Reports: Executive Director’s Reports

November 30, 2004

  1. MWRA - Christian and I met with Eleanor Duffy of MWRA at the Union Park St pumping station, a meeting set up by Don Goldberg. We reviewed the readings on the wells that they have been monitoring on and around their site since the projects inception. Christian read the wells, and MWRA has agreed that we can read them during our regular cycle, incorporate them into our network, and publish the results. For the wells located on site, this is temporary permission, pending a permanent approval from BWSC, who own it.
  2. DCR - We has a joint session with DCR's consultant (GEI) to read both their and our wells in the Storrow Drive underpass area. Christian will map DCR's wells into our system to be read and published as part of the network.
  3. DPW - I met with Para Jayasinghe, City Engineer, who has promised to make groundwater an important department priority, as instructed by Commissioner Cassaza. Para has consistently raised groundwater as an important issue during BRA project scoping sessions.
  4. BED - Spoke with Maura Zlody, who has been instructed by Commissioner Brian Glascock to include a requirement for groundwater review in Boston's Build Green standards as a local addition to LEED requirements. All potential developers of property in the City will be asked to check with the Trust to see if they are in an area of groundwater concern. This will give us an opportunity to get appropriate wells and also to ask for recharge or alternative ideas to improve the situation.
  5. BRA - According to Rick Shaklik, zoning language is being reviewed internally. We should have something to look at soon.
  6. BWSC - They continue to review and act on our well data and to provide us with their calculated contour diagrams. We have had specific dialogue about unusual well readings. We have requested permission to continue to read the wells at Union Park St (see MWRA above) after construction.
  7. MEPA - As noted in previous correspondence, MEPA comments on both the Forsyth Institute and Clarendon projects include strong groundwater sections with specific reference to meeting the comments of the Trust.
  8. Gina McCarthy - Tim Mitchell and I met with Gina McCarthy to review the well installation progress since receipt of the Environmental Bond Bill funds as well as the enhanced cooperation of state agencies. We got her promise to follow up this week on the final release. We also reviewed with her potential ways to institutionalize the concern with groundwater. We, in particular, thanked her for her efforts toward resolving the problem as she leaves Massachusetts government after this week to become Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
  9. Well Repayment - We received payment from the contractor's insurance company for the well destroyed during construction at the Park Street Children's School on Beacon Hill. The well will be replaced when we resume construction in the Spring. Thanks to Jim Stetson for riding herd on this.
  10. Budget Request - Prepared an initial draft of a request for operating funding for the next fiscal year from the City. We will request that our funding be included as a line item in the budget.
  11. Financial Report - Working with our accountants, Raphael and Raphael, and input from the chairs and treasurer, developed a new financial report that will be provided monthly to the Trustees as part of the treasurer's report. This gives a much clearer picture of our income, expenses, and available assets.
  12. Payroll - Worked with our pro bono attorney, Bruce Wickersham of Piper Rudnick, on potential alternates for presentation to the Trustees. We are ready to implement the new system as soon as it is approved by the Trustees.
  13. Outreach - Sent copies of the introduction to the annual report to members of the City Council with a cover letter describing how widely across the City the potential problem exists, including those new areas where we have added or are adding new wells. A similar letter will be sent to members of the Boston legislative delegation whose districts are in the area. We will attempt to arrange a meeting with those legislators early in the New Year.
  14. Upcoming - I'll be attending a BRA scoping session on the Nashua Street Residences on Dec. 7. Comments on the PNF for the Hamilton Towne gate project will be submitted prior to the Dec. 14 deadline.