Croton Filtration Monitoring Committee Meeting March 2014

  It was a Tuesday and not a Thursday night, but the room was still packed with people who wanted to know what the DEP was doing. Father Richard Gorman the Chair of Community Board 12 was now the chair of the CFMC once again. Father Gorman was brief in his opening statement, and went into the public comment portion of the agenda. 

   Mr. Gary Axelbank was angry that the DEP was using the anti-terrorism explanation as the for not allowing residents who live around the Jerome Park Reservoir access to the inside roadway around the reservoir. He said that there is nothing to protect since one could easily get over or through the fences. He suggested to upgrade the inside fence while opening up the outside fence for residents to enjoy the reservoir.

  I spoke next, and questioned the constant moving back of dates on almost every project listed on the DEP schedule. I also questioned again how the DEP had to remove asbestos from a building that was built after the city banned the use of asbestos in all construction. I also questioned the listing of a second entrance to the Water Filtration Construction site into Van Cortlandt Park at East 213th Street. The question of the second entrance was answered that the DEP had always had that for when they rebuilt the golf house on Jerome Avenue. It will also be used to improve vehicular access to the construction area. The use of asbestos after the ban on it question did not get an answer.

  When Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte was asked if there would be any other construction of any kind in the park the answer was that he would fight against it. His final words however were "I can't guarantee it". 

  There was a presentation of the 66 Bronx parks projects either done, being worked on, or in design from the $186 million dollars in mitigation monies. 51 are completed, 8 are in construction, and 7 are still in design.  There was also mention of the other $20 million dollars of which $10 million dollars went to Roberto Clemente State Park, and $10 million dollars to NYSERTA, making the total $206 million dollars. 

  Father Gorman held up any questions about the Jerome Park Reservoir for the next meeting which he had scheduled for some time in April. Shane Ojar the Community Outreach Director for DEP however said that the meetings were every three months. Father Gorman said that with a new DEP commissioner, new mayor, and an extension of good faith by him with shorter meetings he was hopeful that the next meeting  could take place on April 22nd or 29th. 

  This meeting lasted only 90 minutes starting at 7:35 PM and ended shortly after 9 PM.