SHUTESBURY — A recent encounter between a resident and workers on the future site of the town library is prompting Shutesbury officials to consider posting the 66 Leverett Road property as an active work zone, and limiting public access.
The discussion about possible restrictions for residents to what is called Lot O-32 was put on Tuesday’s Select Board agenda by Chairwoman Rita Farrell, who said that representatives from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, consultants examining and delineating wetlands, Highway Department workers and library staff have been on site, and that an incident on Nov. 18 that led to a police response could have posed dangers and impeded work.
“It could be a really dangerous situation,” Farrell said.
While construction has not begun on the new $6.4 million library, test pits and other work are underway to determine what sorts of contaminants are on the 22-acre site. The DEP informed the town in February that the site was formerly operated by the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense, and included a radio antenna and an underground storage tank.
Police Chief Kristin Burgess told the board and more than 40 others attending the virtual meeting that the property should be seen as a work zone, similar to what happens on roads where restrictions have to be in place.
Burgess said what happened last week could have been a potentially unsafe situation if she had not sent an officer there. “I want everyone to feel safe throughout this process,” Burgess said. The other Select Board members appeared supportive of the request, though no action will be taken until a written policy is drafted.
Board member Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil said she would endorse putting a work zone sign up. “I think it’s important at this point to do that,” Makepeace-O’Neil said.
“It’s a safety issue,” board member Eric Stocker said. “That’s all it is for me.”
While no specific objections were raised by those at the meeting, resident Robert Kibler said he would like a policy stating anyone on site is properly trained and wearing appropriate safety equipment, and resident Mary Lou Conca said that the public has a right to know what’s happening on the site.
Library Director Mary Anne Antonellis said so far the consultants are not finding any gas or chemicals that have traveled to the front of the lot, and information is being regularly updated on the library project website.
Stocker said any contaminants discovered were put there by the Air Force, and not the town. The hope is that if there is any costs associated with cleanup, the Army Corps of Engineers will reimburse the town.
The library project received overwhelming support at Town Meeting last spring and also passed a subsequent ballot vote. Since then, though, several residents have formed the Lot O-32 Remediation Oversight Group.
The Select Board also voted 2-1, with Stocker dissenting, to allow the Conservation Commission to use its own account to spend up to $2,500 for legal assistance. The commission was informed by town attorney Donna MacNicol that an outside lawyer may be needed since the commission is pursuing a separate path for evaluating the site. While the town has hired Fuss & O’Neill, the commission is using Adams consultant Emily Stockman.
Commission Chairwoman Miriam DeFant said the possibility of hiring an attorney is about doing things properly.
Stocker, though, said this could lead to skyrocketing costs, and he doesn’t like the oppositional tone for evaluating the property. “This is a job for scientists, not for lawyers,” Stocker said.
Controversy over the site is concerning to resident Meryl Mandell, who said that people going onto the site and causing disruptions appear to be part of an adversarial process to slow down construction.
“It’s over the top in terms of the effort going into this,” Mandell said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
