Island Neighborhood Association of Waltham
Executive Board Meeting Minutes
February 17, 1999
-- The meeting began at 7:10 p.m. All present were asked to sign the attendance sheet. Twenty persons did so. The Recording Secretary keeps attendance sheets on file.
--Secretary’s Report- The meeting minutes from the General Membership meeting held on 2/3/99 have not been typed up yet. Some new e-mail addresses were received at the last meeting, increasing the number of people who can now receive their minutes electronically. Joris N. volunteered to help cover Barbara’s role of Recording Secretary while she is on maternity leave. Steve will also seek out other volunteers from the membership to take minutes as needed.
--Treasurer’s Report- Current balance was $512.49 plus $30.00 in new memberships = $542.49.
OLD BUSINESS:
--Correspondence- Received: From Attila Klein- e-mail regarding Cram’s Cove long range planning committee idea that Steve had. Attila suggested others to also possibly serve on the committee. He will contact Steve following his attending a Basin meeting in Feb.
--Review of General Meeting- Overall it was thought to be a good meeting. It would have been nice to see more people volunteering to get involved in committees, however. Attendance was good. Mike Silva’s presentation was an indicator of what could happen, and is a good way to increase our awareness of what’s going on elsewhere in the city.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
--Membership- Adrian W. stated that there are 73 members currently. Anyone wishing to join need only to give their money to Carol White, names and address go to Ruth LeBlanc. It was decided that from this month forward, until September, that the dues will only be $5.00. Adrian is considering raising the dues to $12.00 next year so that the amount paid would depend on how far into the membership year we are. A "New Member Packet" will be put together eventually for all new members of the INA.
The Waltham Police are still interested in attending an E. Board meeting to discuss services they can offer the neighborhood. This visit would help us to establish with them an agenda/goal for the next meeting of the general membership.
--Historical- Sam P. has volunteered to chair the committee. There are four members so far. Projects planned include: Recording an oral history of long time island residents and obtaining old photos of the island from them as well as other sources. Steve R. has a map from 1896 that Adrian will scan into the computer for our use. Lesya S. has a map from 1900 showing the island as just that. Rachel R. also obtained from the library the "Articles of Association of the Crescent Park Association. A lot of information is out there scattered around and needs to be organized and stored. The committee will determine a good place to keep this archival information.
--Cove and Grove- Bart N. stated that Attila Klein is unable to attend their next meeting (which is 2/25), but he will come to a meeting soon. Bart also contacted the MDC regarding the 4/10 cleanup. They are excited about it, but unable to commit to a date at this time. Bart is asking the MDC to supply tools, trash bags, a truck, and possibly t-shirts for those involved.
--Newsletter- Barb M. shared information since Jim V.D. was unable to attend. The deadline for the next newsletter is 2/26. Please get any relevant information to Jim via e-mail (Jim_and_Barb@msn.com) or by dropping it off at our house (32 Riverview). Parts of the committee reports from the meeting on 2/3 will be included in the newsletter.
Future newsletters will have the deadlines listed in them, as well as the dates for E. Board or committee meetings and sign-ups for events and committees.
--Zoning/Land Development- The next meeting will be 3/10 at 7:30 p.m. at Hovey House. She will notify people if the location will change. Other issues will be covered later in the meeting.
REPORT ON LAKE AND POND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP:
Joris N. attended a daylong workshop on 1/23/99. The most informative presentation he attended was a three-hour session on the monitoring of water, testing and measurement taking.
DISCUSSION ON CRAM’S COVE ISSUES:
Lela C. first presented information regarding the developer purchasing the Parker-Hannifin property. The sale will likely go through in April. The property across the street may be deeded to the MDC for part of their boat launch/Greenways project. The developer in interested in working with the neighbors, having a walkway along the cove, and finding out more about the area in general.
The Waltham landfill seems to be a significant piece of the puzzle regarding toxins and improving the surrounding areas, since they are all downgrade from it. Ron Vokey, from the Building Dept., may be a good person to contact to answer questions we have. The city is looking at the landfill/contamination issue as being addressed in some way different than a 21E would be. One problem surfacing now is that each parcel of contaminated property is treated separately, but all are likely related to some degree.
