SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Bob Flint, director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC), attended the Aug. 10 Springfield Selectboard meeting to present an informational update on the demolition and redevelopment project at the former Jones & Lamson (J&L) plant, located at 160 Clinton Street.
Along with Thomas Kennedy, of the Mount Ascutney Regional Commission (MARC), and Daniel Voisin from Stone Environmental, Flint outlined the brownfield cleanup effort at the historic site before taking questions and comments from residents in attendance.
Flint explained the latest action, which will be going on for the next month or so, by saying, “My flippant way of [describing] it…is we’re going to be sucking some of the bad stuff from under the slab before it gets to the river.”
Voisin clarified the “bad stuff” of concern was nonaqueous phase liquid, or NAPL, which, in this case, is bunker oil, a petroleum byproduct with a tar-like consistency left over from crude oil refining.
“Essentially what we’re doing,” said Voisin, “is…using the existing well network to put a bio-solvent into the ground to reduce the viscosity of the bunker oil…then extract[ing] to get that out of the ground.” The extracted liquid will go through several treatment tanks before being discharged through the town sewer system.
Using this “enhanced recovery” method, Voisin explained, will leave about 5% of the contaminants remaining, which will be monitored, but allows the remediation to happen more quickly and cost much less than a full excavation of the site.
There will be another opportunity for public comment on Aug. 29. If there are no significant objections raised, remedial implementation will begin on Sept. 7, with an anticipated completion of extraction in mid-October.
The full presentation and environmental reports can be accessed by visiting www.springfielddevelopment.org/jandldemo.
Future cleanup plans include removing asbestos from an exterior brick wall on the north end of the site and demolition of the rest of the building with the exception of one section of the skeleton, which will remain as a visitors pavilion. The total cost thus far is around $9 million, and funding has not yet been secured for any work beyond the current extraction project.
The board next heard from the Friends of Skitchewaug regarding the historic Spencer Hollow Schoolhouse, located just off Route 143. Constructed circa 1800, the school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest brick schoolhouse in Vermont.
The local group of volunteers has been caring for the site with the goal of reopening the building and using it for limited community and educational purposes. They reported receiving a matching grant from the Preservation Trust of Vermont to conduct an evaluation of the structure and create a prioritized plan, at a total cost of $750. They requested that the board approve $375 in matching funds. After Town Manager Scott Pickup confirmed town funds are available, the board authorized the payment.
At the outset of the meeting, Pickup updated the board on the list of properties with multiple, ongoing fire and safety code violations that are currently being addressed by the town. Pickup announced that a new zoning administrator would be starting at the end of the month, which will help to bring a more rapid resolution to these types of complaints.
Regarding the property at 78 Valley Street, the board voted to approve withdrawing $20,000 from the town fund balance to purchase the property. Pickup relayed, “By authorizing this transaction, we will trigger a required period for the public to potentially appeal this expenditure of public funds.”
Future plans for the site could include demolition and subsequent use of floodplain programs, to be determined by public meeting.
Further along the agenda, Pickup presented a request to the board regarding bringing on New England Municipal Consultants (NEMC) in a greater capacity, to provide ongoing assessing services. The town is actively under contract with NEMC to conduct the state-mandated townwide reappraisal.
Pickup reported that Nicole Knight, Springfield’s current town assessor, was going to step back from fieldwork to focus on office and Grand List maintenance. Pickup proposed that NEMC take over duties such as field inspections and data collection, while Knight remains in a supportive, clerical, in-house role.
Ryan Silvestri, co-owner of NEMC, was at Monday’s meeting to introduce himself and answer any questions. He explained the state requires reappraisals every six years. Ultimately, the board voted to approve the NEMC contract, with partial offset of costs from state per-parcel funds.
Additionally, the board approved an event permit application from the Springfield Regional Development Corporation to hold the River Valley Employment Fair at Riverside Middle School, on Sept. 25. The job fair connects employers with job
seekers and will run from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
A few town project updates reported by Pickup included the completion of the Seavers Brook Road paving work, as well as the touch-up operations on Woodbury Road. Pickup said the paving contractor would begin work again around Sept. 3 on Eureka Road, Mineral Street, and St. Patrick Street. Also, the Grove Street culvert construction project is complete, and the road has been reopened.
A full recording of the meeting, as well as minutes, is available on the Springfield town website.