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Waterbury Board of Aldermen approves contract amendments after DEEP notice over contamination
Summary
The Waterbury Board of Aldermen approved two contract amendments on May 18 to extend remediation work and add oversight after the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation for contamination at 359 Mill Street and 777 South Main Street. Officials said delay could trigger fines and higher cleanup costs.
The Waterbury Board of Aldermen voted May 18 to approve amendments aimed at keeping environmental remediation on track at two properties tied to the Mad River redevelopment corridor after the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation dated May 15.
The vote covered (1) Amendment No. 3 to the professional services agreement for RFP 7531 with BSC Group Inc., adding $36,500 in owner contingency and hiring an LEP to monitor and document PCB remediation at 777 South Main Street, and (2) Amendment No. 1 to the construction contract ITB 8593 with Red Technologies LLC to extend contract time by 90 days, increase owner contingency by $567,500, and add services to remove an underground tank, backfill, TSCA removal and testing at 359 Mill Street and 777 South Main Street. Both measures passed after roll calls that the clerk recorded as 12 yes votes.
Why it matters: City staff and outside presenters told aldermen that a contractor on-site is contracted through May 20 and that rejection of follow‑on contracts could force the current firm to demobilize. Dr. James Nardozzi, who submitted the item, told the board he had notified federal and state regulators after discovering PCB contamination and an underground storage tank beneath concrete that resisted ground‑penetrating radar. "On the fifteenth, DEEP issued this letter of violation that carries a $25,000 a day fine," Nardozzi said, and urged the board to authorize the contract extensions so state‑funded cleanup work could continue without interruption.
Aldermen pressed for clarity about timing and risk. Alderman Kern asked when a newly procured contractor could realistically be on-site if the current provider left; Nardozzi answered "4 to 6 months," saying re‑bidding, mobilization and site familiarization would delay work. Alderman Blake warned that letting the tank remain longer could increase contamination and future cleanup costs and urged colleagues to act.
Board procedure and outcome: For both items the board first voted to meet the 11‑vote threshold required for the motions; roll call votes were taken and recorded before final passage. For item 2 the clerk announced a 12‑yes tally and the motion passed. For item 3 the clerk likewise reported 12 yes votes and the amendment was approved.
What the items do: Amendment No. 3 to the professional services agreement secures additional owner contingency funds and requires an LEP (licensed environmental professional) for oversight and documentation of PCB remediation activities at the food hub site. Amendment No. 1 to the construction contract extends the schedule and expands the contractor’s scope to include underground tank removal, TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)‑related remediation tasks, testing and disposal work.
Next steps: City staff and the contracting teams will implement the approved scope changes and continue remediation work. Dr. Nardozzi and aldermen said the actions were intended to avoid DEEP enforcement measures and prevent demobilization of the existing contractor. The board moved on to a departmental budget session after the votes.
