Many readers likely have followed the numerous newspaper articles and television reports over the last four to five years about the never ending debacle that is Liz Developments Phase 1 and 2 residential subdivision in the Elizabeth Avenue neighborhood of North Smithfield.

But they may not have made the connection between this subdivision and their own neighborhoods. Maybe they should.

After all of the public meetings, predictably filled with assurances and promises on the part of town officials, nothing of substance has changed in the developer's conduct of the work.

The only reality that has become crystal clear to many of the homeowners and taxpayers of this neighborhood is that town officials are either unable or unwilling to take decisive and consistent action against this developer.

This reality has caused many to wonder whose interests are of greater importance to the town, those of the developer or the homeowners and taxpayers? If, as has happened on multiple occasions, town officials want to put forth the somewhat convenient argument that current laws preclude or restrict their ability to affect change. Then those same rules, regulations and laws should be changed.

The genesis of this whole mess began, I believe, a number of years ago during the Planning Board review stage of the subdivision plan. If, at that time, someone in authority had seen fit to issue orders of conditions to control the work of the developer while working in existing streets and roads, much of this history would likely have been different.

No thought, it appears, was ever given to the fact that the developer would be installing new infrastructure within existing streets. No thought was given to the need to control this part of the developer's work above and beyond the normal subdivision regulations.

Was it not clear to all involved that given the scope of the work to be performed, major disruptions to the neighborhood were a certainty? Was it just assumed the developer would of his own accord make sure that the work in the public way be performed in an orderly and professional manner? An inexcusable and incredibly poor assumption if so.

I think you would have to go far and wide to find another city or town that would have allowed a developer to excavate existing streets and install infrastructure without maintaining strict engineering oversight and control of the work at all times. We are not talking about a simple water or sewer connection. Entire road beds were excavated and sewer and storm lines were installed. The developer patched the road as he saw fit and worked without police or flag men, until forced to do so, the majority of the time. Machines obstructing the road, discourteous, rude workers and open excavations were common place. The developer worked without regard for the neighborhood and would change his conduct (for as short a period as possible) only after repeated phone calls by local residents to town officials. While all agree that the town should have handled this part of the work differently, has anyone done anything other than talk?

As we start another spring/summer season - probably the fifth one for this development - this neighborhood has, courtesy of Liz Development, such pleasant conditions as, catch basins that don't take water, sections of streets that don't drain properly, landscaping that has not been repaired, cleared and empty house lots, houses that are unfinished, silt and dirt that flow onto the road from cleared land after each and every rainstorm and a new road that has yet to be paved.

The time has come for the talking and empty promises to come to an end. Only when the town takes control and puts into force any and all administrative powers that it possess to clearly establish that the work will be satisfactorily completed or there will be consequences will this most painful display of government ineffectiveness at its worst come to an end.

Robert & Robin Najarian

5 Saranac St.

North Smithfield