Mann property owner tells town to test easement for Central School
Published on December 15th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - The town must pay for any new studies on the easement between the old Mann Chemical site and the proposed site for the new Central School on Central Street.
Selectmen formally signed the papers Dec. 14 accepting an easement over the property of Jeff and Norma Marie Cataldo to accommodate an access road and parking for the new Central School.
The easement abuts school property and a railroad right of way.
"If you're going to build the school then test it (the easement)," Jeff Cataldo said.
"People have a right, to some extent, to know what's in that easement," Cataldo added.
Weston and Sampson, a North Shore environmental engineering firm, will evaluate past studies for $10,000. The firm has done work for the town in the past, but selectmen agreed with Town Administrator Jeff Nutting that it was ancient history.
Parents for Healthy Schools did not help choose the firm, but they will be able to review the firm's analysis. (The Parents' questions about ground contamination on the site were the impetus behind reevaluating its safety.)
Selectmen also said they expect the money for testing to come out of the School Building Project's Central School budget, which is already around $500,000 over budget.
Problems on Central Street could stall the redistricting plans presented by the School Department this week.
In other town news:
Selectmen scheduled a public hearing on cemetery regulations for 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, followed by a public hearing on Franklin Street road and drainage concerns for 7:30 p.m.
On Jan. 21 the Selectmen want to talk to MediaOne about noncompliance with the cable contract. And the board wants an update on the MDC's plans to build an ice hockey rink in town.
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