Override Aftermath: Dinsmore Family In Shock

Jeffrey Dinsmore is shaking his head today after Question 3 was defeated in yesterday's special election.

The question was in regards to purchasing his property, 57  Stony Brook Road, which was found to be contaminated by the landfill operations.

The town negotiated a settlement with the Dinsmore family, who had bought the property. The one-time cost to the town was going to be $899,955.  The cost to the taxpayer with a median-valued home was estimated at $6.46 for one year.

Now, Dinsmore said he is not sure what to do, but spent the morning on the phone with his lawyer and the Department of Environmental Protection.

"I don't know what's next," Dinsmore said. "I think I'm in shock."

Dinsmore described his situation as a "nightmare" at May's Town Meeting after tests revealed elements like lead, arsenic, nickel and mercury 8 to 15 feet beneath his home.

"There are now a lot of bigger issues the town has to deal with," Dinsmore said. "It's the town's responsibility once something is reported to the DEP [to clean it up]."

Dinsmore has not yet heard from the town, but said he suspects a lot of closed door meetings are being held.

Since the override question failed, the town will now have to pay upward of $3 million to move Dinsmore's home, clean and excavate the land.

"I think there is a lot of uncertainty and it's a question of timing," Dinsmore said. "In terms of the law, there are certain penalties involved if the time frame is not met."

Dinsmore noted he filed paperwork with DEP in March.

"The other part is the money," Dinsmore said, adding he is unsure where the town will get the money needed to clean his property. "I didn't feel great about the price to begin with," referring to the $899,955 figure. "It was less than I had invested in it, but it would have been a third of the cost they will now have to pay."

Dinsmore said, for now, he is trapped in his home with few options. He added he hopes the town opts to hold another special election with a shorter list of questions -- just the items that need to pass. 

"It's a jail," Dinsmore said. "I can't get out."

Dinsmore said he was shocked by how the town voted, but points the finger at town officials.

"It's an interesting dilemma because this vote was to save money," Dinsmore said. "I point the finger at the town for putting too much on the ballot and not articulating the expenses and cost savings."