POMFRET - Road improvements in one Eastern Connecticut neighborhood may be a two-way street... better driving versus poorer health.
That's the concern by residents over a sealant already applied to the streets in the Longmeadow Drive neighborhood.
It's a coal tar based sealant, which studies have shown is much more toxic than other products.
Some municipalities and entire states have banned coal tar sealants.
In Connecticut it's still legal, although the state's Department of Public Health studied the cancer risk with the sealant used on driveways.
"All of our storm drains here in the neighborhood drain into local streams and brooks," resident Steven Verrilli said. "We're all on wells here also."
Pomfret's First Selectman, Craig Baldwin, admits the coal tar sealant is cheaper than other products.
In response to protest to the sealant, Baldwin said he has formed a committee to include the Board of Selectmen and Longmeadow residents to try to find a solution he hopes everyone will be happy with.
