Consultant In Fairfield Fill Pile Case Denied Probation: Report

FAIRFIELD, CT — Robert Grabarek, the environmental contractor embroiled in the Fairfield fill pile case, was denied accelerated rehabilitation by a judge on Monday, the Shoreline Times reported.

Grabarek runs Osprey Environmental Engineering LLC, a Clinton-based company, which was sued by the town over contaminated fill found in a berm at a town site.

As one of the defendants in the sprawling, criminal fill pile case, Grabarek faces two counts of violating water pollution control requirements and one count of conspiracy to violate the requirements. He has pleaded not guilty.

Accelerated rehabilitation is a form of probation, in which a defendant will have their charges dismissed if they successfully complete the two-year program with no additional violations. Bridgeport Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia reportedly found that the charges against Grabarek were too serious to grant AR.

Two other defendants in the case, Brian Carey, the town's interim public works director, and Emmet Hibson, the town's former human resources director, were granted accelerated rehabilitation in February.

To date, the environmental cleanup at sites throughout Fairfield, as a result of the illegal dumping of toxic materials at the heart of the fill pile case, reportedly has cost the town more than $8.8 million, according to officials.

Other defendants in the case are:

• Former DPW superintendent Scott Bartlett, who was sentenced to prison in one portion of the case, and also pleaded guilty to other charges.
• Former DPW director Joe Michelangelo pleaded guilty to several charges in the case, but has not yet been sentenced.
• Former town CFO Robert Mayer pleaded guilty in October.
• Developer Jason Julian was sentenced to prison.

Read the Shoreline Times story.