Residents press council on muddy runoff and ongoing Good Old Rubber site investigation

Two residents used the public-comment portion of the March 19 Hamilton Township Council meeting to raise environmental and public-safety concerns tied to local development and an industrial fire site.

Janice Clark (432 Trinity Avenue, Cornell Heights) described a new housing development near Clopton Road with an apparent construction detention basin and muddy runoff. Clark asked whether the basin would remain as a lake or was temporary runoff; council staff said the feature is a detention basin installed during construction and that staff have previously enforced work stoppages at sites that discharged runoff into the street. Director Dumas and other staff said they are monitoring active work sites and have taken enforcement steps where necessary.

Clark also asked about the Good Old Rubber property and whether authorities had settled the cause of the prior fire. Council and staff said there is an active investigation involving state agencies, and that the property owner has sued the township over enforcement actions. Officials said the state has required a cleanup plan (including asbestos remediation protocols) before permitting further demolition or redevelopment; until the state accepts a remediation plan, the township cannot issue permits for cleanup work.

What residents can expect: Staff said enforcement actions and inspections are ongoing and that the department responsible has been actively monitoring sites. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said relevant departments will continue to follow state protocols and update the public as investigations and remediation plans proceed.

Next procedural step: The item remains under active investigation by municipal staff and state agencies; the council did not vote on the matter but acknowledged resident concerns and staff enforcement actions.