The
advisory board conducted the pre-town meeting last night. A few people were in
attendance. There was a quorum so the advisory board was able to vote
recommendations on the articles.
The warrant
has eight articles. The last two articles are citizen petitions. The Advisory
Board took no action on those articles; they do not involve money.
Article
2 was discussed first. The Sewer Superintendent, Kent Songer, presented a
timeline regarding the lagoon decommissioning. Another $135,000 is needed to
test the sludge in the lagoon. The sludge has already been tested.
The sludge
is the same material that has already been deposited in the landfill at the
treatment plant, which has more than enough capacity to take in the estimated
8,900 cubic yards of sludge left in the lagoon.
So
what’s the big deal? The EPA is insisting on the additional testing or the
sludge will need to treated as hazardous waste and shipped to a landfill in NY
at an astronomical cost. Our government inaction! The Sewer superintendent and
commissioners are in a tight spot. The fines from the EPA run in the
$10,000/day range. The treatment plant is under a consent order from the DEP to
deal with the lagoon closure. The upgrade at the treatment plant ( the $6
million dollar upgrade we should NOT have had to pay one cent for) was also
part of the consent order.
I
can understand the sewer commissioners bringing this plan forward for the
town’s consideration. The TOWN is
the one on the hook for fines and/or the cost of the remediating the sludge. I
voted to place this article on the ballot as a selectman. As a citizen, I will
not vote in favor of this article on town meeting floor. I believe the EPA
should enforce the original contract with Erving paper mill. The original
contract clearly states that the paper mill will pay for the cost of the lagoon
decommissioning and landfill closure as well as any “upgrade” to the treatment
(That WE the PEOPLE are currently
paying for).
Article
4 and 5 are very short and simple. Article 4 deals with transfers to pay for
prior year bills. The motions will be read that night. This is a change in
procedure for Templeton. For example under Article 4 there will be a motion to
transfer from Selectmen’s Office expense $585.00 to pay for balances of
electric service at the town office building at 690 Patriots Rd. In the past,
that motion would have been a separate warrant article. This change in
procedure is a recommendation by our new town counsel, who will be in
attendance at this special town meeting.
I
hope to see you at the Special town Meeting on November 15th!
My
opinion…supported by FACTS ! ! !
Julie
Farrell
The material in the lagoon and the landfill was deposited prior to 2009 the thirty year end point of the contractual relationship with Erving Paper Mills. The town was very likely cheated by Leonard Kopelman and the State of Massachusetts in the case heard before Judge Cornetta case 02-0202C in Worcester Superior Court. The full Federal Lawsuit is on disc and should be obtainable at the town offices. You will need special software (Summation) to access the information on this disc. Get this disc and see how you have been possibly cheated by K&P. This information cost the town one million dollars but was not used in the State Case due to possible corrupt actions by more than a few but especially it is alleged K&P and Lenny.
ReplyDeleteMr. Farrell spent - how many years fighting this battle? - I would rather not, at this time, take up that battle since it has gotten nowhere in the past. I don't think its a productive use of our time and resources any longer. Mr Farrell appears to have the means and the motive to continue that fight and I certainly would encourage him to do so. As a commission member I would certainly cooperate in any manner possible. If there was a citizen's petition to put it to a vote to spend more resources to continue that battle I could support that also, but I don't intend to get sucked into that issue when there are more immediate needs to be dealt with. If any of you would like to get on the agenda of one of the bi-monthly meetings you are welcome, we would be happy to hear you.
DeleteTom Jeleniewski
Julie, I'm sure the sewer commissioners would be more than agreeable to get the EPA to enforce the original contract. Will you be willing to accept the $10,000 per day fine if that falls through? All I see is another protracted legal battle with very uncertain results. You can play both sides of the fence if you want to. I, personally, would prefer to cut our losses and move forward. I think your efforts would be better utilized by focusing on the Water/Light department ( who are really screwing the town , my personal opinion of course) (signed) Tom Jeleniewski
ReplyDeleteTom, you have had time to examine the evidence concerning the WWTP contract. In your opinion was Erving a party to the 1974 contract? Pete Farrell
DeleteHi Tom,
DeleteThe town is on the brink of receivership. There is no way to pay a $10/day fine, never mind a fine of$10,000/day. I am not prepared to cut our losses of 10-15 million dollars of contractual obligations by Erving Paper Mills.
Original contract - pay for treatment plant upgrade ...that cost $6 million
Original Contract - pay for lagoon closure ...rough guesstimate 2 million.
Original Contract - pay for closure of landfill...rough guesstimate how many acres is that unlined landfill filled with sludge that will now be characterized as "hazardous" ?? Give or take 6-10 million.
I completely understand your position and I respect it. I have a very different position on this issue. As for Light and Water that is not "my" issue. That is a town issue. It remains to be seen if people wish to pursue the options of forming DPW. Time will tell on that one. It will be difficult to make an informed decision given the lack of information from the TMLWP. Still waiting for the audit of the wind turbine.....
