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Select Board votes to disband Hakamaka Pond Reuse Committee and release earmarked funds pending DEP/EPA work
Summary
After review of a five‑year DEP evaluation that noted odors and site concerns, the Select Board voted to ask the Hakamaka Pond Reuse Committee to release previously allocated funds and to disband the committee while town staff and state agencies (DEP, EPA) continue remediation and related technical work.
The Select Board voted to request that the Hakamaka Pond Reuse Committee release funds previously allocated for reuse planning and to disband the committee.
Board member Marshall summarized the committee’s multi‑year work to evaluate reuse options for Hakamaka Pond. He said a recent five‑year review from MassDEP identified odor issues and site observations that left conservation staff, the town manager and the chair concerned about opening the site for public reuse without further remediation and with clearer commitments from state agencies and responsible parties. Marshall recommended disbanding the committee and returning the unused funds to the town, with town staff (conservation director and town manager) continuing technical engagement with MassDEP, EPA and Beazer (the remediation firm) as required.
Board members discussed that any future reuse would depend on DEP/EPA determinations, remediation responsibility and timeline; staff confirmed there is no known timeline from the state agencies. The motion asked the committee to release the funds allocated for reuse work and to disband; the board voted 4–0 for those present.
Ending: Staff will ask the committee to meet to vote on releasing the funds and then formally suspend the committee; conservation staff will continue communications with DEP, EPA and Beazer and the Select Board will reconstitute a committee if and when remediation and timing permit.
