Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi motions to accept the report that tasks Health Director Gina Armstrong with setting up an additional meeting with state and federal agencies.
Pittsfield Calls For Increased Monitoring, Communication Regarding Hill 78
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Increased levels of contamination in groundwater near the toxic waste sites near Allendale School have city councilors asking for increased scrutiny.
The City Council accepted a report on Tuesday that calls for another meeting with the state Departments of Environmental Protection and of Public Health, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in response to the May test results around what is known as Hill 78 and Building 71. The sites are toxic landfills created as part of the General Electric cleanup.
In May, the groundwater test results in two wells were found to be above benchmarks, but not at an actionable level. The wells will be tested again in October. The change in the test results has many members of the City Council asking for increased reporting, monitoring, and meetings with the state and federal officials.
"They haven't been at the table and that needs to happen," said Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi.
According to Health Director Gina Armstrong, the state tests for hazardous chemicals in groundwater and air samples. The increase in findings in the groundwater is above benchmarks, which were set as a guide, but is still in compliance with GE's requirements.
"It is still below the action level," Armstrong said.
Armstrong said the wells were specifically drilled for testing and are not linked in any way to the city's drinking water system.
"In no way would it cause an exposure in drinking water," she said.
Ward 4 Councilor Christopher Connell said part of the reason for the spikes is that there is no bottom liner at the Hill 78 site so when there is a lot of rain, more chemicals leach out of the bottom.
Nonetheless, none of the councilors are comfortable with seeing a spike.
"We need to have these more often, especially if there are issues," Councilor at Large Melissa Mazzeo said. "There are benchmark levels for a reason."
Nor are residents comfortable with the new readings. Hill 78 has been a concern for years because of its proximity to Allendale School on Connecticut Avenue. Valerie Anderson implored the City Council to push the EPA to have monthly tests, not twice a year.
"This is a health issue for not only the children that go to Allendale School but all of us who live in the City of Pittsfield," she said, urging the council to "be firm" with the EPA.
Anderson is also asking for the air monitoring systems to be move closer to the waste dumps and that the equipment is working properly. DEP had found and repaired a malfunctioning air monitor, but it isn't known how long it had been broken.
Armstrong said there is a meeting scheduled for the 24th with the Citizens Coordinating Committee and representatives from the DEP will be on hand. Armstrong is also now being tasked with scheduling another meeting for the City Council to have questions answered.
She added that the test results in October will be available about a month after and that will shed more light on the elevated levels.
In other business, John Herrera was appointed as the new director of veterans services. He fills the vacancy caused by Jim Clark moving from that role to the director of the Council on Aging.
Herrera comes to the job after five years at Berkshire Community College as the veteran's representative - a job that followed two years as a veteran student liaison enrollment fellow at the college. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1983 until 2009.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Dalton Police Department Budget Fails at Finance
By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Finance Committee last week voted against the Police Department budget, citing concerns with anticipated financial constraints.
The department proposed a budget of $1,679,488, a $144,232 or 9.39 percent, increase mainly caused by salary increases.
When a motion on a budget fails, it goes back to the department, town manager, and the Select Board to see what can be done to rectify the reason for the failure, Finance Committee Chair William Drosehn said.
The salary budget has an increase of $139,002, or 10.30 percent.
"This is year one of a contractual year, and that's why there's a substantial jump, and there won't be a jump the next two years in a contract. Every first year of a contract is a jump based on salary increase," Police Chief Deanna Strout said.
Committee member Thomas Irwin criticized the negotiations, stating that he believed Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson did not take into account the financial constraints facing the town.
Considering the budgets that have been deliberated on and the available projections the overall percent increase for fiscal year 2026 is anticipated to be 5.41 percent, said Town Accountant Sandra Albano.
Multiple people driving by the structure at 206 Dalton called 911 report heavy flames coming from the front of the building, according to Deputy Fire Chief Neil Myers.
click for more
Stop & Shop boosted Berkshire Community College's food pantry by $7,500, providing students with nutritional stability while focusing on education. click for more
The committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to offer the post to Michael Henault, who has been the district's assistant superintendent for three years.
click for more