Marblehead drainage job causing further concerns

MARBLEHEAD – The Finance Committee had some questions Monday night for the Water and Sewer Commission on a proposed three-year, $4.94 million drainage plan but their method raised some questions for commission member Wilbur Bassett and some Marblehead residents Wednesday evening.FinCom members wanted a cost analysis and more information about a federal grant the commission is looking into to cover part of the cost.The drainage project is expected to end the flooding of parks, businesses and homes that occurred most recently in the Oct. 4 rainstorm. It is proposed for Fiscal Years 2013, 2014 and 2015.Bassett told selectmen Wednesday he was “appalled” by the Finance Committee approach. “They were trying to tell us how to do the project,” he said. “Town Meeting should give this to the Finance Committee and let them do it.”He noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant the commission is seeking will not be awarded until October and, Bassett said, “If we wait until then we?ve lost a year.”Selectman Harry Christensen reminded Bassett that he was “preaching to the choir,” that selectmen are co-sponsors of the project article that will come before Town Meeting. Town Administrator Tony Sasso told Bassett, “I thought (FinCom member) Moses Grader made it clear, he wasn?t against the project, he just wants more information.”Selectman James Nye, president of the National Grand Bank, noted that the flooding addressed by the project has done $150,000 damage to the bank property in the past three years.Bassett said, “(The FinCom approach) wasn?t wrong but it wasn?t right either.”Bassett was joined Wednesday by three residents. Evans Road resident Stephen Pike pointed out that his neighborhood is concerned because the project only affects a small number of Marblehead homes. “There was a negative vibe at the meeting,” he said.The commission is trying to organize an informational meeting on the project for next week. Selectman Bret Murray, who lives in the affected neighborhood, said he is researching the matter and gathering facts to bring before Town Meeting.