HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-18 Board of Selectmen Executive Session Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting
Executive Session
December 18, 2007
The Executive Session convened at 9:20 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room, 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman James Bonazoll, Vice Chairman
Stephen Goldy, Secretary Ben Tafoya, Selectman Richard Schubert, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner and Paula Schena.
Litigation
The Town Manager noted that the Town is involved in a class action case regarding MBTE
contamination. There has been a settlement with the major players excluding Exxon. Town
Counsel noted that it is reasonable that we could get $1.66 million. One third of that will go to
the law firm plus additional expenses and the rest to the Town. We had a total of seven Town
wells that had MBTE. They want us to sign indicating that it is okay to settle. They will also
treat ongoing problems over the next 20 years. This settlement needs to be kept confidential
until the final settlement.
A Motion- by Goldy seconded by Tafoya to approve the settlement with BP, Chevron
ConocoPhillips, Shell, Valero, CITGO, Marathon, Sunoco, Amerada Hess, Flint Bills, El
_Paso and Tesoro regarding MBTE as outlined in a letter from Richard M. Sandman of the
law firm of Rodman, Rodman and Sandman dated December 12-2007, an a ahthe Board
of Selectmen authorize the Town Manager to sign all documents related to the settlement
was approved on a roll call vote with all four members voting in the affirmative.
A motion by Goldy seconded by Schubert to adjourn the Executive Session of December
18, 2007 at 9.35 p.m. was approved on a roll call vote with all four members voting in the
affirmative.
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