2 Appear In Court For Julian Contamination Case

FAIRFIELD, CT — A former Fairfield official and an ex-town contractor, both of whom are charged with illegal dumping at the Fairfield public works yard, appeared in court Wednesday morning, where the main subject of discussion was a meeting later that day for victims affected by the case.

A lawyer representing Julian Companies Owner Jason Julian— whose company was operating the public works yard when contaminants where found on the site — questioned the appropriateness of the meeting, which will be held 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart University.

"My client denies any responsibility for any harms that are complained of," attorney Brian Spears said.

Spears also expressed concern that extrajudicial statements might be made at the meeting. Senior Assistant State's Attorney Tamberlyn Conopask, who was in court and who will attend the Wednesday meeting, replied that those affected have a right to be heard.

"We're well aware of our ethical obligations," she said.

Judge Tracy Lee Dayton said she was not familiar enough with the case to make a decision and no action on the matter would be taken between Wednesday morning and evening.

"Of course victims do have a right to be heard," the judge said, reminding Spears he could attend the meeting as well, should he choose to do so.

Attorney Thomas Cotter, who is also representing Julian, expressed frustration to the judge that a number of items taken when a warrant was executed in July at Julian's offices have not been returned.

"It's affecting my client's ability to defend themselves in the civil matter," Cotter said, referencing ongoing lawsuits between Julian's business and the town.

Some of the items that were taken exceed the scope of the warrant, Cotter said, adding he was told in July that they'd be returned within 72 hours.

"Your concern will be noted for the record," the judge said.

The cases of both Julian and former superintendent of public works Scott Bartlett were transferred Wednesday from the superior court facility on Golden Hill Street in Bridgeport to the Main Street courthouse. Both defendants will be arraigned Oct. 1 at that location before Judge Joan K. Alexander.

Julian and Bartlett said very little during their brief appearances.

Fairfield resident Meghan Teed, who runs the Facebook group Fairfield Fights Toxic Waste, was in court Wednesday to see the proceedings.

"I'd just like to see justice," she said. "... They've endangered us and our town."

Former director of public works Joe Michelangelo, who is also charged in the case, was scheduled to appear Wednesday, but his attorney could not be present, Conopask said. Michelangelo will be back at the Golden Hill Street facility Oct. 17, when his case will likely be transferred to Main Street.

Julian, Bartlett and Michelangelo were arrested in August, and both Michelangelo and Bartlett have since been fired from their town jobs. Julian is charged with forgery, larceny, paying kickbacks, illegal dumping, illegal discharge and handling waste without a permit. Bartlett is charged with forgery, larceny, taking kickbacks, illegal dumping, illegal discharge and handling waste without a permit.

Around the same time as the arrests, asbestos was reported at a local park, and not long after that, the town released a list of 20 priority contamination testing sites that received fill material from the public works yard when it was operated by Julian between 2013 and 2016. Of those sites, 10 have been confirmed to contain contaminants such as asbestos, arsenic, lead and PCBs. The town is working with a specialist and state officials to remediate the locations.

Fairfield hired Julian to operate the yard and reduce the size of a pile of unused project material by 40,000 cubic yards. But over the next three years, the pile more than doubled in size, and days before the agreement was set to end, PCBs and lead were discovered on the property.

After conservation officials said the transportation and dumping of contaminated material could have violated state or federal law, police opened an investigation in 2017.