HAMPDEN – At the Hampden Select Board meeting on Jan. 27, Lori McCool of the board of health gave an update on a situation in which wastewater from the septic system at the mini-mall on the corner of East Longmeadow Road and Allen Street “broke out” on Jan. 18.

“We went through the process of making sure the septic got pumped,” McCool said. She said it was pumped again on Jan. 27

 McCool continued,“It should not have broken out after this amount of use.” She explained that groundwater was entering the septic system, causing the equipment to not only process effluent from the mini mall but also the groundwater.

Gary Weiner, an environmental engineering consultant, said that the mini–mall owner, Mike Cimmino, had taken steps to lower the pressure on the system by changing all of the plumbing to “low-flow” fixtures in August and in September of 2019. Weiner did say a cooler in one of the restaurants, Min Chao Gourmet, was found to be malfunctioning and draining excessive amounts of water from the condenser. He said this was being addressed.

Weiner said Cimmino is abandoning his request for a variance and will be replacing the current septic tanks by mid-March with two 10,000 gallon tanks. The current system will be pumped as needed until then.

Hampden Select Board Chair Donald Davenport referred to the long and often contentious history between Cimmino and the town, saying, “we have a long history of letters and threats” and asked the likelihood of the work being done. After further assurance, the board requested a monthly report on the progress of the septic system replacement.

McCool was also on hand to present a list of suggested dumpster regulations, since no official rules are on the town’s books. Based on a visual inspection of the town, McCool said there were close to 50 permanent commercial dumpsters in town.

 Among her recommended regulations was that dumpsters must have a decal, be closed at all times and any drains at the bottom of the units must be closed. She also suggested that dumpsters be placed at least 10 feet from a property line and five feet vertically and horizontally from any window.

McCool cited rules from various municipalities in the state to draw up her suggestions. She said there were also commonly used rules regarding the time of day that dumpsters can be emptied and affirming that any aggrieved party has the right to a hearing.

The select board would have a choice on how to apply registration fees, whether it be to the property owner or the dumpster’s user.

A resident asked how the odor of the dumpster could be regulated. McCool said that while it's largely subjective, she would check to make sure that the unit was closed, that there was no liquid dripping from it and that the smell was not excessive when opened. 

Interim Town Administrator Bob Markel told the board he had contacted three professional search firms and received quotes between $8,000 and $10,000 to help select a permanent, full-time town administrator, a position which voters had approved at the town meeting.

Resident Claudia Kapinos asked Markel why a search firm was needed. He explained that firms “do outreach,” in the municipal government industry and know who is retiring, moving on from their current position and whose contract is not being renewed.

 From Markel’s perspective as an interim town administrator, he said applicants look at the working relationship they would have with the select board, salary and the span of authority they would have in the position.

Resident Donna Hatch asked if there was work that was going undone because Markel is part-time in his position.

Selectman John Flynn explained that Markel is paid for 20 hours per week but does approximately 30 hours of work. Therefore, a full-time town administrator is necessary.

“More hours gets more done,” Flynn said, adding that a sense of permanency would allow the administrator to do the job more efficiently. Davenport added that the town is consistently being handed new regulations from the state on which the administrator must keep up–to–date.

Markel suggested bringing two of the firms the board to interview, but Selectwoman Mary Ellen Glover was hesitant, suggesting instead that the board review its current situation and decide what they’re looking for long–term before engaging with the firms. Flynn pointed out that a search firm could help them decide what was needed in a full-time administrator. The board set a date of Feb.18 to interview the firms.

Markel also announced that three proposals had been submitted for the town’s waste hauling and disposal contract. Both USA Waste and Recycling and Republic Services, with which the town currently has a contract, quoted a price of approximately $310 per haul. The third company, McNamara Waste, quoted a price of $100 per haul for single–stream waste removal and disposal.

The board expressed skepticism and questioned why McNamara  Waste’s quote was significantly lower. Markel said it was because the company does not deal with the Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Springfield, and instead disposes of their single-stream waste in Connecticut.

Davenport said recycling is important and that people in town may not want it eliminated, as it would be in a single stream service. A decision on whether to sign a contract with the MRF to process the town’s recycling must be made by Feb. 28.

Highway Superintendent Mark Langone told the select board that the highway department had received $25,665 in additional funds through chapter 90. He said the initial funding from the state is determined by the number of road miles in the town, but occasionally, there is money left over in the fund.

Flynn suggested Langone review possible projects and come back before the board with recommendations. Langone identified the installation of catch basins on North Road as one project. He noted, “the problem with catch basins, you put them all in and then you have to maintain them,” which costs money.

Town Accountant Cliff Bombard reported that he has made progress on the search for an assistant. He said the as-yet unidentified person he is considering has a background in banking and he has been training her on the computer system on a trial basis.

While he said he hasn’t “100 percent decided,” and there are a couple of other people interested in the position, there was no reason to think the candidate wouldn’t work out.

The board signed off on an exploration by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission of a tri-town conservation agent. In addition to Hampden, the agent would serve in East Longmeadow and Blandford.