Board of Health studying former Mann Chemical site for contamination
Published on November 23rd, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The Board of Health wants to make sure children are not put at risk by construction of the new Central School.
Construction on the school set to go up angled behind the Middle School off Central Street may be delayed if the controversy over testing for soil contaminants is not resolved this month.
A group of concerned parents — Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools — came before the board last Tuesday, Nov. 16, to urge further testing of land around the site. The group claimed previous tests did not check for certain hazardous chemicals.
"They really opened my eyes... I feel we should be doing something," Board member Mike Rolli said.
The empty lot at 105 Central owned by Jeff Cataldo was Mann Chemical until 1995. The new Central School is set to go up next to and behind the 101 Central St. Middle School, which sits adjacent to the former Mann site.
Bob Weisbrod, parent and professional biologist, said original tests of the area checked for hydrocarbons and other chemicals associated with the work Mann Chemical did before the company closed in 1995. However, no tests were done to look for heavy metals.
The Mann property was a tannery for years in the late 1800s, and heavy metals, which are believed to contribute to cancer and other illnesses, were an integral part of the tanning process.
Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools have called for heavy metal testing in the Central School footprint and the portion of Cataldo's property to which he gave the school an easement for an access road to additional parking.
Also, legal counsel for the parents group suggested the idea of limiting the use of the old Mann site based on prior uses.
Board of Health Chairman Ben DiRusso said he is reviewing material presented to him at the Nov. 16 meeting.
"After going over the information, if we're not comfortable with what has been done, I will draft a letter from the Board (of Health) to the selectmen with recommendations," DiRusso said.
Selectmen have tried unsuccessfully to test Cataldo's property in the past. The board has also already approved a site plan for the new Central School.
But, the issue is set to come up again on the agenda of the Nov. 30 meeting of the selectmen.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!