| September 14,
2001
By TOM DUGGAN
PAYING ATTENTION
Since 1989 the people of North
Andover have been waiting for the
GLSD to clean up their act. This
week, 12 years after signing a
consent decree to install odor
control technology, Town Manager
Mark Rees informed the Board of
Selectmen that Richard Hogan of
the GLSD has not made himself
available to meet with them
regarding the ongoing odor
problems.
Selectman William Duffy reacted
harshly to the news from Rees.
“These stall tactics are
ridiculous,” he told the
board. “The problem is worst
in the summertime when it is hot
and the humidity is high. Despite
Mr. Hogan’s proclamation
that he is a ‘friend of the
town’ and a ‘good
neighbor’ he is certainly
not acting in the town’s
best interest.” Duffy
continued, “it is
incomprehensible to me that they
won’t even come to the table
and discuss this situation 12
years later.”
Duffy is right. The spirit of
cooperation between the board and
the GLSD has been one sided for
too long. The frustration of
selectmen and residents are being
ignored long enough. The GLSD
must be held accountable for
their inaction.
Selectman Xenakis suggested that
the Town Manager schedule a
meeting with the GLSD, town
residents and the Department of
Environmental Protection. He also
hinted that the local media be
present in case Mr. Hogan from
the GLSD fails to appear yet
again. But, the media, residents,
the Board and the DEP are well
aware of the situation and the
GLSD’s lack of efforts to
correct it. The problem here is
that the GLSD has gotten away
with this for so long because
government officials have curtly
looked the other way while
residents suffer year after year.
What was needed here was early
intervention by the Board of
Health and state officials. It is
still needed. Unfortunately for
town residents, the state has
shown little interest in the
health and safety of the people
who live near the plant. The
Board of Health has been of no
help either. In fact, Sandra
Starr from the Board of Health
told selectmen several weeks ago,
“Mr. Hogan and I speak or
correspond every day and I can
tell you they have been proactive
when they get a complaint. People
need to call them and say ‘I
smell an odor Right now’ and
they will come out and see what
it is”
Really?
Brightwood Avenue resident Eileen
Kelley says she called the GLSD
this summer because the odors
“are the worst they have
ever been.” A few minutes
after calling GLSD, a truck came
by her house. “A guy stuck
his head out the window sniffing
the air,” Kelley said.
“When I stopped him to find
out what was being done, he
actually told me the odors we
were smelling were from Perfectos
Coffee Shop. They never came
back”
That doesn’t sound like the
GLSD is being very proactive
about resident complaints to me.
What that shows me is a blatant
disregard for the concerns of
town residents. It’s bad
enough that the GLSD has not
honored their responsibility by
installing odor control
technology within the time frame
allotted within the decree. But,
to blame the offending odors from
the plant on a coffee shop
located over a mile away is a
slap in the face to every
resident of the town, not to
mention a fine establishment like
Perfeco’s.
What is really troubling about
all this is that the future
health of town residents may be
in jeopardy but the effects of
whatever they are inhaling may
not become visible for decades.
Yet, we hear no outcry by the
state delegation representing
North Andover. There is no
investigation by state agencies
as to why the GLSD is permitted
to operate in violation of a
legal agreement. Mr. Hogan from
the GLSD doesn’t even have
the integrity to stand before
residents and members of the
Board of Selectmen to answer
questions about the project just
getting underway.
The behavior of the GLSD, in
particular the evasive maneuvers
of Mr. Hogan have been
irresponsible and unacceptable.
He must come forward ad face the
town to explain the progress, (or
lack of it) concerning the odor
control technology. He owes the
town of North Andover an
explanation and an apology. I
wouldn’t hold my breath
waiting for one though. Then
again, if you live near the plant
that might be a good idea.
Tom Duggan hosts the Paying
Attention! Radio program on WCCM
every Saturday afternoon from
noon to 2 p.m. and the Paying
Attention! television program on
Channel 8 cable access in
Andover, North Andover, Lawrence
and Methuen.
Tom Duggan hosts the Paying
Attention! radio program on WCCM
every Saturday, noon to 2 p.m.,
and the Paying Attention!
television program on Channel 8
cable access in Andover, North
Andover, Lawrence and Methuen.
Watch MetroWest Daily News
managing editor Joe Dwinell's
live report on WB-56 every
Thursday and Friday at 7:45 a.m.
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