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Residents To Sue Town Of Islip Over Toxic Dumping At Roberto Clemente Park

TOWN OF ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A notice of claim has been filed against the Town of Islip by several residents after toxic dumping was discovered near their homes.

Residents near the Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood as well as other sites in the town where toxic materials were recently discovered said they're worried about the health of their families.

Residents To Sue Town Of Islip Over Toxic Dumping At Roberto Clemente Park

Hauppauge resident Stephen D'Giff and two others intend to sue the town, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.

"I have five grandchildren. I'm concerned about their health when they come to my house," D'Giff said.

D'Giff told CBS 2's Dana Tyler every time he pours himself a glass of water, he thinks of the asbestos and heavy metals that were found at a housing complex a half-mile away from his home.

"These are carcinogens. Where are we going to get our drinking water? Where are we going to cook our food?" D'Giff said.

Some residents looking to sell their homes said no one wants to buy the properties now that the toxic dumping has been discovered so close, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.

D'Giff said his property value dropped by more than $100,000 since news of the toxic dumping broke, Tyler reported.

Residents To Sue Town Of Islip Over Toxic Dumping At Roberto Clemente Park

Attorney Ken Mollins filed the notice of claim against the town and the company accused of dumping the materials on behalf of the residents, and said he expects hundreds to take part in the lawsuit.

"What we have in this case is clearly willful blindness. Either they looked or they didn't see; they didn't look but they looked the other way," Mollins said. "They allowed the dumping of pesticides; they allowed the dumping of D.D.T.; they allowed the dumping of chlordane, which has been outlawed forever."

A spokeswoman for the Town of Islip told CBS 2's Tyler the town will reserve comment until it can go through the legal papers, but added the town denies any responsibility for the dumping, and is planning its own lawsuit against the contractors who are responsible.

An attorney representing one of the contractors under investigation told Tyler "Neither my client nor his entities dumped anything anywhere. It is my understanding his son, Thomas Datre Jr., brought some material to Roberto Clemente Park, but that was under town supervision."

D'Giff said the blame game ultimately comes to rest with town officials.

"As far as I'm concerned, the town dropped the ball. Where were the inspectors?" he said.

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