Saugus residents sue LWSC

SAUGUS – Five residents on Hawkes Street filed suit against the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission claiming water negligently flooded and trespassed upon their property last year from an open valve in the dam to Walden Pond.In a complaint filed in Superior Court, Alice L. Bentley, of 53 Hawkes St., Mary T. Gronski and Laurie A. Pelletier, of 53 Hawkes St., with Odili Sarmiento and Alfredo Pelico of 28 Hawkes St., each seek $100,000 in monetary compensation, individually and not jointly, from the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission, whose principal office is located at 400 Parkland Ave. in Lynn.In their suit, it states on or about May 15, 2006 a tremendous amount of water from the dam intruded upon their property.Upon information the complainants apparently learned, employees at the LWSC negligently operated the dam site and opened a valve in the dam to Walden Pond, allowing the massive amount of water to flood the surrounding area below and beneath the dam site.They contend that the area below the dam was serviced by a drainage system that had not been adequately constructed, maintained or serviced by the Water and Sewer Commission.Further, they say that the commission was aware of these flaws and defects from the dam drainage system as early as 1995.Attorney George A. Gregson of Saugus filed the complaint on their behalf, which accuses the commission of acting negligently and recklessly in its oversight of the Walden Pond dam and drainage system.Gregson maintains the commission failed to “properly construct, maintain, or improve the pipes, culverts and canals” associated with the Walden Pond dam.Gregson states the water damage caused a nuisance and damage to his clients’ property and they should be awarded compensation.He also wants a judge to order that the LWSC refrain from any further discharge of water from the dam until repairs and improvements have been conducted at the dam.