Citizens, Selectmen question MDC policy
Published on September 5th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham wants to know what’s going on behind Campbell Road.
Metropolitan District Com-missioner David Balfour said that he told Stoneham Selectmen 18 months ago that if the hockey rinks deal fell through, he was going to rip up an acre of pavement and create a field behind the Central Garage on Pond Street.
Balfour added that Stoneham has no jurisdiction. His notice was a courtesy. But Stoneham residents and officials think Balfour has been anything but courteous. Martin Cicatelli and other Campbell Road folks came to the Aug. 28 Selectmen’s meeting for answers. They were angry that work went on so close to Campbell Road without any notice or explanation to the neighbors.
”These people are abutters,” said Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello. “The only notice anyone got was a call to Tony (Kennedy, Selectmen Chair-man) after the work was started.”
Balfour said the MDC has no plans for the field other than “creating green space,” but he said he’d entertain requests from the Stoneham Recreation Commission.
“Maybe they could use it for T-Ball,” Balfour said. His people are in the process of removing the pavement and reseeding and looming the ground.
At the Aug. 28 meeting, Campbell Road residents asked about the results of environmental testing on the site.
“The land is fine,” Balfour said.
Neighbors hope so with dust from the work site blowing through their street. Selectmen did not have the tests results in hand at the Aug. 28 meeting.
Ciccarello was angry: “We are the first to respond with police and fire when something happens, they (MDC) don’t pay taxes, and we get the burden.”
Selectmen have written a letter to Governor Jane Swift asking for improved notification and cooperation from the MDC.
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