LETTER: Residents' Voices Heard Against Site-Ready Expansion

To the Editor:

I want to thank Mr. David Nelson and Mr. Rob Coulter for being instrumental in allowing our neighborhood and other town residents to voice their concerns and read our formal complaint at the Town Council meeting Tuesday evening regarding the expansion of Site Ready on Eagleville Road.

If it were up to Mr. Lambert, our President, Mr. Roderick and Mr. Pelletier, our voices would never be heard. Even with the item on the agenda, Mr. Lambert did everything in his power to manipulate the crowd into thinking that it was not the forum after, at the beginning of the meeting, telling us that we would certainly have the opportunity. What’s the big secret? Why suppress information, that can be verified easily? Last week, we voiced our concerns to the Planning Board. They listened. We understand the process.

Site Ready has presented its’ Master Plan to the Planning Board. Their plan is to expand their operation, which, among other things, will include more than 700 trucks coming in and out every single day! Do we have to wait until a child is killed innocently walking to the bus stop? Talk to some of the residents that live on the street and have lived there all their life!

State law requires a formal complaint for the code enforcer to investigate a complaint. Mr. Eames stated that he has not received a formal complaint . Well, he has one now.

It’s been confirmed that no one has looked at the file…. Not hard to believe, but very disappointing. Although there are no formal complaints in the file, there certainly are concerns. Mr. Eames objected to blasting on the site and the removal of stone. But, he rescinded his objection after the receipt of a letter from an attorney. And Mr. Eames issued a site violation and a Cease and Desist for zoning violations. Again, he rescinded it after receiving a letter from an attorney explaining that he was wrong in his interpretation of the zoning in the town. He doesn’t understand the zoning???? The file is public record, for anyone who is not aware of that.

We learned that the town has been trying to obtain permission for a site inspection. If there is no formal complaint, why the site visit? But it’s been more than a week now. Why would a company asking for approval to expand resist a site visit from the town?

I want to thank Mr. Peter Mello for pointing us in the right direction when we did not know which way to turn. Mr. Mello spent a good part of the holiday weekend, standing out on Stafford Road with a sign in attempt to create awareness, which, by the way, has been stolen. It was only later that we learned that Mr. Mello is running for town council. We need people like Mr. Mello on the Town Council and others like him. I know who I am voting for; and now I know for certain who I am not!

Donna Banville

Tiverton Resident