Upon reading the recent story in the News Transcript regarding Ralph Marino, I was shocked to learn that the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), which ranks second only to the Department of Environmental Protection for being the most incompetent state agency, actually woke up to what has been going on in Freehold Township for years.
For the DCA to respond to anything is remarkable — evidence of this was made quite clear in Howell, where the DCA was forced to do the little they did in respect to code violations.
Judging from past records, only a complete fool would believe that "poor paperwork" is responsible for Mr. Marino’s loss of administrative licenses.
I strongly recommend that residents of the Stony Brook and Four Maples developments in Freehold Township demand that Township Administrator Thomas Antus confirm that the deep active wells on these two sites were sealed in accordance with DEP’s guidelines and for him to assure residents that no open well shafts are located under any homes. Why is the DEP currently investigating this matter?
Can Mr. Antus confirm that septic systems were pumped out on these two development sites in accordance with state guidelines? I am sure he will be happy to respond in print to these issues. I hope that no septic waste was allowed to enter into the aquifer.
Why was Mr. Marino allowed to issue a permit on April 3, 1995, for the removal of several underground fuel tanks located at Four Maples when the DEP states that the fuel tanks were already in the scrap yard on Oct. 6, 1994?
Were any fines collected in respect of this, and why did it take the DCA until April 17, 1998, to reprimand Mr. Marino for an action that had taken place three years before? When the permit was issued in April 1995, were any homes already constructed on the former tank site?
Do not expect any honest answers from the DEP, the DCA or the health department; in the interests of safety, I would urge all residents to investigate their own developments.
John J. Noe
Powhatan, Va.

