10-9-24 City Council Meeting Our 25th Presentation: 3 Minute Version
To: Flooding Victims Living in the Allen St. Basin, the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin, Taxpayers-Property Owners, City and State Officials
We purchased 24 Roxbury Road in 1973 with a healthy, dry basement and a flood free property. Our property and our neighborhood is not the same today. Over the years, as responsible home owners we have made every effort to mitigate our flooding damage and losses.
The compromised, outdated and undersized storm-sewer systems in the Allen St. Basin and in the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin were first identified 30 years ago by Director of Public Works Joe Carilli. These systems have been ignored, neglected and mismanaged by elected and appointed city officials for decades.
Over 50 properties are flooding in the surrounding neighborhoods including the retention pond…10 floods since July 4, 2023. The unhealthy, contaminated water contains bacteria, fecal matter, fats, motor oil, grease, etc. The cause is undeniable, the effects will be catastrophic if the flooding is allowed to continue. Weston-Sampson Engineers reported: “The state of the infrastructure is at crisis levels.”
Regardless of the age of our structures, needless wear and tear in and around our structures is accelerated by this out of control flooding water from our compromised storm-sewer systems. The flooding is not an act of god…Our city officials are responsible for this neglect, mismanagement and damage to our properties and structures.
Director Moriarty has noted, we met with our consultant last week and the date we are planning on holding the Public Outreach meeting is Thursday November 14th. It will be a comprehensive overview of the project. Hopefully, we will receive our requested updates.
Director Perugini spoke recently regarding the New Britain’s sudden fiscal surpluses, approx. $16M. If our memory serves us, the city’s auditors were concerned about unused money sitting in various sub-accounts. We were told by city officials in no uncertain terms that the city had no money to spare for our storm-sewer systems. Why was this money allowed to languish in these sub-accounts hidden from our constituents?
Back in 2013, the current mayor was elected and had a $7M Cardinal Engineering Plan ready to go for the Allen St. Project. Nothing happened! Now we have an updated $14M+ Cardinal Engineering Plan waiting for implementation. This updated plan cannot be lost in the fiscal shuffle again.
The Stewart-Dorsey approved and confirmed bogus $4M transfer for the Allen St. Project never happened back in October 2023. This fake transfer was eventually rejected by Perugini. This administrative debacle prior to an election is concerning all of us to this day.
City Officials demand accountability, credibility and transparency from their constituents. We do not receive the same courtesy from our City Officials. No more “Got’Cha” moments, whataboutisms, etc. It’s time for all of us to look into the mirror and ask ourselves, “Is this who we want to be?” “It’s not the time to throw up our hands. It’s the time to step up and roll up our sleeves!”.
Meanwhile, our neighborhoods will continue to flood…
Thank you.
F&S Chase
