POUGHKEEPSIE - Residents argued the two sides of the latest private well-testing attempts by Dutchess County officials at a public hearing Thursday.

“Targeted testing is not scientific, it is Russian roulette,” said Hopewell Junction resident Nancy Foster.  “In our community, we have houses that sit side-by-side, one with contamination and one without.  Unsuspecting homeowners deserve to be protected.”

Foster lives on Creamery Road, a corridor within earshot of the Hopewell Precision EPA Superfund Site where chemicals were dumped several decades ago, contaminating several wells in the area.

The new well testing bill approved by the county legislation and facing a possible veto by County Executive William Steinhaus would mandate the testing of any private well in the county at the time of the sale of the home.  The seller would incur the cost of the test, which is estimated at around $600.

Anne and Matthew Kover

Fellow Creamery Road resident Anne Kover argued that if a similar law had been passed 20 years ago before TCE was found in her well, her teenage son wouldn’t have the neurological disorders from which he suffers.

Her son, Matthew Kover, 18, spoke out for the first time at the hearing.

“My mom knows there are some things I can and can’t do,” he said struggling to get his words out due to his condition.  Matthew urged the county executive to see the humanity in the situation.  “If you pass this bill, there won’t be other kids like me.”

Those who protested the bill cited structural flaws.

“There is no scientific basis for this law.  This is not helping those who aren’t selling homes,” argued East Fishkill resident Joseph Petinella.

LaGrange resident James Hanson said residents shouldn’t be saying, “The sky is falling when it’s not.” He said science “should be the dictating force here, not emotion, not passion.  If we have an issue, then we need to address it.”

He said that if a homeowner is concerned about his well, he can have it tested on his own. “I think it’s incumbent upon you, if you have this fear, to take this upon yourselves.  This is not supposed to be a mandated item.”

The public hearing was required by county law before Steinhaus takes action on the local law, one way or the other.

Steinhaus wasn’t present for the meeting to offer his own comments on the issue. His absence incensed many who attended the hearing.

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A video of the hearing is available HERE.  Broadband connection recommended.  Poor audio quality.
(Link provided by "Neighbors for a Safe Community" (www.dutchess29.org)