More tests at Mann site
Published on May 19th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - Selectmen say more tests may be needed on the Mann Chemical property at 105 Central St., the proposed site of the new Central School.
Testing means more expense and confusion for the Stoneham school building projects, but the safety of children is at stake.
"Studies have shown levels of carcinogens on the property," Selectmen Darin Leahy said.
Citizens voted May 6 at the Special Town Meeting to grant authority to selectmen to accept an easement which would allow for the necessary parking at the new Central Street school.
At Town Meeting Leahy —elected to the board last month — raised questions about the public safety of the site.
"I'm worried about liability and worried about people getting sick," Leahy said in a separate interview.
The School Committee, who sponsored the article on the recommendation of the town Building Committee, were "annoyed" as Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie said, that information about problems on the site was not presented to the School Committee prior to Town Meeting.
"I got on the board after the site plan had been approved," Leahy said.
"Things could have gone differently," School Committee member Stephen Gucciardi said. "The (communication) process needs fixing."
Leahy said he wanted to get what he believes to be important information to the public. He sites a 1997 Department of Environmental Protection survey, which reads "The site has been determined to have been contaminated..."
"Darin does his homework," Selectmen Patrick Jordan said.
"If we have to test it again we will," Selectmen Cosmo Ciccarello said.
The cost of more tests will be around $5,000 Ciccarello estimated.
Gucciardi wonders from where the money is coming.
"I thought we had nothing for busing; isn't busing also a child safety issue.."
The School Committee made it clear they want to know the position of the selectmen on school issues.
Right now it is unclear what the selectmen are going to do about the Mann site.
"If we are going to assume some of the liability we should test again," Ciccarello said. "We have authority to accept the easement, but we don't have to."
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