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Ballfield Bait and Switch?
By Dan Sapir
Posted Thursday, April 17, 2008
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 No mention of athletic fields in engineering contract
Tell ‘em you’re building ball fields and then give ’em a road instead. The details of the ‘Baseball Landfill Reuse Contract’ have no mention of ball fields, sports, or recreational use. Such amenities are missing from the Weston & Sampson proposal. What is mentioned, in considerable detail is the intent to build a grand entrance to Thorndike’s dream village.
This smoking gun has been gathering dust in the Selectman’s office since at least December 19th when the three page document was signed by town administer, Kevin Donovan.
At least one year ago Lloyd Geisinger floated an idea past the brain trust of The Kingston Youth Sports Organization (KYSO) for placing ball fields on the capped landfill. The support from the Organization had to be a factor in helping Geisinger obtain a positive vote at the 2007 Annual Town Meeting. It wasn’t long after that KYSO President Jack Reardon appeared before the Selectmen asking that a study group be formed to jumpstart a definitive answer to the ball field idea. The Selectmen agreed and structured a nine member committee to look into such a feasibility. At that time the Observer questioned the timing of the events and believed that it was an attempt to gain support for a Home Rule Petition to seek a south bound slip lane to Route 3. The Special Town Meeting granted the Petition, again with strong support from the sports community.
After only four meetings the group, operating under the name Landfill Reuse Committee, advised the Selectmen to go forward with the engineering studies that would answer the question, was it safe. What was not known is that the engineering firm of Weston & Sampson has already had a signed contract with the Town submitted on December 3, 2007 and signed by procurement Officer Kevin Donovan on December 19. The Observer has received a copy of that three page contract and it could be argued that KYSO and the Committee has been duped.
The opening sentence of the Contract states:
“Weston & Sampson proposes to provide professional services regarding the development of the Mary O’Donnell property by Thorndike Development, as described herein.”
Well that’s news to us, we thought this was about ball fields. Even more telling is the next longer sentence that is classified as Scope of Services:
“The following are tasks necessary to advance this project through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) post closure use permitting process to extend Cranberry Road and possibly utilize available space on the landfill surface.” (Emphasis added)
This doesn’t sound like what was expected, this is about a road extension along with the possible use of what space may exist once the road is accomplished. There are only two other references in the Contract pertaining to why the study is being done. Under the heading entitled Task-1 language states:
“Weston & Sampson will prepare a plan that shows the location of the proposed roadway on the existing landfill.” The only other reference is found under Task-2 stating, “…to oversee the installation of test pits and/or borings along the proposed entrance road that will be located on the landfill surface.”
At no place in the contract is there even the word ball field, or any other reference such as passive recreation, parks, walking trails or the like. Geisinger needs the expansion of Cranberry Road in order for him to gain access to his intended 730 units and commercial potential; it is that road extension that this contract appears to serve…anything else would be pure luck. We will provide a copy of the entire contract on the observer Website, you be the judge.
Join the discussion: Playing Ball With The Developer
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