A few INA members attended a site visit to 74 Rumford Ave. with the Conservation Commission. Someone is interested in purchasing the property, however individuals (as well as Capasso Realty) have concerns about this potential buyer due to many problems in the past.
Doria K. presented on the Parker-Hannifin Site Report, and gave her opinion of conditions at 74 Rumford Ave. She believes that a 3-foot clay cap could be used at 74 Rumford, and that fingerpointing to the Woerd Ave. dump is preventing the DEP from looking for sources of contamination on site (at either location). For example, the soil tests and wells made to test for ground water contamination were done all the border between the landfill and the Parker-Hannifin property; none were done well within the property. Since there are heavy metals dissolved in the ground water, it is an indicator that even higher amounts of heavy metals are in the soil. Doria is therefore concerned that any construction at the Parker-Hannifin (P-H) property could stir up dust and make the contamination (e.g. lead) airborne.
Response Action Outcome Report- Doria presented on comments from this report and her questions about this report. There are several contamination wells on the P-H property. Two wells are down-gradient from the property, so any contamination within them has to come from the P-H property. The testing was limited in length, and the methods of testing varied, so the results cannot be compared between tests. Some volatile organics were supposedly cleaned up, however DEP is no longer taking samples from the wells related to this spill area, so it isn’t possible to tell if any contamination continues.
When there are possible, or probable, upgradient contaminants (i.e. the landfill), the case never closes. The wells and soil need to be continually monitored for any new, or increase in, contamination.
With a petition signed by 10 residents of Waltham, a Public Information Plan (PIP) could be requested, and DEP would have to re-open this investigation and make the information related to it public. Joris N. raised many relevant questions for this organization to consider before preceding, bearing in mind that certain actions have time constraints on time. We need to look at our purpose and mission statements. The recommendation was made that those interested in learning more, and continuing this discussion, to attend the next Zoning/Property Development meeting 3/10/99 at 7:30 p.m. at Hovey House.
Joris suggested we draw attention to this area of concern so that maybe DEP would decide to do an audit of the reports and examine the area. Steve pointed out that the Common. of Mass. has ultimate ownership, and therefore should have concern over the cove/river. He feels that finding out/sharing information, perhaps via a PIP, doesn’t have to be confrontational or negative.
NEW BUSINESS
--225 Crescent Street (Waltham Watch Factory Property) business has applied for a waste site permit application. Apparently there is contamination on the property. This property is listed as a Tier 1 B- meaning it is behind schedule in being cleaned up. The board voted to file a PIP on this site, just to go through the process.
--Status on Wabasso St. Property: DEP has a plan for it, however it needs to be approved by DEP before capping can occur. A certain amount of "excess" property surrounding it needs to be available.
--Capasso Project: There will be a public meeting regarding the development of this property on
Wed. March 3 at 6:30 at 49 Lexington Street. The current plan is to have two two-story buildings connected via a walkway on the site.
--Waltham Mayoral Campaign-Mayor Stanley has decided not to run for re-election this year. He has served as mayor for 14 years. His son, Tom was a guest at our meeting, and made this announcement. Tom has expressed an interest in joining the INA. He suggested we might want to contact the News Tribune to make the community aware of our organization.
--Earth Day in Waltham-It is scheduled for April17, 10-3 on the common (rain location-Government Center). We have been invited to set up a table there to provide interested individuals with information on our organization.
--Other Business: Sam P. told members that there is a small gray shed at the Newton Recycling Center where people can pick up and/or drop off books.
What are the new orange booms strung across the opening to Cram’s Cove about? No one seems to know. It will be investigated.
ACTION ITEMS
--Increase awareness of the INA through publicity (e.g. WNTN radio, the News Tribune, the Waltham Cable Network).
--Invite individuals from other neighborhood associations to attend some of our board meetings to share information and develop support.
-- Possibly host a mayoral debate, or invite those running for office to our Block Party.
--Consider having a table or information available at the Earth Day celebration. It will be discussed further at the March meeting.
--Develop a Welcome Packet for new members, or residents of the island.
--Investigate the "new" booms across Cram’s Cove.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Marriott
Recording Secretary