To the editor:
Councilor Derrivan is correct (Daily News, Dec. 2). We have done enough "negotiating" with New Ventures.
It is important to remember that the original agreement called for mixing C&D debris with soil on a one-to-one basis to mitigate the chemical reaction (smell) of the decomposing gypsum. For at least the first year, if not longer, New Ventures ignored this requirement and profited tremendously.
NV has made plenty of money and caused Newburyport enough grief and expense; it is time for them to leave town.
Regarding the "new agreement," I have two questions:
One. How did the mayor arrive at $10,000 as a yearly maintenance figure? "Mowing" was mentioned; what about flare fuel, health department oversight, repairing rips, pumping leachate, etc.?
Two. The mayor mentioned putting a cell tower or a windmill on the site as revenue generators. A cell tower is already being installed a couple of hundred yards upriver; has more thoughtful research been done regarding placing a windmill on the site?
Questions aside, my primary concern is the manner in which the agreement was created and the focus for resolution.
It is disturbing that the mayor tossed this "backroom-brokered deal" on the table without City Council or Landfill Committee collaboration and with a warning to the council that "with renegotiations come consequences."
This is a negotiated instrument which, if they choose to do so, City Council must renegotiate with NV.
Again we have done enough ineffective negotiating; all future efforts must focus on the fact that the fight is with the Commonwealth.
Consider:
The Legislature approved C&D for landfills.
The DEP blew the oversight.
The AG only recently showed interest.
The governor and the secretary of Environmental Affairs have demonstrated a complete lack of concern or interest.
Rep. Mike Costello has done nothing but pay lip service.
Sen. Steve Baddour, ended his last conversation with me (as I pleaded for help) with, "Look, what do you expect, we are only legislators."
Somewhere along the line, in an act of complete irresponsibility, Newburyport got named in a 21E action, giving NV incredible leverage in its ensuing negotiations.
It is time for the three councilors with ties to the Statehouse (Cameron, Connell and McCavitt) to make use of their extensive knowledge of Beacon Hill and lead the charge.
The rest of City Council and the mayor need to take to the phone every day and call everyone mentioned above to remind them we are still here and still in trouble.
The Landfill Committee, the City Council and the mayor need to gather a few busloads of our good citizens and make a trip to the Statehouse to say hello to the governor, et al.
The sight of 50, 100, 200 or more Newburyporters walking the halls of the Statehouse asking some very pointed questions would make an interesting news story.
It goes with out saying, the City Council should just say no to the "new agreement."
Bruce Vogel
Newburyport
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