DEC charges head of Norwich DPW with unlawful disposal of hazardous materials
NORWICH – The Department of Environmental Conservation has charged Norwich’s Department of Public Works Assistant Superintendent George W. Carnrike, Jr. with unlawful disposal of solid waste, allegedly occurring on May 2 – a day after the City of Norwich and the Sheriff's Office cleaned-up a secluded, illegal campsite containing discarded drug paraphernalia, described by local officials as, "tent city."
The DEC's criminal investigations unit charged George Carnrike Jr., age 60, of Norwich, with one count of disposing waste at other than a permitted facility, the day after the city DPW helped clean-up an illegal campsite used for drug use.
With the city's top superintendent post open, Carnrike has been the acting Norwich DPW superintendent. George Carnrike's sister is City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike.
The City of Norwich Common Council held an emergency meeting on Thursday night, ultimately placing an employee on paid administrative leave. City council members refused to confirm the identity of the individual––but Carnrike was the only person seen entering and exiting the executive session.
Christine Carnrike did not attend the meeting, neither did the city's clerk, Agnes Eaton. When Ward 3 Alderman John Deierlein member at Thursday's meeting asked if the mayor would be attending, and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew Caldwell replied, "No."
Contacted by phone Thursday, prior to the meeting, the mayor said she was aware of the charges against George Carnrike, Jr. but was unaware of the special meeting, though she added as far as she knew Thursday night's special meeting was not related to George Carnrike, Jr. being charged.
Before the meeting Thursday, the Norwich City Clerk's office also confirmed George Carnrike, Jr. was still acting superintendent and the city was still seeking a viable candidate to fill the post.
Contacted Friday morning the Norwich City Clerk's Office refused to identify who was currently running the city's DPW. When asked why the city could not identify who was running the department the clerk said they were instructed by the common council not to discuss issues relating to the DPW.
Directed by the clerk's office to contact Alderman Caldwell, Caldwell also refused to name the current head of Norwich's DPW Friday morning, or even acknowledged if the post was now vacant.
He would not comment on the action taken by the council at the Thursday night meeting except to say Christine Carnrike received prior official notification of the meeting Thursday evening.
Christine Carnrike disagreed, and said Friday morning she was not officially informed of the meeting, and would seek to have a new policy enacted at the next common council meeting requiring the mayor be informed of all meetings.
The mayor said she had not discussed her brother's case with him.
"I plan to set the record straight, I think they made a hasty decision," she said.
The next common council meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, at the Norwich City Court building.
Tent City
The campsite, known locally as tent city, had been an ongoing concern for local officials since late 2017.
Mountain bikers stumbled upon the campsite in February, located along Greenway Trails in Norwich, and reported to officials and The Evening Sun the region was littered with garbage and drug paraphernalia.
The Norwich Police Department reported city officials had been aware of the site since fall of 2017. Police explained the site was behind the Borden Town Circle, and outside city limits.
In February the NPD also reported the site was technically outside police jurisdiction, but on city owned property and officials were waiting for the DEC to come in and clean it up because of environmental concerns.
Police said it is unknown how many individuals were using the location. No arrests were made.
On May 1, members of the Norwich Department of Works, headed by George Carnrike, Jr., and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office stepped-in to clear the site, that some were concerned was creating a public health risk.
Following the clean-up George Carnrike, Jr. told the city common council over 60 syringes and a half ton of garbage had been collected.
However, following the clean-up, complaints were made claiming that waste taken from the site had been improperly disposed of. The unconfirmed reports claimed the hazardous material had been illegally buried.
Unlawful Disposal
The DEC reported George Carnrike, Jr., was issued an appearance ticket to appear in Norwich City Court for one count of disposing waste at other than a permitted facility. The charge is alleged to have occurred the day after the city DPW cleaned-up the illegal campsite.
Investigators confirmed the material consisted of solid waste garbage, including hypodermic needles. They also said the waste did not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
"The waste has been removed and properly disposed by the property owner. DEC will seek restitution in addition to any criminal penalties imposed by the court,” said DEC Public Information Officer Kevin O. Frazier.
In May, just after the clean up and before being charged George Carnrike, Jr. said, "The Sheriff’s Department took all of the needles that were present, the sharps, and put them in a sharps container."
He said the only role the department of public works had in the clean-up was transporting bags of waste to the landfill.
"They bagged up the debris, and we brought it up to the Chenango County landfill," said George Carnrike, Jr. at the time.
Law enforcement records show this is the third time George Carnrike, Jr. has been charged with a crime in the last three months, in three unrelated cases.
New York State Police charged George Carnrike, Jr. on May 21 with second-degree attempted criminal contempt after allegedly attempting to disobey an order of protection by calling the individual under protection.
He was also charged by state police on April 22 with trespassing.
The Chenango County District Attorney's Office recused itself from the cases. On May 9 the Chenango County Court appointed the Broome County District Attorney's Office as special prosecutor.
