- Town Notes -
Published on January 19th, 2000
Elections
Gordon E. Perks of 10 Seward Road has pulled nomination papers in hopes of winning a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Frederick Kranefuss of 12 Gerry St. has pulled papers for Constable.
Mann Chemical
Members of the parents group Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools say they feel left out of an evaluation process selectmen invited them to join on Nov. 30.
At the Nov. 30 meeting, selectmen agreed to hire an independent engineering firm to review past studies of the area around the proposed site of the new Central School off Central Street. The parents group feared inadequate testing had failed to reveal harmful chemicals in the soil.
Parents Cheryl Walsh and Bob Weisbrod were named as liaisons between the parents group and the selectmen. They hoped to give input as to which firm to choose and to be a part of the subsequent analysis of the property.
Town Administrator Jeff Nutting chose the firm of Weston and Sampson without consulting the parents.
"We are under time constraints with the school scheduled to go out to bid soon and begin construction this spring," Nutting said. "I didn't want to waste time taking forever to pick a firm. Weston and Sampson has a good reputation."
As the process continued Walsh, Weisbrod and their group were again upset because the two areas which they identified as problem areas in meetings with the selectmen — the Mann property easement and the railroad right of way — were not targeted for testing.
Nutting said the firm told him that since most of the dirt on the easement was to be removed filled in, and paved over, there should be no threat of contamination. Nutting added that a fence would be placed to keep kids from the railroad right of way area.
Parents for Healthy Schools were not satisfied with these answers, asking about contamination during the construction process before the easement is paved and doubting the ability of a fence to keep children away from the traditionally polluted railroad bed area.
Weston and Sampson are still examining samples taken from the site and should have a written report ready by the Feb. 1 or Feb. 8 selectmen's meeting.
Walsh said she is not confident that the Weston and Sampson review was adequate because she asserts that the firm tested in the same spots for the same chemicals as the previous 11 tests, which Stoneham Parents for Healthy School labeled incomplete at the beginning of this debate.
Bike paths and public space
The municipal parking area on Gould Street belongs to the town and part or all of the lot can be taken by the town at any time for public use.
Town Counsel Bill Solomon confirmed this point in response to a question from Bike Path Committee Chairman Cameron Bain at the Jan. 26 selectmen's meeting.
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