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Neighbors complain of dust, inadequate fencing and alleged contractor violations at Tower Street demolition
Summary
Residents told the council the Tower Street demolition produced heavy dust, inconsistent fencing and health concerns; they cited public records showing prior OSHA and enforcement actions for the contractor and asked the town to investigate and enforce safety and permitting requirements.
Neighbors of a demolition project on Tower Street brought complaints to the Westerly Town Council on Oct. 20, saying the site generated excessive dust, lacked adequate fencing and left adjacent properties coated in debris. Speakers named the demolition contractor Bill Ray Corp. and cited publicly available records the speakers said show prior OSHA and enforcement violations.
Tammy Swek (77 Narragansett Ave) said she had applied for a demolition permit and, while she awaited town responses, observed dust and debris migrating from the site and a lack of consistent perimeter fencing. "Airborne dust is not supposed to leave the property lines," Swek said, describing health effects and ongoing concerns about asbestos controls and contractor oversight.
Town staff told the council that the demolition had permits and that state agencies (including the Department of Health and the state environmental agencies) perform asbestos and air-quality oversight for demolition projects. Town Manager Shaun Lacy and the building-inspection staff said inspections had occurred and that documentation for asbestos remediation, air clearance and other required steps would be provided in response to the resident's records request.
Residents pressed whether the town could refuse to award future work to contractors with prior enforcement history or require stricter local vetting. Town staff said licensing and bid vetting focus on current standing and the absence of open, unresolved violations; staff also said the town had authority to require compliance with local safety and permitting requirements when work is done on private properties under municipal oversight.
Councilors asked staff to provide the documents requested under the public records process and to discuss whether additional town enforcement or communication steps were appropriate. The town manager said the town would continue to coordinate with state regulators when that oversight is applicable and that staff would provide the requested records and a short report on inspection and enforcement history.
Neighbors said they would follow up with the Department of Health if they believed air clearance or asbestos mitigation had been inadequate. Councilors thanked speakers and asked staff to keep the council informed of evidence of violations or unresolved safety issues.
