HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-06-17 Hazardous Waste Committee Minutesi;
Hazardous Waste Committee
June 17, 1992
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A meeting of the Hazardous Waste Committee came to order at 7:03
pm on Wednesday, June 17, 1992 in the Berger Room of Town Hall.
Present at the meeting were Chair John Sullivan, members Gretchen
Latowsky, Phil Doherty, Paul Exner and Gina Snyder. As the
beginning of the meeting was a joint meeting with the Board of
Health also in attendance were Board of Health members James
Nugent, Cathy Baranofsky and Bill Murphy and staff Ruth Cogan.
All people present identified themselves.
Presentation of the Master Plan: Dick Howard and Nancy Shipes of
the Community Planning and Development made a presentation con-
cerning the Master Plan. Nancy Shipes gave an overview of the
history of the development of the Plan and its goals. She noted
that the intent is to have October of every year "Master Plan
Month" with a forum with representatives all boards and inter-
ested civic groups to provide input to update the plan. She then
gave an overview of the maps showing topography, hydrology,
vacant lands, zoning, historical development, transportation,
public utilities, commercial areas and public and quasi-public
lands. Dick Howard discussed the process for implementation and
priority setting. He also discussed the Planned Unit Develop-
ments and Water Supply Protection sections of the Plan. There
was general discussion concerning underground storage tanks,
wells and the aquifer protection district.
The Hazardous Waste Committee moved to the Conference Room to
continue business.
The minutes of March 18, 1992 were approved unanimously.
There was a discussion of the membership of the Committee. Foy
Johnson had been appointed a member to fill out the term of Bill
Murphy. John Sullivan's term was due this June. Scott Freeman
had applied for the seat; Foy Johnson had applied for reappoint-
ment. There are 7 members of the Committee; there will be 2 mem-
bers appointed.
Paul Exner asked what the function of the Committee was. He
noted that they are not motivated to take a political position.
They need people to come to the Committee to ask for assistance.
They are volunteers to give advice and share their expertise.
The Board of Health does not seem to need their expertise. The
Selectmen never call them. He felt that they should petition the
Selectmen to move them to the Conservation Committee.
John Sullivan noted that he received most of his requests for
help from the Conservation Commission.
Paul Exner said they should be under the Conservation commission
as they are the environmental group in town.
John Sullivan noted that Sharon Offenstein of Haverhill Street is
still concerned about the Nike Site. There are issues of under-
ground storage tanks, hydraulic fluids and hydrocarbons. The
Nike Site was used by the tree and moth department for storage of
pesticides. Gretchen Latowsky suggested that Sharon Offenstein
call the Selectman and that the Nike Site issues and information
be forwarded to the Hazardous Waste Committee for review.
Ruth Cogan joined the meeting after the adjournment of the Board
of Health meeting. She noted that the Board of Selectmen had
reappointed Foy Johnson and she thought Scott Freeman at their
meeting last night. Gretchen Latowsky asked if it was usual for
the chair of the Committee to be notified of the applicants and
the date of appointment in order for the Committee to have input.
Cogan noted that she was at fault for not forwarding that infor-
mation. other concerns raised were that the Committee was not
notified about the doubling of storage capacity of hazardous
materials at a local business; there was no follow up from the
meeting with DEP's Amy Ferguson; the Committee was not notified
of the site visit to the Nike Site; that the Committee did not
understand the organization of the Town Government; and the that
the message they felt was that the Town did not need the Com-
mittee and that they were " a solution looking for a problem."
Gretchen Latowsky said she was working on a hazardous material by
-law for someone else and therefore would volunteer to work on a
regulation for Reading (an action strategy noted in the Master
Plan). The Committee did not want to discuss their role concern-
ing other issues raised in the action plan until after they
learned more about the organization of the town government. It
was decided that the next meeting would be July 13 and the only
agenda item would be a presentation concerning the organization
of the town government. .
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm
Submitted,
Rut `"L~ Cogan lc~l