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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-08-13 Board of Public Works Minutesc Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 11 of the Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street at 7;30 P.M. Present were Chairman Barker, Board Members Wood, Polychrones and Griffin, Superintendent Anthony V. Fletcher and Asst. Supt. of Engineering, William A. Redford. Also present were Gretchen Latowsky, Chairman of the Hazardous Waste Committee, Charles Costello, Conservation Commission Administrator and Jane Gallahue, Director of the Reading Board of Health. The Board first met with G.H.R. Co. of New Bedford, Ma. to discuss their proposal submitted for "The Protection of the Reading Well Field". Chairman Barker introduced the members of the BPW, the Department staff and the various members of guest Boards. Richard Reone, Chief Engineer and Vice President of G.H.R. and Bill. Norman, Supervising Geologist, introduced themselves. Mr. Reone stated he and Mr. Norman put together the proposal and will be doing most of the work. Mr. Reone stated G.H.R. is a relatively small firm with a branch office in Plymouth, Ma, and a future branch office in Lexington, Ma. He stated they have a full range of engineering services, including an environmental division which has done a lot of hazardous waste work and a laboratory which has full capabilities for water and wastewater analysis. He stated G.H.R. is presently working on the Baird & Maguire site in Holbrook as subcontractors for the EPA. Their private site related work includes the Town of Carver, UMass. Research Recovery Project, Town of Rochester and Town of Dartmouth. G.H.R. has designed a stormwater treatment system for parking lot runoff by developing a series of filters in holding tanks consisting of; (1) vermiculite, (2) wood chips and (3) sand filters. This system was tested and approved. He stated G.H.R. did a study on the ability of Board of Public Works Fleeting of August 13, 1984 Page vacuum sweeping of parking lots on a daily basis at a Kingston, Fla. shopping center. He stated G.H.R. has done landfill investigations under M.G.L. Chapter 21E. G.H.R.'s proposal. for Reading's wellfield was outlined as follows: Phase I: 1. Preliminary Survey (Meet with Town of Reading) 2. Detailed Survey 3. Long Term Consulting Services 4. Actual Groundwater Monitoring S. Generation of a Hydrogeological Regime Flap Phase II: 1. Detailed Hydrogeologic Program Gretchen Latowsky of the Hazardous Waste Committee asked what kind of maintenance does the vermiculite require? Mr. Reone replied the shopping center owner had to commit to vacuum sweeping every day, the actual tank would need replacement only twice a year. The cost of the regular maintenance was no problem and not a high cost. One of the largest problems we found was leaking underground storage tanks. He stated in Arlington, Vt., G.H.R. was called in to testify as experts on the installation of subsurface storage tanks by the phone company. They put in above-ground tanks with barriers around them. Firs. Latowski asked what kinds of problems have you had with access to information from other communities, all of our potential contaminations are from Towns other than Reading. Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Page 3 Mr. Reone replied you really have to be a detective, D.E.D Woburn has a policy of opening their files every Thursday, we know of these people on a first name basis. Charles Costello of the Conservation Commission asked do you think this development is compatible with a high quality water supply? Mr. Reone replied yes. Mr. Griffin stated recently Drinkwater passed papers with Spaulding & Slye, was a 21E study done on this? Supt. Fletcher replied yes, it was done by Goldberg-Z.oi.no. Charles Costello stated Spaulding & Slye have an option to buy in the Fall, but have not commmitted to this. Mr. Griffin asked is it conceivable we are drawing water under the river in a North/South direction? Mr. Reone replied yes. Mr. Griffin asked how does one determine the nature of our flow and how it directly affects the water supply? Mr. Norman replied by a combination of methods'as outlined in our proposal. First of all by a pump test in combination with other geophysical factors. Mr. Griffin asked are we at a critical point right now in that the work should start quickly? Mr. Reone replied yes. David Devine of the Planning Board asked would it be possible that a product of your work would be a risk analysis of other potential sources of contamination? Mr. Norman replied yes, and they could be rated risk-wise. Mrs. Wood left the meeting at 8:44 P.M. Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Page 4 Mr. Devine stated there are other sources of water available in Town. I feel we should have a regional water plan available. Mr. Reone stated there are some real problems associated with that. Mrs. Latowski asked is it reasonable that if the Town of Wilmington were to go to MDC, would this be more cost-effective for Wilmington? Mr. Reone replied yes, this is generally more cost-effective. Regarding payment Mr. Reone stated they would be looking for payment almost on a task by task basis. The Chairman thanked them for coming and the meeting with G.H.R. ended at 8;48 P.M. The Board next met with Metcalf & Eddy Inc. at 8;56 P.M. Chairman Barker introduced the members of the Board and guests. Present from M&E were; John F. Shawcross - Project Manager Richard L. Ball, Jr. - Vice President Elizabeth K. Levin - MEPA Planning Warren Diesl - Senior Hydrogeologist Mr. Shawcross stated that M&E has been involved with the Town of Burlington well. contamination problems. Mr. Shawcross outlined the three stages; 1. Stop immediate threat; 2. Obtain data and develop an Aquifer Protection Plan; 3. Implement an Aquifer Protection Plan. Mrs. Wood joined the meeting at 9:00 P.M. Mr. Shawcross outlined the three stages in detail with the following