Letter: 'The BRCC Teaches Us That Promises Are Meant to Be Broken'

Happy New Year neighbors!  

When the Black Rock Congregational Church appeared before the Town they made very passionate statements about how the Church listened to neighbors' concerns and going forward would continue to go out of their way to be a good neighbor. They promoted the fact that the new Church would become the first LEED-certified church in the state. As neighbors, we had to accept the decision of our Town officials and make the best of the situation.  

However, here is what has transpired since then…  

In October, the BRCC broke ground and twelve men of the Church “after 10 years of prayer and perseverance” each placed a stone in front of the present Church to celebrate the ground breaking. The stones were "stones of remembrance," based upon a passage in the Bible when the leaders of the 12 tribes each took a stone from the bed of the Jordan River."  

How symbolic when a few weeks later, the vibrations from shattering stones were felt throughout the neighborhoods.  

Two days before Thanksgiving a letter appeared in our mailbox from the Church blasting company informing us that we had less than 24 hours to set an appointment for a blasting inspector.

Happy Thanksgiving, neighbors.   

Two days after Christmas, a knock on our door from the same blasting representative informed us that blasting would commence within the hour and continue everyday for at least two to three weeks. The blasting registered that day from .17 to .44. The house shook and Christmas ornaments fell off our tree.

Merry Christmas, neighbors.   

Since then, we have been told that the blasting has registered to as high as 1.0, but legally they can go to 10.0! Yesterday the blasting was so loud that it caused the dog to howl and hide under the bed. We were also told that a neighbor’s septic system was cracked from the vibrations.

Happy New Year, neighbors.  

Not once has the BRCC directly informed the neighbors of the construction timeline. Have you driven by the Church? While the building may be green the property has been deforested and digging is very close to the “protected” conservation lands. If the vibrations cause a dog to hide, what has happened to all the other “creatures” of God?  

For two months I wrote to the BRCC with no response. I was told I had the wrong email address, however, they do know where we live and could have done right by neighbors by preparing us as promised.

Sadly, while God teaches us to keep our promises, the BRCC teaches us that promises are meant to be broken. So please, BRCC stop telling us that this construction is God’s will. This is an act of men.   

Beth and Joe Taccogna

Fairfield, CT