Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Quality topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pittsboro board authorizes legal agreements to pursue 1,4‑dioxane and PFAS claims
Summary
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners authorized staff to execute two legal services agreements to investigate and, if merited, litigate claims tied to 1,4‑dioxane and PFAS contamination. Town officials said investigation will begin first; commissioners approved the authorizations unanimously.
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners on June 13 authorized the town manager to sign two legal services agreements to investigate and pursue claims related to 1,4‑dioxane and PFAS contamination in the town's water system.
Town Manager Chris Kennedy told the board the agreements cover separate efforts: one focused on 1,4‑dioxane and the other on the suite of PFAS compounds (including PFOA and PFOS). Kennedy said the town consulted multiple firms and interviewed Sher Edling; the board expressed support for moving from investigation to possible legal action after the firm's work identifies potentially responsible parties.
Why it matters: Kennedy and staff said the town has already spent significant sums responding to contamination and will face major capital and ongoing operating expenses to install advanced treatment. Kennedy told the board that costs already incurred for interim and pilot treatment exceed $3.5 million and that installing permanent treatment could be on the order of $23 million to $25 million, plus elevated annual operating costs for media and energy.
What officials said: During discussion, a commissioner noted the proposed legal agreements are contingency‑style arrangements and asked about fee language; a commissioner summarized that the agreements appear to include a contingency fee in the 23–25% range for the outside counsel, meaning awarded attorney's fees would flow through the contract under the stated terms. Town counsel and staff emphasized that the next step is an investigation to identify potentially responsible parties and that "it's not litigation tomorrow"; the town will decide whether and when to file suit after investigation.
Board action: Commissioner Bonitz moved to authorize the manager to execute each agreement; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The manager and town attorney were authorized to finalize terms and execute agreements consistent with the board's direction.
Next steps: Staff and counsel said the investigation phase will proceed, with return reports to the board as new information becomes available. No litigation filing date or defendant list was presented at the meeting.
