2 Fairfield Employees, Jason Julian Charged With Forgery, Dumping

FAIRFIELD, CT — A years-long police investigation of contamination found at the Fairfield public works yard has resulted in the arrest of two town officials and the owner of a company contracted by the town to operate the yard, police announced Tuesday.

Director of Public Works Joe Michelangelo, Superintendent of Public Works Scott Bartlett and Julian Companies Owner Jason Julian are accused of crimes including larceny, forgery and dumping.

Michelangelo is charged with forgery, illegal dumping, illegal discharge and handling waste without a permit. Bartlett is charged with forgery, larceny, taking kickbacks, illegal dumping, illegal discharge and violating waste facility requirements.

Both Michelangelo and Bartlett were arrested Monday, police said. Bartlett was placed on leave last week and Michelangelo has been placed on leave as well, according to a statement Tuesday from First Selectman Mike Tetreau.

"These are just mere allegations at this point and Mr. Bartlett's presumed innocent," said attorney Fred Paoletti, who is representing Bartlett.

Julian was arrested Tuesday and charged with forgery, larceny, paying kickbacks, illegal dumping, handling solid waste without a permit and new discharge without a permit, according to police.

"He's been falsely accused and looks forward to his day in court," said Julian's attorney, Tom Cotter.

Fairfield hired Julian Development in 2013 to run the yard on Richard White Way and reduce the size of the pile of leftover project material on the property from 40,000 cubic yards. Over the course of the three-year contract, the pile more than doubled in size, and days before the contract was set to end, contamination was discovered on the property, officials have said.

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

A search warrant application for Julian's offices said officials believed they would find evidence of a conspiracy to commit environmental crimes and larceny between Bartlett and Julian personnel, the Connecticut Post reported in July. The application referenced statements from town employees suggesting Bartlett received benefits from the company for himself or his son, who works for Julian.

Michelangelo took pavers bound for the public works yard and used them to install a sidewalk and driveway at his own home, according to a legal transcript obtained by Patch under the Freedom of Information Act.

While Bartlett and Michelangelo are on leave, Director of Conservation Brian Carey and Engineering Manager Bill Hurley will oversee the Public Works Department, according to Tetreau's statement.

Bartlett, Michelangelo and Julian were all released by law enforcement on a promise to appear in court Wednesday morning, police stated.

In addition to the criminal case, Fairfield has sued Julian for about $3 million in costs associated with the yard and Julian has sued the town for defamation. Arbitration for the civil proceedings is ongoing.