Wakefield commission issues enforcement order for 10 Fourth Street property

On July 21 the Wakefield Conservation Commission voted to issue an enforcement order for 10 Fourth Street directing the property owner to contract for site testing and any required remediation.

The order directs the owner to hire consultants to perform borings and site investigation to determine whether and how much fill has been placed and whether removal or other remediation is necessary. The commission’s staff member said the enforcement order will be mailed by certified mail and that the item will be put on the town council agenda so the council can authorize the owner to begin work in response to the order.

David (Davey) Benedetto, who called into the meeting after the vote, asked: “So I gotta pay somebody to test it?” The chair replied that the owner is responsible for contracting the consultants, and staff said he would provide a list of consultants who meet town standards and would send the enforcement order document to Benedetto. Benedetto asked whether borings would be done; the chair and staff said drill borings and soil testing are typical and would identify how much fill is present and whether materials must be removed.

The motion to approve and issue the enforcement order passed unanimously. Commissioners said follow-up will include staff outreach to the owner and a report back to the commission on progress at an August meeting.

The enforcement order requires the owner to take the steps identified in the document; the commission and staff did not put specific cost estimates in the order, and the meeting record states the cost of testing and remediation is “not specified.” The commission said staff will assist the owner in identifying consultants and will follow up at the next meeting.

What’s next: the enforcement order will be issued to the property owner and staff will flag the item for the town council meeting that will consider permissions necessary for the owner to proceed with remediation work.