TLA-Holbrook Runs the PIP Meeting

Trash transfer station developer Jack Walsh and his environmental consultant ran this week's PIP meeting even though members of the public had been told by the town the subject of the transfer station could not be discussed.
According to Town Administrator Mike Yunits, the "PIP process is not a process that addresses the redevelopment of the property once the site cleanup is completed. Concerned residents wishing to discuss or comment on the reuse of the 3 Philipps Road property as a municipal solid waste transfer station once the remediation of the site is complete should make their concerns known during the ongoing Zoning Board of Appeals permit process and the Board of Health Site Assignment process that will be initiated in the near future under the provisions of 310 CMR 16.00."
To read the "PIP Rejection Letter" letter, click here.
So Mr. Yunits, if the PIP meeting had nothing to do with future use of the site, why were the transfer station proponents running the meeting?
Again, another example of the town and TLA-Holbrook cutting out the public and skirting regulations.

Rep. Timilty Steps Up

Representative Walter Timilty has endorsed the efforts of the BHR Civic Group. Wednesday night he attended an informational meeting at St. Mary's Parish Hall and told the more than 120 people gathered that he has signed the petition against the Holbrook Regional Solid Waste Trash Transfer Station. Representative Timilty's leadership on this issue should not be overlooked. We hope that other state representatives and state senators follow Representative Timilty's vision for protecting the best interests of Randolph residents.

It is also important to note that Representative Timilty attended the meeting with Randolph Councilor-Elect Bill Alexopoulos, who also is opposed to the transfer station project. Mr. Alexopoulos' example should also be followed.

Selectmen Whine to Council

The Braintree Town Council will not respond to a letter from the Holbrook Board of Selectmen. In the letter, the Holbrook board complains that Braintree is actively opposed to the Holbrook Regional Trash Transfer Station project. According to The Patriot Ledger, "'Holbrook Selectmen Chairman Robert Powilatis said council members 'demonstrate an unawareness of the scope of the project as well as its effects on Braintree.'"
"'It appears that you are relying on the sensational tactics of the few activists in opposition to the project,' Powilatis wrote.'"
In response to the letter, Council President Leland Dingee said "he found it a 'condescending letter' and added he has no intention of replying."

A Solid Foundation

TLA-Holbrook's environmental consultants told the Holbrook Conservation Commission that one possible solution for the contamination on the proposed site of the solid waste trash transfer station is burying it under the proposed transfer station loading building.
Now that sounds like a great benefit of working at the transfer station! Not only do you get to load and unload trash, your work site is partially made of contaminated materials.

According to the consultants, the contamination would be capped and buried there and other sites on the property. Other materials not buried there will be transported off site and disposed of in someone else's community.

I think I would stay away from the coffee.

Baird-McGuire Contamination Impacts Site

How many times have we heard that the proposed trash transfer station project and the Baird-McGuire site can peacefully coexist and the Superfund site's pollution will not affect the dump project? Well, the Holbrook Conservation Commission was told Monday night that contaminated soil on the Baird-McGuire site is impacting the proposed solid waste trash transfer station proposed for Holbrook.
According to TLA-Holbrook's consultants, contaminated soil material on the Superfund site will impact the overall development of the transfer station. The exact amount of contamination is unknown and TLA-Holbrook's consultants are working with the state DEP and the federal EPA on a plan to test the soil conditions.
The sheepishly made statement about the contamination was uttered when the commission requested that the transfer station consultants provide more detail on the existing site condition and contamination before proceeding with the wetlands review process and future development plans for the site. No decision on the overall project was reached Monday night and the public hearing was continued until October 26 at 7:30 PM at Holbrook Town Hall.

Selectmen's Letter of Support

Prior to the appeals board meeting on September 2, the board of selectmen voted unanimously to send the appeals board a letter supporting the proposed regional solid waste trash transfer station. In part, the letter states that "The fact that this project is in the best interest of the town's long term fiscal and environmental welfare was also demonstrated at several public hearings." Click on the image to download or read a copy of the letter.

Residents Take Concom to Task

Residents opposed to the permitting of the proposed regional solid waste trash transfer station planned for Holbrook expressed their skepticism of the review process Monday night at the Holbrook Conservation Commission hearing.
Although the meeting did not proceed because the commission published an incorrect notice (the commission's notice said the hearing was for a single-family home, not a regional trash transfer station), residents took the opportunity to tell the commission that the review process seemed tilted toward TLA-Holbrook, the proponent of the project. At least one resident called on the commission chairman Brinsley Fuller to step down as chairman because his position on the board of selectmen is a conflict.
Watch the video, which includes residents' questions and the commission chairman's statements regarding his conflict.