1983/01/10POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE: January 10, 1983
PLACE: Berlin Town Hall, Room 5
IN ATTENDANCE: L. A. Chotkowski, R, J. Dalidowi~z,
J. Stanton, A. Wiersema
PRESIDING: The meeting was called to order ~~t
7:45 PM by Richard Dalidowitz, Clzairman.
DISPOSITION OF MINUTES
OF NOVEMBER 8, 1982: Accepted as read.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The 1983 meeting schedule of the Commission
was distributed to each member (see attach-
ment). A copy of this schedule h~3s been filed
with the Town Clerk as required by the
Freedom of Information Statutes.
OLD BUSINESS: ELTON ROAD TEST WELL
Copies of a letter addressed to Mayor Ward
dated January 3, 1983 concerning the
trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in
the #3 Test Well and the discovery of a
small industrial dump site near Swede Pond
were distributed among the Commission
members present.
Key points made during the ensuing discussion
were:
- Dr. Chotkowski strongly emphasized
that any level of a suspectE~d carcinogen
in drinking water is intolerable. This
position echoes the full Commission's
concern about this situatiori. It was
also noted that two other wells
in town, The Sportsmen and the #2 Well
at Elton Road, contain high_Ly objec-
tionable contamination.
POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
- Morgan Seelye has advised that an
inspector from the Connectic~ut
Department of Environmental Protection
will investigate the dump s:ite on
Tuesday, January 11, 1983. At least
twenty 55-gallon drums were counted
at this site.
- This incident was cited as ~~nother
example of how wetlands havf~ b2en
abused in town.
- The question was raised regarding
why only two of the three wells
at the Elton Road site are c:ontaminated
with TCE despite the fact that all are
within very close proximity of each
other. A1 Wiersema will atte~mpt to
define the differences among the
three wells.
- Dr. Chotkowski offered to obtain
additional information about a lagoon
containing hazardous waste which
adjoins the Silver Lake.
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POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS: PUBLIC AWARENESS
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Dr. Chotkowski suggested that the Commission
spearhead a campaign to make the public more
aware of the dangerous consequences of
indiscriminately dumping cleaning agents,
herbicides, and other chemicals into wetlands,
waterways or along the side of the road.
The discussion which followed was supportive
of this idea. It was also suggested that
citizens be encouraged to report any evidence
of suspected dumping to the Commission.
Dr. Chotkowski recommended that everyone
be asked to refrain from burying any
hazardous waste, or disposing of it via a
septic system or storm drain. All question-
able waste should be disposed of with the
trash which is ultimately landfilled at a
common site. °
It was noted that this awareness and
sense of prevention would benefit the town
in the long run since clean up procedures,
if feasible, are a very costly business
particularly in the wake of decreasing
State and Federal assistance. This point is
well demonstrated by the Silver Lake
predicament. In addition, it was noted that
property values are usually adversely
affected when a town's reputation becomes
tarnished by hazardous waste and pollution
problems.
Having no further business, the meeting
was adjourned at 9:20 PM.
The next meeting will be held on Monday,
February 14, 1983 at 7:30 PM in Room 5 of
the Berlin Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard J. Dalidowitz, Chairman
Pollution Control Commission
Town of Berlin
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