Roberto Clemente Park trial: Construction company owners found responsible for illegal dumping 

A federal jury has held the owners of a Ronkonkoma construction company responsible for illegally dumping tens of thousands of tons of contaminated construction material at a Brentwood park.

The verdict, reached Wednesday, the third day of a trial at Central Islip federal court, could yield a windfall of more than $4 million for the Town of Islip, the town's lawyer said. 

The town had filed the racketeering lawsuit in 2016 to recoup the costs of cleaning up Roberto Clemente Park. Islip alleged that dozens of defendants, including contractors and a former town parks commissioner, had schemed to dump an estimated 40,000 tons of debris at the town-owned park more than a decade ago. 

In a statement Thursday, Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said town officials “are grateful for the hard work of the court, the jury, and our attorneys. ... We believe our perseverance has demonstrated that the Town of Islip will take all steps necessary to seek justice, accountability and protect the rights of its citizens.” 

Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) celebrated the verdict and hailed recent efforts to rebuild the park. 

"This fight was never just about a park; it was about restoring our dignity, our quality of life and our fundamental right to live, work and play in a safe, thriving and vibrant environment for generations to come,” he said.

The Clemente dumping incident, which came to light in 2013, highlighted concerns that illegal dumping was rampant across Long Island, often occurring in locations such as parks and the state-protected pine barrens.

The jury held defendants Thomas Datre Sr., Clara Datre and their company, Daytree at Cortland Square Inc., liable for public nuisance, the town's lawyer, Paul F. Millus of Garden City, said. He added he planned to seek $4,318,632 in damages.

The Datres' lawyer, Andrew J. Campanelli of Merrick, did not return a message seeking comment. He had told Newsday previously his clients "basically had nothing to do with this."

Many of the original defendants, including former town Parks Commissioner Joseph J. Montuori Jr., had been dismissed from the case after reaching settlements with the town, court records show.

Montuori was one of several people who pleaded guilty to criminal charges for their roles in the dumping. 

Another Daytree owner, Thomas Datre Jr., son of Thomas Datre Sr. and Clara Datre, was released from Suffolk County jail in December 2017 after completing an 8-month sentence for his role in the dumping. Datre Jr., whom prosecutors called the dumping scheme's "mastermind," had pleaded guilty to four felony counts of endangering public health, safety or the environment.

In a separate case, eight contractors, waste brokers and haulers agreed in May 2021 to pay more than $600,000 in civil penalties for dumping at the park.

The Clemente case surfaced in late 2013 when a town park ranger reported questionable dumping at the park.

The park was closed in April 2014 and remained shuttered for more than three years as crews removed tons of hazardous waste. 

It reopened in July 2017, and a $1.25 million skate park was added in 2023. 

Nelsena Day, a Brentwood community activist, said the dumping case still haunts the predominantly minority hamlet. Census data shows 73% of the population is Hispanic, 35.5% is white and 16% is Black. The U.S. Census allows respondents to identify with more than one racial or ethnic group. 

“It’s been horrible for the community," Day said. “People still have a bad taste in their mouths. ... This whole situation has never gone away.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.