Tom,
I wouldn't lose any sleep over my position regarding the warrant article. People don't listen to me anyway! 4 to 5 years later someone might begrudgingly say to me "you were right" . My life is awesome like that.
Take care
Julie
See above
DeleteI don't understand why there is an outstanding bill from the previous town attorneys. I thought when they were re-appointed in February they said they would work with the town's budget for the rest of the fiscal year. If that was stated and agreed upon, how come they are billing for an additional amount over what was left in the budget? Did I not understand that conversation correctly?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I remember, you are right. They started sending in their bills late, because they were so high, and they knew we were waiting for them. Do I want to pay them, hell no. Those people screwed us royally. I want Jeff Ritter to call them, and let them know we do not have any money, just to see what they say. Maybe out of the bottom of his cold tight fisted heart, He will let it go. If we have to pay, we have to pay. Bart took a fit, he said it will cost us two hundred dollars a hr., to fight the fact that we owe $4,442.04. This in my estimation, would be nuts, so in a way he is right. If we pay this, I think we can send a message, that we do not want to do this. We feel his company, did not represent the best interest of the town, and any respect, the people in this town had for their firm is long gone. Myself, I will not be happy until they make Old Len, stand on our Common or, Boston Common, to tell us he is sorry, for contributing to the financial mess we are in. His words were, "he represented the majority of the selectmen". Sorry bud, you were supposed to represent the people, in this town, the very people who paid your every bill, with no complaint. Thanks alot, you picked the wrong people to back, and it will come out in the wash. My opinion, Bev.
DeleteIt just hit me, not only did Old Len. fail to represent the tax payers of this town, he failed to protect us! That is what this is all about! The whole ball of wax, way back to the 1974 contract. He played games, giving his old bud, Mr. Housen, at the papermill a break, just a business deal. The results were good for everyone but us. He did not do his job then, he did not do his job now. We can not roll over and let him get away with this. I agree with Julie, "they did not do things right". That is not ok. Tommy, we are so broke, I do not think you understand it. HOW??? WHERE do you think they would get money if they fine us? We can give them 252Bald Rd., or E.T, they can take that! You can not get blood out of a rock. I say ask for the investigation, won't cost us a thing, depending on how things work out, I would like to see some people fined for their lack of professional behavior, and we can deal with our sludge down the road, like in May. We do have a good town counsil, and Reps, and Senitors. Let them help us. That is what we elect them for. Bev
DeleteBev, Its quite simple. We will go into receivership. The state will take over, lay everybody off and use the money to pay the fines or whatever. Think about Chelsea. I'm not against trying to enforce the old contract, I just think you can't get blood from a stone. If y'all want to pursue it, I encourage you to do so. Bev and Julie et al are much more versed in town finances than I will ever be. We at the TWWTP would like to move forward and get the mess cleaned up. The money is available. Trying to get the old contract enforced could be pursued later without risking the wrath of the EPA now. If the taxpayers don't approve the money transfer they do so at their own peril.
DeleteTom Jeleniewski
Seems to me good old Templeton seems to have a great big bulleye right on the seat of our pants. Like in that movie Animal House where the frat guy says "could I have another please." Are we ever gonna stand up for ourselves and say "we have been cheated enough?"
ReplyDeleteOK, who wants to make a substitute motion to pay the 585 dollar light bill in pennies?
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me. How did that happen? Everyone knows when the bills are supposed to be in so they can be paid? Do they have a clothing allowance, for penny counting clothes? If not, they may need more money. Really, a clothing allowance for the office staff?? It must have been "the days of wine and roses!" Plus, too much money, with not enough to spend it on. Lets see, what else do we need? A golden toilet, marble urinal? All kidding aside, some took care of them selves, no one took care of us!! My opinion, Bev. Oh Yes, I think I heard Mr. Columbus and Mr. Kwasney, and Mr. Dymbek roll over in their graves. Those were really great men. I wish they were here today.
DeleteOH BOY, just read the gardner news for today (Friday), about the investigation issue, Wait till you see Chris Stewarts response. He cannot be gone soon enough, another useless puppet sitting in that seat of his.
ReplyDeleteCan you give us a summary? I don't get that paper anymore.
DeleteSelectman chris stewart said he is not in favor of the investigations.His feeling is that it would cost us credibility.His understanding is that the attorney general has already looked at some of these and found them to be baseless...It does make the town look bad.Mr.stewart said he is against the citizens petition because he believes requesting the investigations would represent moving backwards rather than looking to the future.
ReplyDeleteIn other words bend over and like it!
so much for getting things right in templeton/learning from the past mistake of trusting the bos and the way things were done, vote to get it done. lets get the truth once and for all of tempelton we'll be better for it!
shareholder
What cost????? is he stupid????? the AG is not going to send Templeton a bill if they investigate. This is our chairman of the board!!!!!! Please please someone with brains step up for May!!!
ReplyDelete