Louis HasbrouckOctober 30, 2017
From: Timothy Naumowicz
15Maple Street Florence, MA 01062
To: Louis Hasbrouck
Building Commissioner | City Of Northampton | 212 Main Street | Northampton | MA | 01062
Dear Louis Hasbrouck:
Per your request on Monday, October 30, 2017 I have described the day-by-day events that transpired since the initial day damage ensued to the interior and exterior of my property.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2017 a rainstorm took place in the evening. My property was damaged during the rainstorm from improperly secured dirt from the neighboring property lot, currently
under construction. During the rainstorm excessive amounts of dirt from the construction site washed onto my yard causing damage to my lot. Interior damage occurred in the basement
of my home. Mud entered my home through two basement windows parallel with the construction site. The contractor’s error has caused property damage to the exterior and interior of
my home.
On Wednesday, October 25, 2017 I notified your office of the damage. On this day I spoke with the contractor, who offered to clean up my lawn and basement, stating he would “make it
right.” I told him I would take care of cleaning the inside. The contractor stated that he would be back to clean up the lawn, but needed to let it dry first. The contractor removed
mud from the sidewalk on the side of the house and the back sidewalk. The contactor placed bales of hay partially along the property line. I removed mud from in front of the back
steps and in front of the garage and then I began clean-up of the interior. I spent approximately 8 hours removing the mud from the basement stairs. I also removed the broken drier
vent, which was filled with mud. The drier vent was vented through the basement window located above the basement stairs. The mud entering through the drier vent caused damage to
the windowpane. The broken window was removed and boarded. I lost a full day of work to begin the clean-up process.
On Thursday, October 26, 2017 my sister spent 4 hours removing mud from the basement floor. My daughter spent an additional 2 hours removing mud from the basement.
On Friday, October 27, 2017 I lost another day of work and spent approximately 12 hours cleaning the basement floor.
On Saturday, October 28, 2017 a new drier vent was installed and the vent was re-routed higher through the stucco, instead of through the basement window. I boarded up the two basement
window wells because the forecast called for heavy rain the following day. The contractor arrived around noon with an additional worker to work on yard clean-up. They removed dirt
from above the stone wall area (near the bird bath), discarding it back onto the construction site.
Sunday, October 29, 2017 through the morning of Monday, October 30, 2017 heavy rains washed more mud onto my property from the construction site. In the early hours of Monday morning
mud began to seep through the basement windows, parallel to the work site. During the storm I made by best efforts to try and channel to the running water and mud away from the window
wells, while my daughter was inside soaking up and discarding the water/mud entering the basement windows. I contacted your office again and spoke with you on site, when you advised
me to send the photos I took of the damage to my property. At approximately 10 a.m. on Monday, October 30, 2017 the contactor placed a black plastic barrier along the property line
of the work site. He later returned to work on the clean-up of the exterior of my property. He used a power-broom on the sidewalks and upper lot, removing dirt. The contractor worked
until shortly after 5 p.m. and stated he would be back in the morning to continue clean-up.
The following items were damaged during the initial rainstorm on Tuesday, October 24, 2017: Bissell vacuum cleaner- model 6585 no longer available-comparable model $124.99,
Shark steamer mop- $49.99,
drier vent-parts: $100.00 and 3 hours labor: $225.00
The following items were purchased for clean-up: paper towel, rags, scrubbing pads, mop heads and pine sol-$80.00
Total known cost: $579.98 and four of my vacation days used.
Unknown costs: mortar, cinderblocks, and cement to block up two basement windows/window wells. Enamel masonry paint to repaint basement floor. Perennials in flower beds that may have
been damaged.
Sincerely,
Timothy Naumowicz