timetable; Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Wage 5 Stage 1 - Now to December 1984 Stage 2 - December 1984 - Summer 1985 Stage 3 - Summer 1985 - Town Meeting 1986 Warren Diesl outlined the specific tasks; 1. Actually define the recharge area; 2. Locate existing and potential. contamination sources and assess their threat; 3. Work with Engineering and Planning staff to develop projected solutions. Mr. Diesl pointed out that data is available on our watershed from the following sources; USGS Reports Pumping Tests DEGE Monitoring Wells Water Duality and Water Flow Data from the Watershed Associations Elizabeth Levin outlined the regulatory aspects of the project. She stated her background is that of a planner. She stated M&E will be helping the Board with the new regulations and working within existing regulations. She showed an outline of the MEPA process. She stated this process was started by the Town of Reading with their appeal to DEOE. She went through the process and stated that a consultant would be very helpful to the Town. M&E would review the E.N.F. and document the types of things necessary. She stated there is an opportunity for influence within the existing regulations and the opportunity for intervention. She stated the Town needs technical information; regulatory information and the ability to get along with other groups and organizations. Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1934 Page b Richard Ball stated M&E is truly a multi-disciplinary firm. He staed they are very interested in helping Reading conduct their studies in this area. Gretchen Latowski of the Hazardous Waste Committee stated our possible threats come from out of Town. How can an Aquifer Protection Plan help us? Mr. Shawcross replied we see this kind of problem becoming more and more frequent. North Reading already has groundwater contamination. We feel once the information and problem is fully made clear to them, then we explain the nature of the risk to Reading's water supply, we should be able to persuade them it is in their own best interests to align their policies with your policies. Elizabeth Levin stated a plan can be a strategy. We could go through the MEPA process and become known. Charlie Costello of the Conservation Commission asked do you think the project as proposed is compatible to Reading's water supply? Mr. Shawcross replied the maximum levels of contaminants are extremely rigid. I guess my answer is no. Mr. Griffin asked do we monitor the North Reading papers? Mr. Costello replied yes. Mr. Shawcross stated we have a similar and intense situation in Burlington and [Medford. Mrs. Wood asked what will M&E do about mitigating measures? Mr. Shawcross replied our objective is through the MEPA process to get the developer to put up the money. Mrs. Wood asked is it reasonable to assume the developer will put up the money for the study and then put the money into the mitigating measures? Hoard of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Page 7 Mr. Shawcross replied this is why you need a consultant. Supt. Fletcher stated we can cause them to do an E.I.R. th have to come up with the mitigating measures. Chairman Harker thanked M&E for coming and the meeting end 9:49 P.M. The Hoard met with S.E.A. at 9:58 P.M. Chairman Harker introduced the Hoard Members and the guest Present from S.E.A. were: Arnold Goldstein, Tony Zuena and Gould. Mr. Goldstein showed a chart of S.E.A.'s Project Team. He we have worked with developers and with municipalities. He stated the regulatory process is evolving and always changing. Mr. Zuena stated we are currently working with the Town of Pepperell and also the M.D.C. Sewer Pumping Station. He stated S.E.A. is determined to prevent anything from happening here for at least one year. Mark Gould, Project Manager, stated our proposal is one of reaction and gaining control., and they will supply additional roadblocks to slow down the developer. He stated the 100 Acre Well Field and surrounding area has been studied thoroughly. Tony Zuena stated S.E.A. will simulate this area through a computer model. He also added that under the D.E.D.E. Aquifer Aquisition Program the Town could purchase this land. He stated this program will be up for refunding. Gretchen Latowski of the Hazardnus Waste Committee asked what is a computer model and how would the Town have access to this information? Mr. Zuena stated we will use a personal computer and a standard computer model that works anywhere. If you or someone in the community Board of Public Works Meeting of August 13, 1984 Page 8 had the knowledge you could simulate this yourselves. This is easily used over and over again. David Devine of the Planning Board asked would you be looking at other possible sources of contamination, for example, I-93. Mr. Zuena replied yes, and we would inventory potential sources of contamination of all surrounding areas. Additionally, you should have a strong relationship with respective Boards' in Wilmington. Chairman Barker thanked S.E.A. for coming and their meeting ended at 10:48 P.M. Charlie Costello of the Conservation Commission stated D.E.O.E. will be hosting a site visit on Tuesday, August 21. It is imperative that we be well represented at this meeting. Mr. Griffin stated I am not in any position to vote on one of these groups tonight, but I am commited to the principle of selecting one of these three groups and to go to Finance Committee asking for these funds. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to hire a consulting firm for the purpose.of surveying the threat presented by the development North of the Ipswich River to the Town of Reading water supply. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 that the Board ask for a Reserve Fund Transfer of $25,040 in increments of $15,000, $5,000 and $5,000 or however the Finance Committee plans to handle this. The Board signed the payroll and billroll for the period ending August 10, 1984. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Sec re ry G4 c~'~