Residents urge DEP probe of old high school site and adjacent unlined landfill

Jeff Fiddle, a Lambertville resident, told the City Council the former high school site and an adjacent unlined landfill have sat idle under a single private owner for more than 30 years and that he could find no remediation records on the state website. "We have a landfill that's been there for a long time. Nothing's been done for over 30 years with this owner," Fiddle said, adding he could not find a licensed site remediation professional record online for the property.

Dave Burtt, another resident, said historical use of an apple orchard on or near the site likely included arsenical insecticides and urged the city to document the history. "It was arsenic," Burtt said, recalling an older resident who remembered the orchard.

Both speakers linked soil concerns to broader water-quality worries: Fiddle noted PFAS contamination in nearby wells and said the source "may come from that site or may not," arguing that the city should ask the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assess the parcels and the property owner's remediation status.

Mayor Dodd acknowledged the comments and said the city could pursue inquiries with the state DEP if there is insufficient evidence of remediation. The council did not take formal action at the meeting; public commenters asked for follow-up and information on next steps.

The council did not record any specific DEP response at this meeting. Residents seeking follow-up should contact the city clerk's office for updates on any inquiry the city files with state environmental authorities.