ADAMS, Mass. — The state Department of Environmental Protection has mandated that the Water District make nearly $1 million in upgrades to the system.
Water District Superintendent John Barrett told the Board of Health on Wednesday that DEP has ordered the district to install chlorine injection systems at all their pumps and said it is unlikely they will meet the Dec 31 deadline.
"I just wanted to make you aware," Barrett said. "I don't know what is going to happen when the deadline comes around, but I didn't want you to get anything in the mail. I wanted to be forthcoming."
He said DEP asked the district over a year ago to install a "crude" temporary chlorine injection system only at one pump but after the boil-water order earlier this year, the district was told to install a permanent system at all three of the pumps.
The project was originally slated to cost $750,000 and was already at 70 percent design. Now it has to go back to the drawing board for a $950,000 project.
The Water District is a separate governmental body that operates the town's water system and infrastructure and supports the Fire Department.
Barrett said there is a lengthy permitting process to go through and it would be impossible to get everything ready for Dec. 31.
"There is a lot of engineering that has to be added on, and I reached out the DEP and I think they are aware of the issues," he said. "There are budgets that are in play here along with permits. Our wells are in a wetland and they aren't in this town."
Barrett said the district has hired legal counsel and begun a dialogue with DEP.
"It will be a legal matter ... have sought legal representation and I think I will be going to Boston," he said.
The district asked for an extension and DEP did allow it to focus on one pump at this time, however, Barrett said he did not want to spend money on engineering just to do it all over again.
He added that he is unsure what fine the district will receive or if the DEP fines it all.
Barrett said one benefit of the upgrade is the new monitoring system. Instead of relying on an antiquated telephone system that often fails the district will install a new radio-based system.
"I will be able to monitor everything that is going on in the well station right from my office in real time and I will be aware if anything goes down at that exact minute rather than relying on a phone system," he said. "Currently we are notified every 24 hours if there is an actual phone line there to tell me if something is wrong at the pump station."
The old system relies on underground cables that often fail especially when it rains.
There are also options for a system that relays information through the internet. Although the district officials could check on the pumps directly from their phones, there is the possibility of hacking.
"This system will be contained within the town of Adams and it will only report to my office," Barrett said. "There are some that go online ... but you are opening up yourself to everything we know about cyber terrorism and I am not comfortable with that."
Barrett said there is no question about safety and currently the district is obsessively monitoring the system 210 times a month.
In other business, the board voted to adopt a new trash hauler policy that will align the town's standards with state standards.
The new policy pushes recycling to the forefront by asking haulers to make it easier for clients to recycle. Haulers will also be asked to record and report how much they haul and where they are hauling from.
The board asked for input from the haulers themselves.
"There is a learning curb for us as and there is going to be a learning curb for the implementation for the haulers on this," board member Bruce Shepley said. "So I think this kind of cooperation only benefits everybody and we can work to get some of these questions answered."
One concern the haulers had was having to enforce recycling. The board said they would only have to offer the service and inform clients what can and can't be recycled. The board would enforce recycling.
"You are not the police on this you can choose to inform the board of health that someone is not being compliant, and you can make the effort," Shepley said. "You are very specific on what you need to do but the rest falls on us."
The board added that they do not plan to change the permitting fee of $100.
"I would not ask you guys to pay more to do more for us, so I think in all fairness I don't think we need to change the fee unless there is some compelling reason," board member David Rhoads said.
The board complied other questions from the haulers and said they would get answers.
"I think some good questions got asked here and I think there are some good quick uncomplicated answers," Shepley said.
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Adams Advertising Community Development Director Post Again
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The town will restart its search for a new community development director after the individual selected backed out of the position.
Town Administrator Jay Green said last week that the finalist candidate, to be ratified by the Selectmen, had informed the town that he was withdrawing his name for "personal reasons."
"At this point, we are going to re-advertise the position and assess our options from there," Green said. "This is about finding the right person – the right fit – for our community, so we are not going to arbitrarily rush the process or settle."
Green announced at a Selectmen's meeting on Jan. 6 that after finalist interviews, he had hired a new head for the Community Development Department. He planned to bring the name forth at the board's next regularly scheduled meeting to ratify the hiring.
Town Administrator Jay Green said last week that the finalist candidate, to be ratified by the Selectmen, had informed the town that he was withdrawing his name for "personal reasons."
click for more
The Board of Health endorsed a report from Code Enforcement Officer Mark Blaisdell stating that the Parks Commission's allegation that the Little League did not enforce mask-wearing during its season was baseless. click for more
The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee accepted a donation of 20 Chromebooks from Berkshire Community Action Council and $1,000 from Walmart. click for more
The town will soon release another request for proposals for the Memorial Building and looks toward possible future use during the pandemic. click for more
Superintendent Aaron Dean released a newsletter to families Friday morning indicating that the district will go fully remote starting Monday, Jan. 11. click for more
The Selectmen approved new Police Chief Scott Kelley's contract and his first day on the job will be Tuesday, Jan. 19
The three-year contract was approved after a brief executive session at the tail end of Wednesday's meeting. click for more