Phil Armetta to file retroactive application for wetlands modifications

Trash magnate Phil Armetta appeared before Inland Wetlands on Wednesday night to explain an unauthorized alteration to wetlands on his property. Armetta was asked to submit an application for the work he has already done.

In 2007, Armetta received approval to build an auto dealership on a lot at the base of his closed landfill on Newfield Street. He was required to apply for a Wetlands permit, appearing before the Inland Wetlands Commission on August 1st, 2007 . The reason for this requirement was that the development was well within the regulated zone of designated wetlands. Those wetlands are on an adjacent parcel of land, also owned by Armetta.

This summer, in order to extend the parking area of the auto dealer, Armetta removed all the brush and trees from the wetlands on this adjacent parcel, and filled the wetlands with riprap. Bruce Driska, Zoning Enforcement Officer, noticed the clearing of the wetlands, and Wednesday's hearing was to determine if this activity requires a permit.

Armetta maintained that he was not aware that he had encroached into wetlands, and told the commissioners that he was improving the location, "We wanted to clear the area and get a little more exposure of the dealership to cars [traveling on Newfield]." The map shows outlined in blue the original parcel, and in green the area changed by Armetta this summer, the northern half (or more) of the green parcel is clearly marked as "wetlands". The operator of the auto dealership told the Commission that he hoped to pave the area as soon as possible.

This site is the location of a closed landfill operated by Armetta for 16 years (the close contour lines on the right of the map show the edges of the landfill).

The Inland Wetlands commissioners voted unanimously to require Armetta to obtain a permit for his most recent actions. They also requested that the city's soil engineers assess the impact of the damage that has already occurred. Commissioner Joan Liska said, "We need to determine what the quality of the wetlands was, so we know what was destroyed."

Chairman Joseph Carta anticipated that Armetta's application would be heard at the next meeting of the Commission. If his application is denied, the Commission has the option of requiring Armetta to restore the wetlands to the condition they were in prior to the clearing and filling.

Armed Robbery Saturday Night on Newfield Street Store

From The Middletown Police Department

On Saturday night, at approx 10:35pm, Middletown Police received a report of an armed robbery that occurred at 221 Newfield St., Middletown, the M MART convenience store. The initial report indicated that two African-American males robbed the store utilizing a handgun and then fled the area. Patrol units immediately responded and began an initial investigation and canvassed the area for the suspects.

It was reported that the two suspects entered the store and walked towards the rear. One was described as a large built, dark-skinned male, approx. 6’3” and 250 lbs., wearing a long sleeved, light colored, button down shirt and jeans. He was described as being in possession of a smaller black handgun. The second suspect was described as a 6’0” lighter skinned male approx. 190 lbs., slender build, wearing a light colored t-shirt and plaid pants and a du-rag type headwear.

The Middletown Police Department’s Detective Bureau was contacted and responded to the scene. After an investigation it was revealed that at approx. 10:35 pm, the two suspects entered the store and appeared to be grabbing items from the water cooler. One customer left and another female customer entered the store and waited to purchase an item from the attendant.

One suspect approached the female customer from behind and violently placed her into a headlock so she could not move. He then made demands for the attendant to place all of the money from the drawer into a plastic bag. As this occured, the other suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the attendant's head. Both suspects demanded money as well as cigarettes from the attendant.

The attendant obeyed the orders and at that time a male customer enters the store and interrupts the robbery. The dark skinned suspect then pointed the handgun at the male customer and ordered him to an area in the store behind where the incident took place. That customer obeyed the orders and both the attendant and male customer are held at gunpoint by the suspect. The female was held in a headlock hold with her face being pushed down towards the floor.

The suspect holding the woman ordered her to empty her pocket book and several personal items were taken from her. The victims and witness were then ordered to get onto the floor and not to say anything. The suspects managed to get away with two bags of an undetermined amount of money and quantity of cigarettes. They then fled from the store on foot and apparently got into a white colored four door vehicle that was waiting for them outside the store on the corner of Newfield St. and Westfield St. The vehicle then fled north on Newfield St.

The store’s video surveillance system was able to catch the robbery on tape and it is being analyzed by the Detective Bureau. Still photos were captured and the Middletown Police Department is requesting that the public assists in trying to identify the brazen robbery suspects. They are considered to be armed and very dangerous.

Any citizen that may have been in the area of Newfield and Westfield St. during that time and may have witnessed any of the suspects or get away vehicle are urged to contact the Middletown Police Department with any information regarding the incident. The description of the vehicle may be that of a white Nissan Altima (or similar type vehicle).

At this time it is believed that the suspects may have been from out of town and were possibly fleeing to the Hartford area after the robbery.

If you have information, please call the Middletown Police Department (860) 344-3200