Letter to the Editor: Brookfield Capital Budget Referendum

I am writing to the voters in Brookfield concerning the serious flooding situation that some Brookfield residents have been suffering with for over 50 years and to ask for their vote on the Brookfield Flooding Mitigation & Storm Drainage Project.

It will be an item on the Town’s Capital Budget Referendum on Tuesday May 19.

When there are large storms, Lime Kiln Brook overflows its banks and flows into homes in the Meadowbrook Manor neighborhood.

There is only one access road in and out of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is served by private wells and septic systems. These houses are not eligible for flood insurances.

This problem involves more than just wet unfinished basements; it is actually a Health and Safety issue. Water that has flowed through septic systems actually enters the living spaces, kitchen, dining areas of some houses. This contaminated water seeps back into wells that are used for drinking water. It seeps into floors, wall studs, sheetrock, insulation, furnishings etc. leaving behind bacteria and mildew.

The Brookfield Director of Health has determined that this situation does, indeed, pose a health and safety issue.

When the flooding is severe, access in and out of the entire neighborhood has been blocked. Schoolchildren have had to wade through water that has run through septic systems to get to the school bus. Fortunately there has not been an emergency requiring Emergency Medical or Fire Services during these periods.

The residents have had to bear the financial burdens of damage to their home structure, loss of cars, personal property, breakdown of septic systems etc Income has also been lost when neighbors had to miss work either because of impassable roads or to clean up the damage. Property values have been negatively impacted.

Engineering studies have found that the Town’s Storm Drainage System in this neighborhood is grossly inadequate. The pipes are substantially undersized. They need to be replaced with larger pipes and some of the water needs to be diverted to a different location. The estimated cost of the Town’s Flooding Mitigation & Storm Drainage Infrastructure Project is approximately of $2.0 million.

The Plan is now “shovel ready”. All engineering and environmental studies have been completed and all governmental permits have been obtained, however, funding is required to move forward.

I urge you to vote to provide adequate Public Infrastructure to keep these homes and families safe and healthy, as is provided to the all other Brookfield taxpayers.

The Meadowbrook Manor residents are not asking for something “extra” (such as municipal water or municipal sewers for which some residents do choose, and therefore pay an assessment). They just want the basic municipal infrastructure for which they have been paying their taxes all these years, yet have not received. They deserve to get the same basic infrastructure which is provided to all other town residents.

Support your neighbors and make it a priority to vote YES on Tuesday May 19th.

Jean Hartnett

58 Tower Rd Brookfield, CT 06804 (owner of 3 Hillside Circle in Meadowbrook Manor)

gniiks@gmail.com

203 775-1567 (Home)

203 740-6352 (Work)

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