An Emergency Meeting of the City Council was held in the Council Chamber on Thursday, July 26, 2001 at 6:00 P.M. for the purpose of confirming a declaration of emergency, due to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Salem, because of Salem Harbor contamination. Notice of this meeting was posted on July 23, 2001 at 11:42 A.M.
Councillors Flynn, Hayes, and Sargent were absent.
Council President Joan B. Lovely presided.
Councillor O’Leary moved to dispense with the reading of the record of the previous meeting. It was so voted.
President Lovely requested that everyone please rise to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
In attendance were the following: Commodore Neil Bohenwagner, Palmers Cove Yacht Club; Commodore Paul Hendry, Salem Willows Yacht Club; Russ Vickers, Hawthorne Marina; Michael Mentuck, Pickering Wharf Marina; Raymond Bouchard, South Essex Sewerage District; Cindy Dunn, Salem Sound 2000; Thomas Philbin, Chief Administrative Aide to the Mayor; Peter Gifford, Harbormaster; Joanne Scott, Health Agent; Joseph Nerden, Assistant City Engineer; Brian Thibodeau, Water Registrar; and E. Lawrence McIntire, Superintendent Park & Recreation Dept.
President Lovely stated that with the recent problems in the Harbor, we are here to gain information.
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: Results in testing received in the last hour. All Beaches except Willows are open. The standard (dual) a one time of 104, cannot exceed 35, if high we keep beaches closed.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: Asked if representative from S.E.S.D. would speak. S.E.S.D. could be the potential problem.
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: S.E.S.D. was checked near the diffuser pipe, area where pipe broke before was ok.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: Glad that Harbormaster said it’s not the boaters causing problem
Mr. Raymond Bouchard S.E.S.D.: We checked our facility and have no problems. If they reach 80 mgd they take their craft out in the water and check. They have checked and found nothing.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: Pipe at Steps Beach and storm drains all have been a problem. Are we testing these areas?
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: The DPW pumped it out. All testing at the beach is good. It was high in June because of excessive rain but the numbers tested low after that.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: If the Health Department needs help from the State I will get them the help needed. I don’t think the boaters are the problem. There’s no problem in surrounding communities.
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: The State has been contacted also the D.E.P. and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard contacted the National Oceanic Association. In talking to the Coast Guard they don’t think it was a small boat.
Councillor Kimberley Driscoll: Was more testing done this year than last year or years past?
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: We have been testing weekly right along.
Councillor Kimberley Driscoll: What are the symptoms?
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: Mostly stomach problems, it was in the Salem Newspaper last week. Friday’s samples taken tested ok.
Councillor Joseph O’Keefe: Was testing done on the incoming tide or the outgoing tide?
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: The testing was done on the incoming tide, close to high tide. We use the 24-hour method.
Councillor Leonard O’Leary: question for the Assistant Engineer, Joe Nerden, is the pipe at Steps Beach fixed?
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: The flapper valve is not where the problem is. They are cleaning it out.
Councillor Leonard O’Leary: What about extending the pipe out further.
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: The matter is not yet resolved.
Councillor Thomas Furey: Question for the Harbormaster. Do boaters use pumping (dumping) facility? And what about the large boats.
Sgt. Peter Gifford, Harbormaster: No large boats can get into the channel to use the pumping facility.
Councillor Joan Lovely: Large boats can dump in the water outside 3 miles. If treated 0-3 miles, untreated 3 miles out.
Can communities enforce this?
Sgt. Peter Gifford, Harbormaster: The City can make an Ordinance.
Councillor Joan Lovely: Are boaters contributing to the pollution problems?
Sgt. Peter Gifford, Harbormaster: We don’t know what the percentage is. We tested 50 – 100 yards out and it was ok.
Councillor Laura DeToma: Are the trends similar year to year?
Joanne Scott, Health Agent: We are comparing, this year is better than last year, but the Willows are always
Mr. Joe Nerden. Asst. Engineer: Drainage basins are being corrected. Salem has an old infrastructure. Juniper Beach was tested close to the pipe and out in the water 25 per 100 close, 930 further out. It’s not just the pipe, something is different and it’s not land based.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: Regarding drinking water quality. Salem has had high copper levels in the water supply since February of this year. Mrs. Maureen Beauvais has had her water tested. She has had rusty water they found a high copper count in her water. Mr. DeBeau of 89 Webb Street has the same problem. He also has exorbitant water bills. He has no leaks in pipes. Also there are water problems in the Jefferson Avenue area.
Mr. Beauvais of Webb St.: We have gone through the house and had our tenants on the second floor tested and the water coming into the house. We have red rings in the sink and toilet. Our tenants have the same problem. The problem is somewhere in the delivery system. Other neighbors have the same problems. People on Savoy Road have this problem.
