GLOCESTER – The Glocester Town Council approved a company’s request to continue earth removal activities for another two years following a public hearing last month that included many questions from residents about blasting on the land, which some said has damaged their properties.
Representatives from J.R. Vinagro Corporation offered some resources in response, assuring locals that they have changed their blasting process in recent months and that things should be better going forward.
“It’s good feedback. If we don’t know that there’s a problem we’re just going to keep going the way we’re going,” said Vinagro Quarry Manager Steve Landry of testimony at the hearing. “Now that we hear these things, we can work together to try to get things better.”
The business purchased the Putnam Pike property, adjacent to Pinewood Park area, from Adler Brothers Corporation in 2023, and all in attendance seemed to agree that the problems only started after Vinagro took over.
“The bottom line is, they’re like Adler on steroids,” said Gregory Gabel, a neighbor whose business, Auto Body Concepts, immediately abuts the lot. Gabel said his 20-year-old building is already showing cracks, and that Vinagro’s work causes other problems, such as dust and poor air quality. “I can live with that. But diminishing the value of my property – or my corporation’s property – is not something that’s not fair as a taxpayer of Glocester.”
“It shouldn’t be cracking to that degree in a building that young,” Gabel said.
He was not alone in the testifying about property damage.
Nathan Rogler said when he purchased his home on Blackington Drive, there were no noticeable cracks in the foundation.
“The house is 30 years old, I get it, but I’ve noticed it’s spreading beyond what you’d even imagine,” Rogler said. “What’s that going to do to my property? What’s it going to do to my home? I’m not for this. I’m trying to raise a family here.”
Putnam Pike resident Angela Earhart said her historic home across the road has also seen damage.
“I am really upset and distressed about what’s been going on since Vinagro’s taken over,” said Earhart. “When we moved in 11 years ago, it was very solid and stable. A few months back there was a blast so big that I honestly though I was in another earthquake. I lived in California.”
“I have cracks in my stone hearth,” said Earhart. “They’re huge, huge stones – the mortar is cracked. My island cracked down the center. It’s been horrible. I’m terrified every time there’s a blast that something’s going to happen to my home. I’ve been in magnitude 3, 4 and 5 earthquakes – and this was scarier.”
Residents also questioned the business’s hours of operation noting work can be heard on nights and weekends.
“It’s very disruptive to the community what they’re doing over there,” said resident Jason Rogler.
Vinagro Chief Operating Officer Steve Lombardi said the business’s hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday “every so often” from 7 a.m. to noon.
“Those were the original hours,” he said.
Lombardi said that while past blasts may have been disruptive, the company has changed its methodology in recent months.
“We did that because we do care about the neighbors,” said Lombardi. “It’s not our intention to just go in there and not listen. We do listen. We’ve talked to people who’ve called us and reached out.”
Several residents asked about data from the seismographs used to measure the blasts, which Vinagro officials did not have at the hearing. Landry said subcontractor Maine Drilling and Blasting keeps the records and would likely have the data.
“There’s an art and science in how the seismographs are installed,” Landry said.
Legitimate blast complaints, he added, should go through the fire department.
“The fire department will call the blasting company, so then it’s all documented,” said Landry, adding that as the on-site manager, he’s happy to work with residents who call him at (978) 496-5764. “We’re your neighbors so whatever we can do to try to change the way the blast feels. I’ll get back to everybody. Just be patient with me. This is the first time I’m hearing any of this.”
Lombardi said those with concerns should also contact them for a pre-blast survey going forward, or to have their name added to a call list with warnings when a blast is coming.
“We’re going to continue to adjust until it’s where it needs to be,” said Lombardi. “Right now, I think everyone will notice that over the last three or four months, I think that the blasts have been a lot smaller, and they’re a lot more unnoticeable.”
Councilor Cheryl Greathouse noted the board never heard such complaints when Adler owned the site.
“My concern is these people have families, and they want to live in a quiet town,” Greathouse said. “What is your goal compared to what Adler was doing? Is it just to get it done faster? That really isn’t as important as people having quality of life. We’ve never had complaints like this before.”
Landry noted that regular daily activities are often to blame for home damage.
“You really have to apply science to it,” he said.
“It’s too bad we didn’t have the science here tonight,” responded Greathouse.
Earhart noted that the residents in attendance were likely just a fraction of those who’ve experienced issues.
“What I’m hearing is that they already know that there was a problem because they changed their process, but it’s not enough,” said Earhart. “We live in a small town – in a small, quiet, country town. What I’m hearing is that all this damage to my house is on me. There’s not going to be any recourse to that. It’s not fair to the community as a whole.”
The representatives noted that Vinagro is currently done blasting for the winter, with work to resume in the beginning of March.
Attorney Timothy Kane, representing Vinagro noted the company is “more aggressive” than Adler, but will also get the work done a lot quicker.
“That was a 20 to 25 year project with Adler,” Kane said.
“Anyone that wants a pre-blast survey of their house, contact these gentlemen and they’ll arrange for that,” he said. “If you want a seismograph, they’ll do that. If you have any problems they need to know. I think they’re doing everything in their power to be a good corporate citizen.”
“There will be an end much sooner than there would have been with Adler,” Kane promised.
Councilors unanimously approved the two year license renewal.
