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Please help us cover costs for oil spill clean-up!
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First, the good news...
The ADA-compliant elevator has been installed in the beautiful new extension to the Old Town Hall and, after some fine-tuning and an inspection in the next week or so, will be ready for business! The new extension gives us much more display space, a large, lovely door that opens to the walkway to the upper parking lot, as well as the structure for the three new bathrooms to come. We plan to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime in late spring, and you’re all invited. This was by far the biggest and most expensive piece of the Old Town Hall restoration plan and it couldn’t have been accomplished without your support.
Now, for an update on the bad news. I think all of you know that, after a particularly bad winter storm in late January, our oil tank shifted, breaking the feed line to the boiler, and leaking a full tank of oil into the dirt floor of the crawl space. We’ve been in emergency clean-up mode ever since and can now report the following:
• The old tank was quickly removed and a new one installed
• The clean-up is completed with about 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil excavated and removed by hand
• We’ve laid down a vapor barrier and secured it with crushed stone
• We’ll be pouring a concrete floor in the crawl space to meet DEP requirements, but also to spare us from having to replace the entire south side foundation.
• The work thus far will require additional follow-up testing and lab reports
• The drums that are now outside with the contaminated oil will be removed this week
• Our new oil tank is being relocated outside until the concrete floor is in.
Throughout these cold, hard months we’ve been deeply grateful for the expert advice and help we’ve gotten from Maxymillian Construction, Grayhouse Partners, Lipton Energy, and so many of the good people in West Stockbridge
As I’m sure you’ve anticipated, this has put us back financially in a big way. We’ve been in talks with our insurance company and, at this point, it doesn’t look like they’re going to help out, though we’re still pursuing that possibility.
The very bad news: we need an estimated $51,000 to cover the oil spoil
Back to a little good news: Between $8,000 to $10,000 of the funds we need now — those for the concrete floor and new oil tank — were part of the restoration plan down the pike anyway. Also, the concrete floor will make a very nice dance floor (for very short people).
The other good news is that we have the most amazing members and supporters in the world. Without being asked, folks have already been stepping up and sending money to help with the clean-up. But now I am asking. Every dollar you send will help us put this miserable accident behind us — and get us back to work on restoring our beautiful Old Town Hall.
Thank you!
Bob Salerno
Please contribute to our Emergency Oil Spill Fund today!
The ADA-compliant elevator has been installed in the beautiful new extension to the Old Town Hall and, after some fine-tuning and an inspection in the next week or so, will be ready for business! The new extension gives us much more display space, a large, lovely door that opens to the walkway to the upper parking lot, as well as the structure for the three new bathrooms to come. We plan to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime in late spring, and you’re all invited. This was by far the biggest and most expensive piece of the Old Town Hall restoration plan and it couldn’t have been accomplished without your support.
Now, for an update on the bad news. I think all of you know that, after a particularly bad winter storm in late January, our oil tank shifted, breaking the feed line to the boiler, and leaking a full tank of oil into the dirt floor of the crawl space. We’ve been in emergency clean-up mode ever since and can now report the following:
• The old tank was quickly removed and a new one installed
• The clean-up is completed with about 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil excavated and removed by hand
• We’ve laid down a vapor barrier and secured it with crushed stone
• We’ll be pouring a concrete floor in the crawl space to meet DEP requirements, but also to spare us from having to replace the entire south side foundation.
• The work thus far will require additional follow-up testing and lab reports
• The drums that are now outside with the contaminated oil will be removed this week
• Our new oil tank is being relocated outside until the concrete floor is in.
Throughout these cold, hard months we’ve been deeply grateful for the expert advice and help we’ve gotten from Maxymillian Construction, Grayhouse Partners, Lipton Energy, and so many of the good people in West Stockbridge
As I’m sure you’ve anticipated, this has put us back financially in a big way. We’ve been in talks with our insurance company and, at this point, it doesn’t look like they’re going to help out, though we’re still pursuing that possibility.
The very bad news: we need an estimated $51,000 to cover the oil spoil
Back to a little good news: Between $8,000 to $10,000 of the funds we need now — those for the concrete floor and new oil tank — were part of the restoration plan down the pike anyway. Also, the concrete floor will make a very nice dance floor (for very short people).