– Sun Staff Writer Grady Thompson and Sun Editor Tyler Murphy contributed to this story.
Pictured: Photo of hypodermic needles and garbage found at the tent city site taken on February 27. (Submitted Photo)
The DEC's criminal investigations unit charged George Carnrike Jr., age 60, of Norwich, with one count of disposing waste at other than a permitted facility, the day after the city DPW helped clean-up an illegal campsite used for drug use.
With the city's top superintendent post open, Carnrike has been the acting Norwich DPW superintendent. George Carnrike's sister is City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike.
The City of Norwich Common Council held an emergency meeting on Thursday night, ultimately placing an employee on paid administrative leave. City council members refused to confirm the identity of the individual––but Carnrike was the only person seen entering and exiting the executive session.
Christine Carnrike did not attend the meeting, neither did the city's clerk, Agnes Eaton. When Ward 3 Alderman John Deierlein member at Thursday's meeting asked if the mayor would be attending, and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew Caldwell replied, "No."
Contacted by phone Thursday, prior to the meeting, the mayor said she was aware of the charges against George Carnrike, Jr. but was unaware of the special meeting, though she added as far as she knew Thursday night's special meeting was not related to George Carnrike, Jr. being charged.
Before the meeting Thursday, the Norwich City Clerk's office also confirmed George Carnrike, Jr. was still acting superintendent and the city was still seeking a viable candidate to fill the post.
Contacted Friday morning the Norwich City Clerk's Office refused to identify who was currently running the city's DPW. When asked why the city could not identify who was running the department the clerk said they were instructed by the common council not to discuss issues relating to the DPW.
Directed by the clerk's office to contact Alderman Caldwell, Caldwell also refused to name the current head of Norwich's DPW Friday morning, or even acknowledged if the post was now vacant.
He would not comment on the action taken by the council at the Thursday night meeting except to say Christine Carnrike received prior official notification of the meeting Thursday evening.
Christine Carnrike disagreed, and said Friday morning she was not officially informed of the meeting, and would seek to have a new policy enacted at the next common council meeting requiring the mayor be informed of all meetings.
The mayor said she had not discussed her brother's case with him.
"I plan to set the record straight, I think they made a hasty decision," she said.
The next common council meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 19, at the Norwich City Court building.
Tent City
The campsite, known locally as tent city, had been an ongoing concern for local officials since late 2017.
Mountain bikers stumbled upon the campsite in February, located along Greenway Trails in Norwich, and reported to officials and The Evening Sun the region was littered with garbage and drug paraphernalia.
The Norwich Police Department reported city officials had been aware of the site since fall of 2017. Police explained the site was behind the Borden Town Circle, and outside city limits.
In February the NPD also reported the site was technically outside police jurisdiction, but on city owned property and officials were waiting for the DEC to come in and clean it up because of environmental concerns.
Police said it is unknown how many individuals were using the location. No arrests were made.
On May 1, members of the Norwich Department of Works, headed by George Carnrike, Jr., and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office stepped-in to clear the site, that some were concerned was creating a public health risk.
Following the clean-up George Carnrike, Jr. told the city common council over 60 syringes and a half ton of garbage had been collected.
However, following the clean-up, complaints were made claiming that waste taken from the site had been improperly disposed of. The unconfirmed reports claimed the hazardous material had been illegally buried.
Unlawful Disposal
The DEC reported George Carnrike, Jr., was issued an appearance ticket to appear in Norwich City Court for one count of disposing waste at other than a permitted facility. The charge is alleged to have occurred the day after the city DPW cleaned-up the illegal campsite.
Investigators confirmed the material consisted of solid waste garbage, including hypodermic needles. They also said the waste did not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
"The waste has been removed and properly disposed by the property owner. DEC will seek restitution in addition to any criminal penalties imposed by the court,” said DEC Public Information Officer Kevin O. Frazier.
In May, just after the clean up and before being charged George Carnrike, Jr. said, "The Sheriff’s Department took all of the needles that were present, the sharps, and put them in a sharps container."
He said the only role the department of public works had in the clean-up was transporting bags of waste to the landfill.
"They bagged up the debris, and we brought it up to the Chenango County landfill," said George Carnrike, Jr. at the time.
Law enforcement records show this is the third time George Carnrike, Jr. has been charged with a crime in the last three months, in three unrelated cases.
New York State Police charged George Carnrike, Jr. on May 21 with second-degree attempted criminal contempt after allegedly attempting to disobey an order of protection by calling the individual under protection.
He was also charged by state police on April 22 with trespassing.
The Chenango County District Attorney's Office recused itself from the cases. On May 9 the Chenango County Court appointed the Broome County District Attorney's Office as special prosecutor.
– Sun Staff Writer Grady Thompson and Sun Editor Tyler Murphy contributed to this story.
Pictured: Photo of hypodermic needles and garbage found at the tent city site taken on February 27. (Submitted Photo)
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