Below is an excerpt from a draft of a Resolution approved unanimously by the Board of Public Works the evening of Wednesday, January 27 at JFK Middle School. BPW Chair Terry Culhane made available drafts of the Resolution before the meeting officially started.
Resolved: That the BPW, after carefully considering the expert reports and citizen input, has determined that the expansion of the Glendale Road Landfill is a safe and responsible option for solid waste disposal in the region. While we recognize that the citywide discussion has been a controversial and difficult process, we feel the weight of the evidence supports our final determination. We are persuaded that a local landfill is a safe, convenient, environmentally sound and economical method for the City to handle the solid waste generated by the residences and businesses in Northampton and the region.
But concluded:
The next step normally would be to prepare an application for site plan approval. This would require allocating additional staff resorces as well as more funds in technical assistance. However, without a clear indication of City support, we have decided not to pursue further investment in development of the landfill expansion project at this time.
About fifty people showed up for the BPW's discussion on the proposed landfill expansion. The other item on the agenda for the evening, the Chesterfield Road Dam, was moved to another evening.
Nonetheless, about fifteen to twenty people spoke in opposition, and maybe four or five spoke in favor of proceeding as planned regarding the landfill expansion. One speaker in opposition went on as long as nine minutes Culhane said during the meeting.
Culhane mentioned the board had expended about $500 thousand on studies and would need to receive a, "request from above," in order for it to reconsider applying for the Heavy Public Use Special Permit from the City Council. During the meeting he said the application would cost the DPW about $200 thousand to prepare.
The issue of our solid waste management is therefore left in limbo.
Would the Special Permit have passed at the Council level with six votes as is necessary? Maybe not.
