Hampstead council approves engineering amendments as state moves to encumber full PFAS grant

HAMPSTEAD, Md. — The Hampstead Town Council on May 20 approved amendments to engineering contracts and received updated timelines from state agencies on a centralized water and PFAS treatment project that will reshape the town—s water system.

The council approved a $807,995 amendment to GMB Engineering—s agreement and a $956,927 amendment to HDR—s agreement for additional design services and construction‑phase support related to pipelines and treatment facilities. Town staff said those approvals were covered largely by a $1.5 million bond set aside for the work, with the town expecting to make up any shortfall from anticipated award money from PFAS manufacturer settlements or other sources.

Town staff also told the council that the Maryland Department of the Environment will delay taking the grant agreement to the Board of Public Works until June 11 so the state can request that the town be encumbered for the entire $18,900,000 EPA grant rather than the smaller financing amount the town had earlier expected. Town staff said MDE had previously planned to request $4.3 million to finance portion of pipeline work but will instead seek full encumbrance to cover treatment plant construction as well.

The change in the Board of Public Works schedule does not, town staff said, prevent the town from beginning pipeline construction: "I think it will still allow us to start the actual construction of the pipelines in early July," a town manager said during the meeting. The planning and zoning commission is expected to act on the final site plan later this month, and building permit applications will be submitted to Carroll County next week.

Town staff said the two contract amendments add up to roughly $1.76 million and cover additional engineering review and construction‑phase services, including expenses tied to moving a proposed treatment plant location on Upper Beckleysville. Jason Laidle of GMB Engineering said the contract language includes allowance for initial reviews plus additional submittal reviews: "The reviews that we have in for submittals are for the initial reviews plus free submittals. So we have a quantity in there to include both." The council voted to approve both amendments.

Council members heard an update on the town—s separate class action claim against PFAS manufacturers 3M and DuPont. Town staff said Napoli Skolnick, the town—s attorney on the case, reported the town—s claim is now listed in the payment distribution system and that the firm expects to notify the town of an estimated compensation amount in the coming days.

Timeline and funding posture: town staff said a bid opening for project construction is planned for mid‑July and council approval of construction contracts could follow in August. Staff told the council $1.5 million of bond proceeds have been set aside to cover expected engineering amendments; the combined amendments slightly exceed that amount and staff said the gap would be covered either with settlement award money from manufacturers or out of pocket.

The council—s approvals were introductory and implementation steps for the broader centralization project, which town staff said will replace and modernize much of Hampstead—s water infrastructure while addressing PFAS contamination. Several members asked for clarity on review counts and submittal processes; GMB—s Laidle confirmed the contract language contemplates multiple reviews.

The council also heard that MDE informed the town the agency expects to issue a final funding notification in October and a mid‑June update on EPA allocations. Those dates will affect the town—s capital schedule and final financing plan.

For now, the council has authorized the engineering amendments and is proceeding with permitting and bid preparations. Town staff said they will bring contract awards and any updated budget implications back to the council before final construction contracts are signed.