4 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, June 3, 2022
COMMUNITY NEWS
Hudson firefighters help battle pair of fires in Stow By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor PHOTO/VIA HUDSON FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 1713
HUDSON - A large fire drew Hudson firefighters to Stow last Thursday night as part of a three-alarm response involving personnel from over a dozen area fire departments. Firefighters were then back in Stow just a matter of days later when a second fire leveled a barn. Hudson, once again, joined a multi-agency response to that incident. Though no-one was injured in the Thursday house fire, a family of four was displaced after flames burned their 2.5 story home on a wooded hill off Wheeler Road in town, according to a press release. A firefighter from one of several responding departments then did sustain minor injuries in the barn fire. They were reportedly treated on the scene and were not identified in official statements from the Stow Fire Department.
A large house fire in Stow drew Hudson firefighters to the scene last week as part of a broad, multi-agency response.
Firefighters contend with challenging conditions at house fire Flames were first reported on Thursday around 8:30 p.m. First responding crews reportedly arrived to see smoke visible in the affected home. With no nearby fire hydrants, those crews quickly called for backup to help fight the fire. Ultimately, the Stow Fire Department said on Thursday night that water had to be pumped close to 2,000 feet uphill from a stream to support
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the emergency response. Hudson contributed to the response, in part, by utilizing its tower truck to support exterior firefighting efforts.
The fire remained under investigation as of Thursday. The American Red Cross of Massachusetts had been called to assist the displaced family. “It was difficult to access water at this fire, but crews pushed through,” Stow Fire Chief John Benoit said in that aforementioned press release. He further thanked mutual aid partners, including fire departments in Hudson, Clinton, Acton, Berlin, Maynard, Lancaster, Harvard, Bolton, Boxborough, Shirley, Concord and Sudbury for their support. Barn fire poses additional challenges The affected barn in the
barn fire, which took place on Saturday, was empty at the time of the incident, according to the Stow Fire Department. While there was lightning reported in the area, the fire also remained under investigation as of publication. Firefighters from Maynard, Bolton, Lancaster, Clinton, Boxborough, Sudbury and Berlin responded alongside Stow and Hudson personnel, again facing difficult conditions. The barn was located down a 2,000 foot driveway, far from available water supplies. Firefighters said humidity further necessitated ample time for firefighters to rest during their response.
MassDEP fines Waste Management for Marlborough transfer station violations By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor MARLBOROUGH - Waste Management is facing a fine after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) said it violated a series of waste regulations at its transfer station on Route 20 in Marlborough. MassDEP announced this action last Wednesday, leveling a $7,373 penalty. In a statement, MassDEP said Waste Management “allowed the operator of its solid waste transfer station in Marlborough to transport drums of waste oil and waste coolant to Waste Management’s landfill in the Town of Westminster for disposal.” The Westminster site is not an approved destination for such wastes, according to MassDEP. Regulators said the hauler that transported this waste oil was also reportedly not licensed to do so.
Waste Management is facing a fine for violations at its location on Route 20 in Marlborough.
PHOTO/STUART FOSTER
MassDEP continued, adding that Waste Management had not submitted a five-year solid waste transfer station certification for its Marlborough site. MassDEP Central Regional Office Director Mary Jude Pigsley explained last week that Waste Management had contacted officials after identifying and intercepting oil and coolant improperly shipped to its landfill. In addition to its monetary penalty, a settlement now calls on Waste Management to “submit a plan to manage waste oil and other materials incidentally received at the Marlborough
transfer station other than by transporting such materials to its Westminster landfill.” “Companies in the solid waste handling business must be diligent about identifying and properly managing waste liquids, particularly waste oil, in order to minimize exposure to the public health and the environment,” Pigsley said. This took place at Waste Management’s transfer station at 791 Boston Post Road. That site sits across Route 20 from Marlborough’s public drop-off facility. Waste Management representatives were unavailable for comment as of publication.
Marlborough City Council approves 2023 operating budget By Stuart Foster Reporter
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MARLBOROUGH – The Marlborough City Council voted 10-0 last week to approve a $180,503,099 municipal operating budget for the 2023 fiscal year. Meeting on Monday, the vote came after Mayor Arthur Vigeant had previously submitted a budget proposal for
$181,260,899. The Finance Committee made cuts to that plan during budget hearings on May 2 and May 4, as documented in a Finance Committee report sent to the Community Advocate. The cuts included $101,300 in the Assessor’s Office budget, $5,500 in the Human Resources budget, $100,000 to property and building maintenance to implement energy conservation measures, $200,000 in salary
underruns because of vacant and retiring positions, $100,000 to school maintenance sections to implement energy conservation measures and $300,000 in cuts to to capital projects that were instead funded by American Rescue Plan funding to reduce a burden on taxpayers. “Congratulations everyone,” said City Council President Michael Ossing after the budget was approved.
