'Prisoner Of My Home': Dedham Contractors Issued Stop-Work Order

DEDHAM, MA — The landscaping companies using the Striar Property for storage, material crushing, and sifting have 90 days to stop operations and remove their equipment from the property, following the Parks and Recreation Commission's vote on Monday. The work at the town-owned woodlands behind Capen Lane, which are managed by the commission, has led to residents complaining of noise, poor air quality from dust, and too many trees being knocked down. One resident said it all made her a "prisoner" in her own home.

Beginning in 2016, the commission approved allowing private companies to contract the land for storage and some construction work. The contracts brought in an estimated $300,000 a year in revenue to the commissions revolving fund, which has since been moved to Dedham's general fund following town meeting. When initially approved, the construction site was contained to one acre, but the site has grown to about 3.8 acres as construction intensified.

After meetings with the Department of Public Works and town counsel, and complaints from the abutters, the commission decided to take the suggestion from town counsel to enact the work stoppage. The town's lawyers told the commission it's more appropriate for the town manager to hold the licenses, rather than the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Parks Chairman John Briggs said the commission still plans to move forward with the Conservation Commission to make sure the the Striar property has the appropriate permits for this type of construction work.

"There's huge value to the town for the use of that site," Briggs said.

But Briggs and the rest of the commission thought it would be best to take town counsel's suggestion and make sure the contracts are being done properly.

"If it's not the proper thing for us to be holding these licenses, then we'll let the proper authority hold the licenses," Briggs said.

Several residents neighboring the Striar Property asked questions following the vote. Sprague Street resident Karen Palumbo asked if there would be any specific instructions on what the contractors can or cannot do during those 90 days.

Briggs said the rules for construction work haven't changed. The contractors still cannot start work before 7 a.m., but he did say there will probably be more traffic going to and from the property, as crews work to have everything removed within 90 days.

The commission also said no more grinding on the property is anticipated, but Palumbo said the work being done at Striar is still creating dust in the neighborhood. Palumbo, who has asthma, was one of several residents at last month's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting who complained of poor air quality.

She said its gotten so bad, she can't sit outside on her front porch anymore. At last month's meeting four of five commission members admitted they wouldn't want to abut Striar when Palumbo asked.

"I've been pretty much a prisoner of my home ... ," Palumbo said last month. "I can't open my windows. I can't even work in my gardens." Karen Palumbo said regarding the dust and air quality.

Suzanne Scanlon, a Crane Street resident said there's now only one row of trees separating her yard from the work site.

"The trucks are in there all day, and they don't even have to be grinding, but it echoes off the warehouse and up into my yard," Scanlon said.

Scanlon asked if more trees will be planted to replace the ones knocked down. Briggs said he couldn't answer that question at this time, as it's one of the things that will be discussed at a meeting with the conservation commission at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Striar property is also on the Board of Selectmen's agenda. The board is expected to discuss what happens after the 90 days contractors have to stop work.