Marblehead nears deal for property clean-up

MARBLEHEAD – After years of wrangling the town appears ready to approve an agreement that will require National Lead to clean up the lead-contaminated former Chadwick Lead Mills property on Lafayette Street, on the Marblehead-Salem line.The agreement means that the Chadwick Mills section of the bike path will reopen for bike riding after the clean-up. Selectmen voted 3-0 to approve the settlement Wednesday evening, the first of several hurdles that the agreement must pass.The settlement was scheduled for further discussion by the Marblehead Conservation Commission Thursday night. Mead said it needs approval from the town’s Municipal Light Department and Water and Sewer Commission and the Salem Conservation Commission as well.The clean-up will include the contaminated area of Wyman Woods and the land along the bike path that runs through the property, including the seaward side of the bike path, an area that the town and the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management authorities worked out a restoration plan for two years ago.That plan requires Glover Estates to pay the town’s maintenance costs for a shoreline embankment in that area for the next five years.Negotiations, which involved officials in Salem and Marblehead, Glover Estates, the proposed builder of a 44-unit condominium development and National Lead have resulted in what Marblehead Town Counsel Lisa Mead described as a “preliminary” final settlement after about three years. Work was originally scheduled to begin in October 2008.The clean-up has been independent of the condominium construction and town officials have been told it will happen whether or not the construction goes forward.Mead told the commission years ago that National Lead appeared to be delaying the talks. She also told the commission at that time that they should take all necessary time to insure proper review and cautioned them to insure they have final plans before making any decisions.