Mansfield Paying 2K for Past Mistakes

Mansfield Selectmen decided on Wednesday that the town will pay a $2,000 settlement from actions taken by the town more than two decades ago.

The state of New York, according to a local law firm in the area, has decided to make a site that former waste removal subcontractors Jetline  into a Superfund site. In essence, they are cleaning up what was a “proper disposal site” 20 years ago.

Town manager William Ross said that the law firm stated that the town of Mansfield sent 30 gallons of flammable liquid to the site (through the third party company Jetline) more than 20 years ago, and that the town is responsible for helping New York pull that material out and cleanup the site to modern environmental standards.

“They’ve gone back and looked at everybody involved,” Ross said. “At the time the town was using appropriate method but the rules changed.”

No current town administrator or elected official from 1989 is currently in office to recollect the issue. Ross said that his office received a receipt with the signature of the Fire Chief of the town. Ross added that the receipts and invoices from the time do not specify what specific flammable liquid was shipped to New York.

Ross read a sttement from town council that stated that the legal fees for even communicating with the State of New York offices would cost more than the $2,000 settlement. They recommended settling because the cost of fighting it would exceed the cost of a settlement, so long as it was a one-tme settlement.

Selectmen voted 5-0 to authorize Ross to settle the $2,000 payment, if it has been determined that the payment is not a scam and that the town will not be liable for any further incidents.

“I want to protect us from down the line vulnerability,” said selectman George Dentino. “I’d like to know if we get a full release. I’m looking for a release that protects us from further liability”