Board says J&L plant demolition and cleanup is town’s top priority

The demolition and environmental cleanup of the former Jones & Lamson Machine Tool plant was tabbed as the top economic development priority for the town of Springfield.

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Photo by Len Emery Aerial photo of the decaying Jones and Lambert building next to the Black River In Springfield. Published May 25, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Board says J&L plant demolition and cleanup is town’s top priority By Susan Smallheer SPRINGFIELD — The demolition and environmental cleanup of the former Jones & Lamson Machine Tool plant was tabbed as the top economic development priority for the town of Springfield. The Springfield Select Board voted Monday night, as part of its ongoing strategic plan work, to make progress in demolishing the dilapidated plant as the most important thing the town can do to spur economic development. Second on the list was creating a better access road to entrance of the North Springfield Industrial Park, which currently involves going through several residential neighborhoods with sharp 46-degree turns. Selectman George McNaughton pushed hard for the J&L plant to be at the top, as a “morale booster” to the town, which is tired and discouraged by having the deteriorating plant at the entrance to town. To get most of the building demolished and cleaned up would be a tremendous boost to the town, McNaughton said. “Most of it is out of our control, and it’s subject to the Agency of Natural Resources and EPA doing their thing,” McNaughton said. “Everyone agrees J&L is the top priority,” said Selectman Walter Martone. “Is there something the Select Board should be doing?” Martone said that the cleanup of the J&L site would have “the most significant impact on Springfield,” whether it is improving the tax situation in town, or attracting more people to come and live in Springfield. The access road to the North Springfield Industrial Park was a close second. When Winstanley Enterprises was on the verge of building a large wood-fired electric power plant in the industrial park, a new access road was part of that plan. But the wood-fired plant failed to get state approval and the plans for a realigned entrance road off Route 10 never materialized. Tom Kennedy, the executive director of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission, said that the federal Economic Development Administration was eager to help Springfield. But, he said, federal officials need a sign from the town. J&L is owned by the Springfield Regional Development Corp., and is in the process of being prepared for demolition and final cleanup, said Bob Flint, executive director of the regional economic development group. Flint told the Select Board that despite some appearances, progress was being made with J&L. “J&L continues to be Job One,” Flint said. “It’s frustrating to everyone driving by,” he said. He estimated that demolition might occur in the spring of 2017. Three different consultants were working on the final plan for J&L, including demolition, final environmental assessment and cleanup. The federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has been paying for most of the cleanup of the toxic chemicals and pollution left behind by the machine tool company, may come in for the final cleanup along the Black River, which runs along the back of the sprawling but dilapidated structure. Kennedy said that the federal EDA considers Springfield “a distressed community” in economic terms. “They are always looking for towns to help in Vermont. There are not that many considered distressed,” said Kennedy. “They want to help.” http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160525/NEWS02/160529708