Kraft Foods agrees to help determine source of foul odor
Published on August 27th, 2008
WOBURN, MA - A Kraft Foods official told the City Council last night his company would help the city determine the source of a foul odor that residents say is coming from the Atlantic Gelatin facility on Hill Street in East Woburn.
Among the measures agreed to by Dennis Gordon, plant manager at Atlantic Gelatin, were the hiring of an "odor expert" at Kraft's expense to monitor the air quality near the facility, and a tour of the plant by Jack Fralick, the city's Board of Health Agent.
"A collaborative approach is the right approach," said Gordon, during a meeting of the council's Liaison Committee. "It's important to get the process going and learn what a third party has to say."
Kraft's consent to the council's requests represents a shift in the level of cooperation with the city, which Mayor Thomas McLaughlin last month described as "limited."
The company will also turn over any data collected about odor complaints in the last two years, and advise residents who call the plant about the odor to also contact the Board of Health so it can monitor the situation.
Also, the council will send a communication to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to ask if that agency wants to get involved in determining the source of the odor, while the council will also establish a 5-member committee to "try to come up with a solution" to the odor problem, according to Alderman at-large Paul Denaro.
Kraft Foods is the second-largest food and beverage corporation (behind PepsiCo) based in North America, with a number of familiar brands, including Jell-o, Fig Newtons and Oreo cookies. The plant in East Woburn - commonly referred to as "the Gelly" - has "been a part of Woburn for 89 years" and employs about 250 people, according to Gordon.
Atlantic Gelatin
Last night's meeting was a follow-up to a discussion on Aug. 12, when a number of East Woburn residents complained to the council about an odor from the plant that was likened to "dead animals."
No Kraft officials were at the earlier meeting, but the company was represented last night by Gordon, who told the council Kraft "take(s) very seriously our responsibility to our host community, as well as our neighbors in Winchester and Stoneham."
Gordon did not go as far as acknowledging the foul odor is caused by Kraft, but allowed that, "We are committed to do all we can do to minimize the impact of our operation to our neighbors."
Ward 5 Alderman Darlene Mercer-Bruen, whose district includes East Woburn, said she called for public meetings about the odor issue after failing to "get any satisfaction" in private meetings.
"It (odor) happens much more frequently than in the past," said Mercer-Bruen. "Why don't you know that it's happening? Why does it have to become a public nuisance? The smell is so bad they (residents) can taste it."
Fralick said he suspected the smell is from what he called "fugitive odors," not necessarily directly from the plant's exhaust but a by-product of one of its manufacturing processes.
He noted Kraft Foods was cited by the DEP in 1990 for an air pollution issue that was apparently resolved.
Evaluating odors, Fralick said, is difficult because of their transience.
"They're out there, but other than your nose, there's really no way to monitor odors," said Fralick. "But what smells bad on one side of the street may not be a problem on the other side of the street."
He did allow there are "odor experts" who are able to collect data and monitor the situation in a certain area.
Public hearing
Washington Street resident Dennis Scott, who said he is a direct abutter to the Atlantic Gelatin plant, said company officials know what causes the smell, which he agreed has gotten worse in the past couple of years.
He called the company's hotline "worthless," and invited Gordon to come to his house when the odor is particularly bad.
"I'm the one with the disgusting dead animal smell," said Scott. "Come on over and appreciate what you say doesn't exist."
Central Court resident David Hunt cited a potential health risk - particularly asthma - from breathing the air near Kraft. He also agreed the hotline was an attempt by Kraft at "misdirection."
"The problem doesn't get fixed, but you have a feel good sensation" after calling the company to complain, according to Hunt.
He asked Kraft to "have a little transparency" when it comes to its operations.
Paul Meaney, Executive Director of the Woburn Business Association, reminded the council that the plant has been in existence for 89 years, pays about $1 million a year in property tax and water/sewer fees, and employs some 250 people, some of whom were in the audience at City Hall last night.
Also, Meaney noted Kraft donated $10,000 to the city to start a taxi discount program of senior citizens.
"Let's not just throw it off and say it's an odor," said Meaney. "The WBA thinks they're a decent, good business here. We do not want to see (Kraft Foods) leave this city."
Kathy Bailey, of Utica Street, said she has called the plant "only a couple of times" and has been told by Kraft officials they "will close the door" from which the odor is emanating, an indication according to Bailey "they know what (the odor) is."
Central Street resident Frank Luzzo agreed the "odor is horrible," and said the Environmental Protection Agency should get involved.
Phil Boudreau, a former Asbury Avenue resident who works at the plant, said he doesn't smell the odor until he gets to the parking lot at the Gelly.
"I don't think the smell is as bad as people are putting it up to be," he said.
Ward 7 Alderman Raymond Drapeau said Kraft would exhibit "a show of good faith" if it funded a third party survey for the odor situation, while City Council President Charles Doherty suggested some of the other measures to which Kraft eventually agreed.
"We'd like our Board of Health representative to get inside," said Doherty.
Gordon noted access to the plant is generally limited due to the "proprietary nature" of the operations at the plant.
"We need to protect the food aspect ... and there are safety implications," he said.
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