By David Fassler
Community Reporter
Hudson – The Board of Selectmen will be without one of its senior members, as Santino Parente has announced that he is resigning from the Board of Selectmen, effective immediately. A statement from Parente was read into the record July 11 by Board of Selectmen Clerk Christopher Yates at the selectmen's meeting.
Parente's statement said, in part, that it was “with mixed emotions” that he resigned his seat and that he wished the best for the town of Hudson.
Section 3-8 of the town charter states that vacancies on the Board of Selectmen require that the board, upon petition of 200 registered voters or 20 percent of registered voters, call a special election to fill the vacancy, provided it is not within 100 days from the town's annual election.
Parente has been a selectman for the past seven years. Yates was elected in the May 2011 election by a total of 1,648 votes, surpassing another longtime selectman, Antonio Loura, who received 869 votes, and political newcomer Suzanne Crippen, who received 138.
In other business, Director of Public Works Anthony Marques appeared before the board to answer questions pertaining to the 2010 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report.
“Hudson draws its water from five wells and one surface source,” Marques said.
Each source of town water goes through a filtration process and in some cases, multiple processes, he noted.
The surface source, Gates Pond Reservoir, is treated with both chemical additives and a sand filtration system similar to a swimming pool filter. The four wells, known as Kane, Parmenter, Cranberry and Chestnut, use various filtration systems depending on the water quality at that particular well. The oldest of the town's wells are Kane and Cranberry, with the Cranberry well located the furthest distance out.
“What you see [coming out of the tap] may depend on location,” Marques said. “Some people may get particulate matter and others may not.”
“Would it be accurate to say the east end of town relies on the Cranberry well the most?” Yates asked.
Marques explained that the blended nature of the town's water system caused different wells to operate at different capacities. During the summer, he added, all five sources may be at full capacity, while at other times during the year, various wells may be scaled back.
The volume of the town's water supply requires constant maintenance, with well cleaning work put out to bid.
“We try to clean two wells a year,” Marques said. “This year we are doing Chestnut one and three.” Last year the Kane and Cranberry wells were serviced, he added.
The water quality report is required by law, and “gives people information to drink or not drink the water,” Marques said.
Additional information regarding specific water quality issues is available through his office.
In other business, the board approved various parking restrictions affecting Elm Drive, Central Street and Florence Drive, the addition of five handicapped parking spaces on Cross Street, and executed a revised order of taking of land parcels with unknown owners in association with the Houghton Street Bridge replacement.
Other action taken by the board included the approval of a contract for $18,500 for Health Insurance Consultation services; the approval of two work modifications for the Library Window Project totaling $1,585; the approval of one personnel promotion within the Department of Public Works; and the appointment of additional seasonal employees for the Recreation Department.