Nov. 5--DEERFIELD BEACH -- The state Department of Environmental Protection has sued Vice Mayor Sylvia Poitier and her daughter Felecia Poitier for not cleaning up contamination at their dry cleaning business.

"It's very frightening because we have done everything they told us to do," Sylvia Poitier said. "I have no money to [fulfill] the cleanup agreement and am still trying to get the state cleanup fund to help with the costs."

Reached at the business Monday, Felecia Poitier said she did not want to comment.

The complaint alleges that contamination of groundwater at or near Deerfield Cleaners by dry cleaning chemicals at or near the facility has created an imminent hazard to the environment and to public health.

A judge could award daily fines on the 14-count complaint, of up to $10,000 on two counts and up to $50,000 on the remaining 12.

The complaint dates from a March 2006 inspection at 85 W. Hillsboro Blvd. The state alleges "a pollution condition at the facility since at least 2005 and constitutes a continuing violation" and that there is inadequate management of waste containers and recordkeeping, among other complaints.

Sylvia Poitier signed a voluntary cleanup agreement with the state in August, 2006. It was terminated a year later because she was not complying with its terms or meeting deadlines, according to a state DEP spokeswoman.

The Poitiers have until Nov. 17 to respond to the lawsuit that was filed in September. Sylvia Poitier said the drive-thru is a "drop station" and that clothes are dry cleaned elsewhere. She disputed the state's allegation of a continuing pollution condition.

"I know there is not an ongoing contamination," Poitier said. "I believe this is for a past violation."

Broward County contends the business owes $25,601 in unpaid penalties and costs for alleged violations over how it handled hazardous materials and did not fully comply with a settlement agreement by following a payment plan. Though the fine is outstanding, a November 2008 county document says that the business did make corrective actions: it ceased operating as a hazardous material facility; decontaminated and disconnected dry cleaning equipment; used a licensed hauler to dispose of any hazardous materials remaining at the site, and properly closed a 500-gallon underground storage tank.

Linda Trischitta can be reached at ltrischitta@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4233.

-----

To see more of the Sun Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sun-sentinel.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009, Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.