsible for compliance? No, and they shouldn’t have been. The BOE should educate and nothing else.
>”The BOE should educate and nothing else. “
If only they could be good at that too!!!
>9:47,
You assume the poster was a woman.
Wrong.
>Well, I heard her speak and tell us who she called and she used the same words as what is posted here. So, is she the puppet or are you?
I can hazard to guess…
>Sooo, when is the fence coming down so our kids can play on the ash fill field?
>9:47am
It would have been nice if the meeting was broadcasted so those of us at home without sitters knew what was said by the poster.
>So 9:47 now it’s the DEP’s fault that Ridgewood board dug into contaminated soil.
Blame the DEP for not reading files. Given the track record of this board, it’s business as usual.
>The resident’s suggestion at last night’s meeting that a committee be formed that includes parents sounds like a great idea … especially if those parents are in the environmental field.
>THat would be useless, I’m afraid. The board has a great track record of ignoring parents. We’re in this situation because they ignored all those parents who asked them not to dig into the contamination in the first place.
>10:52 am- the board did listen to the parents and closed additional sites on the field at their request. Give gredit where credit is due.
It is a very good idea to have parents with environmental background involved. Those parents seem to be the voice of reason in this issue.
>12:57 PM,
Gee Charlie, give us a break. You would defend the BOE no matter what.
>12:57 that was merely a “save your butt” gesture. Look at the situation about digging in the first place. Look at the situation with regard to TERC at orchard and travell. Look at that survey they gave way back when. Parents all spoke up and they were just IGNORED.
>Charlie, go back on your own blog and play “Sybil”.
>Of course Charlie is defending the BOE because he was on the BOE during the big dig.
>NorthJersey.com is reporting that the Orchard field will remain off-limits to recreational sports groups that use it for soccer as a precaution. So the district is basically saying – its okay for the kids at Orchard but not our other kids. It is the same message that the district is using for TERC2. It is good enough for the kids at Orchard and Travell but let’s not expose the other kids to it. What a double standard!
The moral of the story – don’t let your kids go to Orchard.