PCBs and Our River
Michael Roisman asked a question: why did Lee and Lenox receive $25,000,000 in the GE Settlement and Stockbridge receive $1,500,000 — almost 17 times less? Roisman’s follow-up question was: why did the Finance Committee go into executive session to discuss the settlement?
Steve Shatz, Stockbridge’s only representative to the Rest of River Committee over the years, submitted an answer.
Although the Finance Committee held an executive session to discuss the awards, Shatz wrote, “…the Stockbridge Finance Committee played no role in the distribution formula…litigation with GE was outside the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee.”
Sadly, that begs the question but does not tell us why the FC held an executive session. It does not tell us what they discussed, nor does it explain their behavior subsequent to the executive session, that is, what advice, if any, they offered on this consequential financial matter.
Roisman restated the information provided by GE at a public session: the estimated time it will take from transporting the PCBs from dredging locations to the PCB dump in Lee is estimated at 13 years. Final routes have NOT been established.
Shatz stated, “The phase potentially affecting Stockbridge will come at the end of the project for a period estimated to last nine months.”
It is impressive that Shatz knows what neither GE nor the EPA know or have officially announced.
Shatz also wrote “the distribution formula approved by the Select Board was designed to recognize the disproportionate impact on Lenox and Lee…”
It does not. The dump is in Lee and Lee only. Transportation routes have not been finalized. The impact of transporting deadly material, more so if aerated, on our streets is as yet unknown.
We cannot agree with the first three points made by Shatz. We do whole-heartedly agree with his closing statement:
“Innuendo and misinformation do not help in achieving public understanding…”
Roisman among others once again sought answers. As our only representative to ROR, “achieving public understanding” was Shatz’s job. Year after year he stated he could not share or explain because there was ongoing litigation. Whatever the explanation, now we are all paying for it.
A Mother’s Prerogative
What a joy to have both my boys together at such a wonderful event — a dinner and speech by one son about his book introduced by my other son ntroduced by his brother.
