SAUGUS — The Board of Health voted unanimously to renew a contract with Tech Environmental, an environmental firm that has been working with the town since 2011.
Matt Riegert, a project manager at the firm who has been working with the town and WIN Waste for approximately five years, came to the Board regarding the contract renewal.
The firm’s job consists of reviewing WIN Waste reports that go to MassDEP, attending stack testing events, reviewing landfill reports, and attending bimonthly landfill inspections.
“We have been in talks with our procurement agent, and we are prepared to execute the new contract,” Public Health Director John Fralick said.
Board Vice Chair Joseph Dorant raised was whether the firm would do any water testing. Riegert said the firm does not do any testing and focuses on air quality.
“That was my question. I was wondering if there was any sort of testing being done with water… That’s unfortunate. I think that would be something that would be beneficial to have,” Board member Joia Cicolini said. “I think we would have to consider that as something to address.”
Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian also brought up the need for water testing, and mentioned concerns that WIN Waste pays for the Tech Environmental contract, possibly leading to more favorable reports.
“We’ve also discussed this several times. It’s just as far as hiring other companies; we have put this out to bid several times since I’ve been on the Board. Getting a third-party environmental company to agree to this or to even bid out this has been a challenge,” Board Chair Maria Tamagna said.
She shared similar concerns to Manoogian’s but noted that Riegert has done a good job with his reports.
“That’s the agreement that we got into years ago,” she said. “They have to pay for this for us.”
The contract, which is renewed annually, was given a yes vote; however, Fralick said that they will seek additional testing and support from another group.
