West Harrison Residents Near Lake Street Quarry Vent Frustrations About Dumping on Town Board
By Jon Craig
More than a dozen residents and business owners upset with continued noise, air and truck pollution in and around the Lake Street Quarry in West Harrison told the Town Board on Thursday that they’re tired of words without action.
But Supervisor Ron Belmont, Town Trustee Stephen Malfitano and Town Attorney Jonathan Kraut told residents everything is being done within the law and that they cannot comment in detail because of continuing court action, postponements and appeals by the quarry owner.
“The lack of response has to do with litigation,’’ Malfitano said.
Kraut told the residents he had been to the quarry earlier on Thursday with members of the town’s enforcement department. He did not elaborate.
Quarry owner Lawrence Berrengo also declined comment, referring questions to his attorney, who could not be reached.
The quarry owner was reportedly issued 18 summonses by town Building Department officials. The next court date is May 15 on the alleged violations.
Resident Lucille Held, noting that Harrison is “the fifth richest town in Westchester,” said she expected more for her tax dollars. Held said the citizens “are being screwed and tattooed. You know this is polluting the air. It is now time to stop all this talking. This has got to stop right now. How dare we allow one bit of extra dust. Why can’t we stop what he is doing?”
Belmont took exception to her comments, saying decades of inaction and citizen complaints about the quarry long preceded his tenure as town supervisor. “This has been going on a long, long time. I have been here two years,” Belmont said. “If it were that simple, it would be done.”
Glenn Dahar, who lives near the quarry, said his family has had to endure noise, dust, odors and other disturbances from the quarry-turned-compost and recycling center since 2000. He said his daughter suffers from asthma, which has been further aggravated by continued quarry activity.
Berrengo previously argued that his business has been in operation since 1922, a year before Harrison’s zoning laws were adopted, exempting the quarry from most town regulations.
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