Mr. Dan DeBeau, 89 Webb St.: Has problems with water meter. Very high bills and water is brown, neighbors and tenants have brown water also. Have written letters to the Mayor and the Water Dept. and have had no luck resolving the problem.
Councillor Joan Lovely: I also have problems with rusty water.
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: We do have a copy of the letter from Mr. DeBeau. There are two possible reasons:
we are doing a lot of work in the City. When the 36” pipe and 20” pipe when shut has a reversal flow and stirs up sediment and this may be the problem for the brown water.
Meter is old and not working properly they will give a rebate to Mr. DeBeau.
Would like to see the independent testing results send to the DPW. Also any resident can have Salem/Beverly test water or bring a sample to the DPW.
Mr. Beauvais, Webb Street: My only concern is the water that comes into my house. This problem has been going on a long time.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: What has the City done for you?
Mr. Beauvais, Webb Street: The City Engineer Mr. Bornstein of the DPW came down. He recommended I drain my hot water heater, it needs to be cleaned. I told him that I don’t use hot water in my toilet.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: How do we see what’s causing it?
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: With all the work being done all over the city, all we can do is flush out the hydrants.
Mr. Beauvais, Webb Street: I would be glad to provide independent tests to the DPW.
Councillor Kevin Harvey: That the DPW report back to the City Council regarding both Constituents results.
Councillor Scott LaCava: Also regarding the Salem Harbor could we have a “No Discharge Policy” for our harbor.
Mr. Tom Philbin, Mayor’s Aid: The City’s been aggressively trying to figure out where the pollution is coming from in the harbor. We’re asking for a No Discharge Zone. Our concern is large vessels, we don’t know if they are discharging at the 3 mile zone. We are in contact with the Coastal Zone Management Office to have a No Discharge Zone. Our pump-out boats are free of charge. The Mayor is sending out a letter to other communities and asking for support us on this.
Mr. Russ Vickers, Hawthorne Marina The rule is no discharge untreated within 3 mile. There are 3 types of discharge pumps for boats approved by the Coast Guard. To have a No Discharge Zone would not be necessary. Boaters do a good job policing themselves.
The Hannah Glover or any other large boats may be the problem. They have 150-160 people on board who drink and use the facility. Do they dump 3 miles out? A small family boat would not have so much to dump that it would affect all Salem Beaches.
Also what should be looked at is Palmers Cove at low tide the pipe at Shetland property, water is pouring out and I don’t know if it’s clean or not. There has been not rain.
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: We are checking it out.
Councillor Laura DeToma: Could we hear from Salem Sound 2000.
Ms. Cindy Dunn, Salem Sound 2000: I would like to commend the Health Dept. We have tested the Storm drains and the results should be ready tomorrow. We have requested the City to test the pipe at Shetland. Last year same as this year and I don’t think the Willow Avenue pipe is the cause. Something is different happened this year. The state of Rhode Island has the No Discharge Zone. It could have been a large boat that may have dumped. I suggest we give out educational materials.
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: We are thankful for Salem Sound 2000 work.
Willow Avenue has been addressed. We are replacing wooden pipes. We’ll test areas at high tide to see if there’s a difference.
Councillor Joseph O’Keefe: If the Salem Fire Dept. opens one hydrant it changes everything everywhere. The Harbormaster should check the Rockmore and other large pleasure boats.
Sgt. Peter Gifford, Harbormaster: The Rockmore is in Marblehead harbor. The Hannah Glover pumps out and dumps outside 3-mile zone.
Councillor Joan Lovely: The City’s pump out was Friday, Saturday & Sunday 8 AM to 8 PM. Now it’s open everyday.
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: The 3-Mile Zone is from Baker’s Island out 3 miles. Not from the shoreline out 3 miles.
Councillor Laura DeToma: Is there an increase in large boats this year?
Sgt. Peter Gifford, Harbormaster: We have a decreased amount of large boats this year.
Mr. Paul Ducey: Are leeching field’s legal in Salem.
Mr. Joe Nerden, Asst. Engineer: the Board of Health and State Regulations regulates them.
Councillor Kimberley Driscoll: We have a lot of information, we should close this meeting.
Ms. Joanne Scott, Health Agent: We will send a copy of the Beach results to the City Council.
Councillor Harvey moved that the matter be referred to the Committee on Public Health, Safety and the Environment and report back to the City Council. It was so voted. When the Department of Public Works investigation is complete, we will look at the results and refer the matter to Committee. It was so voted.
On the motion of Councillor O'Leary, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 P.M.
ATTEST: DEBORAH E. BURKINSHAW
CITY CLERK
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