03/05/08 - "We want accountability. We want the town to spend our tax dollars wisely," Sam Romeo, one of the legal effort's organizers

It’s Purely about Accountability.

More join sewer battle


By Neil Vigdor
Greenwich Time - Staff Writer

Nearly half of the homeowners who received sewer hookups in North Mianus have signed onto a planned lawsuit against the town, challenging the $23.5 million bill for the project.

Last night about 50 more homeowners joined the effort at a heavily attended meeting to discuss strategy at Greenwich Civic Center in Old Greenwich last night...

With less than a week remaining to file their suit, 370 of the estimated 790 property owners who received sewer hookups as part of the oft-criticized project have joined the fight, contributing $200 apiece for anticipated legal expenses, organizers of the effort said. The homeowners accused the town of wasting more than $7 million on the project....

..."It's strictly because the administration of the town could not get their act together," said Peter Sherr, who represents the neighborhood in the Representative Town Meeting and lives in Riverside Acres....

....The homeowners have until March 12 to appeal the apportionment in state Superior Court. To be part of the lawsuit, Romeo said each household must contribute $200 by March 9. Members of the group said they hope the prospect of protracted litigation holding up the payments will cause the town to settle the matter.

"Just by filing, the town knows we're serious and they have to decide whether they want to play hardball," said Vin DeFina, a lawyer who lives in the neighborhood and is helping organize the effort.