New firm testing for contamination around Central School site
Published on March 22nd, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Gale Associates of Peabody will take 11 more borings on and around the proposed Central School site to determine whether the area is safe for a school.
Licensed site professional Jim Luker met with representatives from Stoneham Parents for Healthy Schools and town officials Monday night. Cheryl Walsh and Bob Weisbrod represented the parents group. Town officials present included Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, School Superintendent Joe Connelly, School Committee Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie, Selectmen Chairman Al Conti and several members of the School Building Committee.
"I most definitely have confidence in Gale," Walsh said.
Before the meeting Nutting, Luker and Walsh walked the Central Street site. At the meeting the group decided Gale would take eight more borings later this week along the railroad bed adjacent to the proposed school site to test for petroleum products, pesticides and heavy metals. The borings would be in different depths and locations than passed tests.
Two additional borings will be dug on the footprint of the school to "categorize the soil," according to Nutting, because the School Building Committee wants final assurances that even with contaminants in the railroad bed the school site is clean.
"They may put off construction bids for a couple weeks," Nutting said.
Luker told the assembled citizens that he would have results within two weeks, at which time another meeting is scheduled.
The cost of the initial testing, not including any necessary follow-up or remediation, will be around $15,000, Nutting said, quoting Luker's estimate. Luker will present Nutting with an exact figure this week.
Another meeting is scheduled for April 3 at which time townspeople will find out "What now?" for the embattled site. More testing? Remediation? A green light for construction?
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