What is more Hazardous -The Parking Lot or Town Officialdom?

Several presentations made by Town Hall Officials on their desired NEW TOWN HALL have described in detail all of the “toxic” and hazardous materials there.  This asbestos, lead, mold etc. is “everywhere”.  Ignored is their own consultant’s and prior testing reports indicating that it is contained in specific non-staff areas such as the ceiling cavity or non-occupied basement space (lead and mold) or fully “encapsulated” or non-toxic stage in the vinyl asbestos floor tile.  Please note this floor tile as “encapsulated” exists in our super markets, schools, offices and thousands of other areas including many people’s play rooms.

This report is not specifically to highlight the Town Hall issue, but to illustrate a two-faced attitude of government on matters affecting them personally, and the general public at large.  This refers to the Commuter Parking Lot of fame!  It is noted by the EPA press release as a “Hazardous waste dump” capped with an asphalt cover.  This press release also notes that Foxboro “intends to use the resulting parking lot” for residents using the MBTA station.  Our two acres are the dump; Mansfield’s 34 acres of this same clean-up can be developed for open space or commercial uses.  Why did we get the dump, some 40 odd thousand tons of material was hauled thru town to New Hampshire, why not this material?  One Selectman noted that the materials were less toxic than the removed stuff, being formaldehyde and chemical treatments for lumber.  Do we have tests showing this?  Did we test the site prior to the cap to clear our conscience?

Do we need to test the cars parking there periodically, and what of the neighbors?  Many have been there for years.  It might be difficult to distinguish what long term and short term exposure develops, especially with the other chemical plant in the area.  What is our liability, other than never recouping OUR cost of this facility within our lifetime?  We are told that with the ten committed parkers we can break even.  This lot is laid out for 120 cars.  Our revenue is roughly $4800 annually projected.  Electric is projected at $1000.  We send a car there daily, 1 person rate plus gas and maintenance cost equals the fee to check the stickers, and a highway truck there periodically with three men.  We have accounting costs, cleaning and plowing costs (this year we plowed only half).  But what can be our long term liability? Truly, are we breaking even?

I have asked officially under the freedom of information act for detail of the grants, fees and other sources of revenue for the offsets of costs.  This statute states this data must be produced within 10 days.  Only one item of the eleven requests were provided within 30 days.  We are now almost 90 days since the requests.  The retort from the Town Manager, after 30 days was that the materials are not in the format requested.  Nonsense!  I have documents produced by other  town departments in the formats requested.

Isn’t it great that we cannot get information requested, that we were cajoled to spend money AFTER THE WORK IS DONE and accomplished to utilize a hazardous waste dump and then be required to pay a fee for it’s use!  Don’t forget there is another parking lot paid for by the taxpayer (US) at the hospital site on Town Land for what purpose and use?  Let’s just pave the entire Town so we can park anywhere.  And then charge a fee!  (Please note that the new fee schedule highly touted by Town Hall and the Selectman’s meeting of Sep 14 last never were sent to Town Meeting as in the past ... the latest being 2007.  Why not?)