The other good news is that we have the most amazing members and supporters in the world. Without being asked, folks have already been stepping up and sending money to help with the clean-up. But now I am asking. Every dollar you send will help us put this miserable accident behind us — and get us back to work on restoring our beautiful Old Town Hall.
Thank you!
Bob Salerno
Please contribute to our Emergency Oil Spill Fund today!
Mother Nature pulled a fast one...
...but thanks to quick action a long-term disaster in the Old Town Hall was averted
The winter has been a rough one for our construction. Extreme cold, heavy rain followed by ice, and the usual amount of snow all made working on the extension difficult. On Thursday, Jan.24 we had a major rainfall (2 inches) and, unknown to anyone, water seeped through the rubble foundation and undercut the support on one of the oil tank legs. (Oil tanks have been in that same spot since the late 1940's.)
Cold weather was coming (-15 degrees) and the hydraulics in our new elevator had to be kept above 50 degrees. The next day, the oil tank was filled, the weight of the oil caused it to shift and broke the feed line to the boiler, leaking all the oil into the dirt floor in the crawl space. Later that afternoon, Peter Skorput was checking on the building and heat and smelled the oil, discovered the leak and quickly called in the problem. Bill Nappo, our contractor, (and former First Responder) happened to be in the area.
...but thanks to quick action a long-term disaster in the Old Town Hall was averted
The winter has been a rough one for our construction. Extreme cold, heavy rain followed by ice, and the usual amount of snow all made working on the extension difficult. On Thursday, Jan.24 we had a major rainfall (2 inches) and, unknown to anyone, water seeped through the rubble foundation and undercut the support on one of the oil tank legs. (Oil tanks have been in that same spot since the late 1940's.)
Cold weather was coming (-15 degrees) and the hydraulics in our new elevator had to be kept above 50 degrees. The next day, the oil tank was filled, the weight of the oil caused it to shift and broke the feed line to the boiler, leaking all the oil into the dirt floor in the crawl space. Later that afternoon, Peter Skorput was checking on the building and heat and smelled the oil, discovered the leak and quickly called in the problem. Bill Nappo, our contractor, (and former First Responder) happened to be in the area.
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Bill and Peter immediately swung into action and contacted the DEP and Maxymillian Construction, (licensed environmental cleanup contractors). Maxymillian arrived within the hour with the world's largest vacuum truck and started sucking up the standing oil. Peter and Bill stayed with the crew throughout the night until the site was stabilized. Peter then worked with Lipton Oil that Monday to get a temporary oil tank installed so we could have heat in the building and the elevator kept warm. Without the quick action of Peter and Bill this would have been a much larger contamination and the consequences much, much worse.
Since the incident, we have been dealing with insurance adjustors, failure engineers, the DEP, licensed site professionals and lab tests. Maxymillian has been on site with big trucks and buckets excavating 10" of contaminated soil. All efforts are being made to minimize the spread and collateral damage from the spill. While the leak was not like the Exxon Valdez or Deepwater Horizon, the state environmental regulations treat it very seriously. Unfortunately, we've learned a whole new set of acronyms and regulations.
Currently, our efforts are now focused on preventing this setback getting in the way of finishing the elevator and moving forward with spring and summer programming. At this time, we don't know if, or how much, our insurance will cover cleanup and restoration costs. We will keep you posted.
One thing we do know: it's great to live and work in a such a supportive community.
Since the incident, we have been dealing with insurance adjustors, failure engineers, the DEP, licensed site professionals and lab tests. Maxymillian has been on site with big trucks and buckets excavating 10" of contaminated soil. All efforts are being made to minimize the spread and collateral damage from the spill. While the leak was not like the Exxon Valdez or Deepwater Horizon, the state environmental regulations treat it very seriously. Unfortunately, we've learned a whole new set of acronyms and regulations.
Currently, our efforts are now focused on preventing this setback getting in the way of finishing the elevator and moving forward with spring and summer programming. At this time, we don't know if, or how much, our insurance will cover cleanup and restoration costs. We will keep you posted.
One thing we do know: it's great to live and work in a such a supportive community.
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The back wing and elevator are finished! Pictures and more information to follow.
The back wing and elevator are finished! Pictures and more information to follow.
