11-4-24: Our combined 26th Presentation to City Council Officials and to Public Works Commissioners

All of our recent flooding updates and narratives with photos and documents are published on-line in the New Britain Progressive’s “Flooding Series“.

To: Flooding Victims Living in the Allen St. Basin and in the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin, Taxpayers-Property Owners, City, State and Federal Officials

This updated record is being shared regarding the status of our neighborhoods’ storm-sewer systems and the Federal-State-City responses. Our concerns must be given the highest priority. Our quality of life is suffering and our property values have declined by 15%. When the contaminated flooding water recedes or we experience unusually dry weather, we are forgotten by our city officials. As a reminder to all, over 50 properties are flooding with unhealthy contaminants in the water which include bacteria, fecal matter, fats, motor oil, grease, etc.

1) Governor Lamont and Mayor Stewart: Have you met to discuss the funding for the Allen St. Project #2? If not, why not? Mayor Stewart it’s your responsibility to press this issue with Governor Lamont. Mayor Stewart, you sent many memos to our state legislators asking for assistance with the Allen St. Problem. As you have noted over the past 11 years…”The Allen St. Project is our most pressing need.” Our efforts are detailed for you asking Governor Lamont and his Chief of Staff Brokman to get involved; See attachment.

Allen St. Drainage Improvements and Reconstruction Phase 2 Project Urgent Notice to All State Politicians and Officials: The Allen St. Phase 2 Project must be funded immediately. Allen St. and our surrounding neighborhoods have flooded ten times since July 4, 2023. We have listed 21 reasons for our pleas for help. Governor Lamont we need your leadership now. Please expedite and fast track the $9.7M Allen St. Bonding Initiative. We know it can be done! 1) The City of New Britain has committed $4.2M for the $13.9M Allen St. Project. 2) The Allen St. Project is critical to resolving chronic issues including flooding due to storm-sewer failures, sanitary back-ups and breaks due to insufficient capacity and the system's age. 3) Allen St. and the surrounding neighborhoods are not in flood zones. 4) Storm-sanitary cross connections exist on Allen St. further contributing to this public health emergency. 5) Our quality of life is suffering and our property values have declined by 15%. 6) The unhealthy contaminants in the flooding water include; bacteria, fecal matter, fats, motor oil, grease, etc. 7) Flooding anxiety and distress are real health issues. 8) Our taxes increase while our neighborhoods continue to flood. 10 floods since July 4, 2023. 9) We demand our fair share of money from state bonding initiatives to fund our most pressing need; The Allen St. Phase 2 Project. 10) The compromised Allen St. System creates an open air cesspool on Allen St. and in surrounding neighborhoods. 11) Our properties are the catch basin-toilet bowl, where contaminated flood water gathers, waiting for rain events to end before receding. 12) Intense rainfall overwhelms the compromised Allen St. System flooding our neighborhoods and retention pond. 13) The elevated terrain in our area surges the uncontrolled flood water through our properties. 14) Water tables rise and flood water infiltrates and saturates our land. The resulting increased underground water pressure threatens our foundations and slabs. 15) Factor in the related hidden underground soil erosion, settling, shifting and potential sink holes, our foundations and structures are all at further risk. 16) Sink holes cause damage with an estimated cost on average of $300M per year in the USA. 17) Our neighborhoods (50+ properties) resemble that of a third world country during these flooding events. 18) The cause is undeniable...The effects will be catastrophic if the flooding is allowed to continue. 19) The compromised Allen St. System and the required upgrades are beyond our control. 20) The resulting flooding and the related damage is beyond our control. 21) Weston-Sampson Engineers wrote that the Allen St. Project must be a high priority because the infrastructure is at crisis levels. Get Involved! Stay Informed! Frank Chase: fchase989@yahoo.com 860-989-7205 — Governor Lamonts Flyer

Mayor Stewart and Chief of Staff Dorsey…To date: What have you done to move the state bonding initiative along? You should be routinely lobbying the governor and our state legislators for the required funding.

2) Back in 2013, Mayor Stewart was elected and had a $7M Cardinal Engineering Plan ready to go for the Allen St. Project #2. Nothing happened! Now we have an updated $14.4M Cardinal Engineering Plan waiting for execution. This updated plan cannot be lost in the fiscal shuffle again. Better known as the “Stewart-Dorsey Shell Game”.

3) The Stewart-Dorsey approved and confirmed $4M transfer for the Allen St. Project was crafted in October of 2023 just days before our elections. This bogus $4M transfer was eventually rejected by Director Perugini. This “Stewart-Dorsey Charade” prior to an election is concerning to all of us to this day.

4) City officials demand accountability, credibility and transparency from their constituents. We do not receive the same courtesy from our city officials. These same city officials are now seeking higher office. People say, it’s just politics. No… it’s unacceptable, despicable behavior by unscrupulous officials, better known as abuse of power.

5) We have submitted many of our damage claims to the city and to PMA-Old Republic Insurance. We are jumping through all of the required hoops. We were told on 10-10-24, that we had to wait 4 weeks for the results from the PMA-Old Republic adjusters inspection-evaluation of our property. This evaluation is due on November 7, 2024.

