East Hampton agency updates grant work after neighbor reports well concerns near Watrous site

At the May 18 meeting the Town of East Hampton Brownfields Redevelopment Agency heard that a neighbor near the Watrous properties contacted the state SPILL hotline about potential environmental concerns. The Town Manager said he had discussed the issue with the neighbor and had connected consultant VHB with information about the complaint so VHB would be aware of the call and could follow up.

Agency members were told the neighbor’s well on the adjacent property had been replaced with a new dug well; the neighbor inquired about testing of dug wells near the Watrous parcels, including the well on their property. The meeting record notes only that the neighbor made inquiries to the SPILL hotline; no test results or contamination levels were presented to the agency at the meeting.

Separately, members said Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) asked additional questions about a grant; the Town Manager provided answers. Members clarified that a press release discussed in connection with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) grant should be timed appropriately and suggested using town social media and the Rivereast newspaper for promotion. No regulatory action or formal enforcement decision was reported at the meeting.

The agency also discussed recruitment following the resignation of Mr. Lisowski and suggested contacting Elizabeth Congo of the Clean Energy Task Force about the vacancy. No votes or actions tied directly to remediation work or testing protocols were taken during the meeting.