Repairs To Leachate Collection At Landfill Approved
by Doug La Rocque
About a year ago, the pump that drives the leachate collection system at the Hoosick Falls landfill failed, was removed and sent out for repairs. Plans at that time were for village personnel to reinstall it. During the ensuing repairs, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) declared the landfill to be a Hazardous Waste Site which threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the village’s plans. DEC required that an Interim Remedial Measure Process be developed, and declared the village employee’s not to be properly trained because of the PFOA in the leachate.
The village has since contracted with Sterling Environmental to facilitate the repairs and they in turn have drawn up a proposed contract with Labella Associates to reinstall the pump. Since under the Hoosick Fall’s procurement policy, the cost falls somewhere between 10 and 35 thousand dollars, actual bids were not needed. Sterling did send out request for proposals to six environmental firms, with at least four being so busy they replied “thanks, but no thanks.” It then accepted Labella’s proposal and a resolution authorizing Labella to begin the work was approved at a special meeting of the Village Board on Thursday, October 22.
Hoosick Greenway
The board approved two supplemental agreements with Barton and Loguice related to construction work on the Hoosic Greenway. One involves the North Extension and Trailhead, the other at the Waterworks Road River Access and Site Restoration. B and G was hired by the Village to administer the grants that were acquired to pay for the Greenway improvements. According to its representative most, if not all, of the supplemental work will be covered by these grant monies.
Before adjourning the board also approved the hiring of a part-time DPW employee and another part-time worker to clean the Village offices.