The Town of Mount Pleasant’s official Facebook page posted a statement headed “From the Desk of Supervisor Fulgenzi” on August 13. The screenshot does not show the year; the Town’s website statement listed below is dated August 12, 2026. The full text of the post as shown in the screenshot follows.
Read the document
The statement
Posted by Town of Mount Pleasant, NY. Headline: “REGULATORY COMPLIANCE REGARDING CLAY BIRD LANE” (the post also has emoji, omitted here).
Our environmental recycling operation at Clay Bird Lane exists for one primary purpose: to provide a vital, eco-friendly service that directly benefits our local community. This facility has operated safely and responsibly for decades. While minor smoldering is a common byproduct of the organic mulch process, actual fires are rare, and past fire incidents are considered suspicious and remain under review. The Town maintains, and will continue to maintain, open communication and full compliance with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and all applicable regulatory bodies.
The Town Board acknowledges that a previous contractor took advantage of the Town by dumping unauthorized materials from outside sources. Although the Town explicitly instructed them to cease bringing materials to the Clay Bird site, the contractor ignored this directive and refused to comply. Upon discovering this violation, the Town Board immediately terminated the contractor’s access to the site and formally demanded the immediate removal of the unauthorized materials. The contractor’s refusal to comply directly led to the current litigation.
To prevent future occurrences, the Town has instituted strict new oversight protocols to ensure no unauthorized materials are deposited on any Town property. We have severed ties with the problematic contractor and partnered on an emergency basis with a new, highly reputable vendor to remediate existing site conditions. This new partner has worked diligently to eliminate potential fire hazards during the hot summer months. Meanwhile, the Town Highway Department continues to closely monitor and test the mulch piles for temperature variations. Furthermore, the Town has published and is actively issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to secure trusted, licensed vendors for the long-term, efficient management of our recycling operations.
Related
- The Town’s website statement, “Important Statement from Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi, Regulatory Compliance Regarding Clay Bird Ln” (August 12, 2026), is item 12 in the source index: mtpleasantny.gov
- Compiled timeline of 32 emergency responses at 121 Clay Bird Lane
- Town’s emergency contract scope of work
- RFPs: Addendum No. 2, Addendum No. 3, berm removal professional services
- Notices: NOV to the Town, July 21, 2026