Residents press council for timetable and removal after paperboard demolition leaves large debris pile

Residents who live near the former Middletown Paperboard Company site urged council on Tuesday to move more quickly to remove demolition debris and to provide a clear timeline and documentation of remediation for public health assurances.

Marva Gaston told council she has repeatedly raised concerns since May about material left along Verity Parkway after the mill demolition and said she fears the dust could cause respiratory illness. Gaston said she had requested copies of contract bids and other project paperwork from the city and had not received them. Another resident, Larry Silas, said his car is covered in dust in the morning, that windy days make it difficult to exercise outside, and that he has asthma and is worried about exposure.

Council and staff responded with a status update: staff are working with environmental consultants (Burgess & Niple) to finalize plans and specifications for a phase‑2 grading and remediation contract; staff expect to advertise bids in the coming weeks for soil removal, grading, seeding and final site work. City staff said roughly 40% of the nearby gravel pile has been spoken for by a well‑field project and that some reuse of the granular material is planned. Staff committed to providing a supplemental, written timeline to council and to coordinating Public Works on any immediate safety measures, such as preventing climbing on the pile.

Councilmembers stressed the demolition and remediation process is complex and must meet environmental standards; Councilmember Lolli noted EPA testing and approvals at several points in the project timeline. Councilmember Carter asked staff to provide a timeline to address resident concerns. No new legislation passed at the meeting; residents requested the city mail copies of contract documents to one speaker who said she had not received them and asked for clearer communication going forward.