On 10-10-24 we gave the adjusters unrestrained access to inspect our property, basement, garage, driveway, etc. Three adjusters inspected our property; Senior Adjuster Ed Phinney took me for a stroll around our property asking questions while his junior associates inspected our basement without any supervision from the property owners. No worries here, we have nothing to hide. Our elected and appointed city officials do have something to run from… 30+ years of neglect and mismanagement.
Phinney and his associates saw first hand our ongoing efforts (money and time) to mitigate further damage to our property and structures. Read our engineer’s report detailing his concerns. See attachment.

A little later, Mr. Phinney told me that we had no chance for a reimbursement for our washed out driveway. Are you serious? See the attached photo showing the flooding water in our driveway. In fact, we know that the Russell’s, at 33 Brighton received $20K from the city for their new driveway. The D’Anna’s at 460 Allen will receive $16K from the city for their new driveway. Will this be another Stewart-Dorsey Scandal in New Britain?

Here is the listing of flooding events in our neighborhood since July 4, 2023: Over the past 16 months our property, driveway, garage, etc. flooded 10 times. This flooding and the related damage is the direct result of years of neglect and mismanagement by past and current city officials.

July 4 and 16, 2023
August 18, 2023
September 9 and September 13, 2023
December 18, 2023
June 22 and June 30, 2024
August 18 and August 19, 2024

6) Meanwhile, the city received $56M from our federal-state governments. Not one dollar was used for the Allen St. Problem… Our most pressing need! Recently, Director Perugini found $16M in surplus money. Can you believe it? You can’t make this stuff up. The city auditors told us that they were concerned about millions of dollars sitting in obscure sub-accounts. Not one dollar was used for the Allen St. Problem; Our most pressing need!

With a total of $72M in hand, Mayor Stewart did not allocate one dollar for the Allen St. Problem; Our most pressing need! Unacceptable behavior. Now Mayor Stewart is waiting for the state to bail her out again.
We must acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of dollars used for the Cardinal Engineering plans for the Allen St. Problem in 2013 and now in 2023-2024. Lots of dollars for plans with no results thus far! Factor in the hundreds of thousands of dollars the city has paid out in damage claims over the decades because of the Allen-Hampton-Eton-Stewart-Brighton-McKinley-Overlook flooding.
Director Moriarty and his Engineering Project Manager Czerepuszko will be conducting an informational meeting 11-14-24 at 6pm in the Conference Room of the NBPD regarding the Allen St. Project #2. Flooding victims and concerned residents from the Allen St. Basin and the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin neighborhoods…Please attend this important meeting. See attachment.

Letter on November 14, 2024 drainage improvement project informational meeting
https://newbritainprogressive.com/events/city-19/

By the way, Director Moriarty promised us an inspection-evaluation of the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin in December of 2023. To date, no news from Director Moriarty regarding his findings. Once again, city officials are not forthcoming with their promised commitments.

7) Read the 4th paragraph in Mayor Stewart’s 7-15-24, $4.2M commitment letter to Representatives Napoli and Piscopo regarding the state bonding initiative. The Mayor notes that the $4.2M will be used for the Allen St. Project #2 only if the project is approved. State Legislators tell us we may be years away from completing this state bonding initiative. Meanwhile, the flooding will continue. See attachment.

Allen St. Commitment for Allen Street Flood Project

Mayor Stewart, have you connected with Governor Lamont asking for his help with this emergency bonding effort? Remember, the city has no credit for bonding infrastructure projects because the city is $354M in debt on Mayor Stewart’s watch. Incurring and carrying this amount of debt limits our funding options for our most pressing need, the Allen St. Project #2. This Mayor and her associates want to be acclaimed for their fiscal prowess. Are you serious? See Former Alderperson Ayalon’s article regarding Mayor Stewart’s fiscal efforts. Click on the link for more information; Debunking Erin Stewart Legacy – New Britain Progressive Newspaper

Debunking Erin Stewart Legacy

Meanwhile the flooding will continue in our New Britain neighborhoods. Alderperson John McNamara is leading the way with the Rapid Response Service and the Neighborhood Flood Relief Initiative. Click on the link below to learn more.

Claims For Flooding Damages Spiked in 2023

Once again, Mayor Stewart and Chief of Staff Dorsey…Please detail for us your efforts to move the state bonding initiative along. Is Governor Lamont and his Chief of Staff Brokman working for us? If the state bonding initiative fails where will the city’s $4.2M go to? Another glitzy, high profile project to cover-up your failures? What are YOU doing to help fund the fix for Allen St.? Maybe you are too focused on your campaign for the 2026 governor’s race? Which is your priority, your campaign or our neighborhoods?

Mayor Stewart, we are anticipating a detailed response from you regarding your definitive efforts to fund the balance of the Allen St. Project #2. If there are any efforts…You will be leaving the city in debt by $354M and our neighborhoods will continue to flood. This is what unchecked, abuse of power looks like; compromised infrastructure systems, a failing education system and rampant nepotism. See the flooding photos below…

Thank you.

F&S Chase

Allen St. Basin-Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin Flooding Photos: In case you missed these…

Stanley-Roxbury-Newbury Typical Retention Pond Flooding.