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City sued for sewer overflow
By Jamie Larson
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
A notice of claim was filed against the city of Hudson by Riverview Associates of Hudson, LLC, Friday, for $7,591 in damages caused to a basement apartment the firm owns by sewer and storm water backup during a heavy, late-July rainstorm.
While claims for reimbursement of damages caused by the city’s aging infrastructure are not uncommon in Hudson, the source of the claim caught city officials by surprise.
One of Riverview Associates’ members is Charles Butterworth, former city Department of Public Works Superintendent. Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, and current DPW Superintendent Robert Perry said that over the 35-plus years that Butterworth was in charge of the city’s sewers he denied many similar claims from residents, dismissing them as “acts of nature.”
In Hudson, the storm drains empty directly into the sewer system. Under normal weather conditions this means that the storm runoff is processed at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which, Perry says, is not the ideal situation for plant efficiency. The shared pipe usage also means that when the city experiences excessive rain, as it did in July, amounts of wastewater overflow into the city along with storm runoff.
While fixing this problem is part of the DPW’s long term plan, which includes the new treatment plant, to be built next year, the state Department Of Environmental Conservation cited the city numerous times for not remedying the situation. Butterworth was DPW superintendent until 2006.
In 2007 the DEC issued an Order on Consent against the city for not addressing the issue during years that Butterworth was superintendent. The DEC noted in the order that the city worked on a plan to remedy the sewage issue starting in 2003 but it had not been finalized by 2007.
“It’s Ironic,” Perry said. “Here’s a guy (Butterworth), making a notice of claim, who for 30 years who worked to prevent these same things from being fixed. Now he’s suing the city because it wasn’t done.”
Calls to Butterworth and his fellow Riverview Associates members, and former city attorney Carl Whitbeck were not returned Friday.
Perry will be discussing the DPW’s plan to fix the sewer problem 6 p.m. Monday at city hall. The previously-planned meeting is being held to share details with the public about why the new treatment plant has jumped in cost from $9 million to $13.5 million.
***
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
While claims for reimbursement of damages caused by the city’s aging infrastructure are not uncommon in Hudson, the source of the claim caught city officials by surprise.
One of Riverview Associates’ members is Charles Butterworth, former city Department of Public Works Superintendent. Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, and current DPW Superintendent Robert Perry said that over the 35-plus years that Butterworth was in charge of the city’s sewers he denied many similar claims from residents, dismissing them as “acts of nature.”
In Hudson, the storm drains empty directly into the sewer system. Under normal weather conditions this means that the storm runoff is processed at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which, Perry says, is not the ideal situation for plant efficiency. The shared pipe usage also means that when the city experiences excessive rain, as it did in July, amounts of wastewater overflow into the city along with storm runoff.
While fixing this problem is part of the DPW’s long term plan, which includes the new treatment plant, to be built next year, the state Department Of Environmental Conservation cited the city numerous times for not remedying the situation. Butterworth was DPW superintendent until 2006.
In 2007 the DEC issued an Order on Consent against the city for not addressing the issue during years that Butterworth was superintendent. The DEC noted in the order that the city worked on a plan to remedy the sewage issue starting in 2003 but it had not been finalized by 2007.
“It’s Ironic,” Perry said. “Here’s a guy (Butterworth), making a notice of claim, who for 30 years who worked to prevent these same things from being fixed. Now he’s suing the city because it wasn’t done.”
Calls to Butterworth and his fellow Riverview Associates members, and former city attorney Carl Whitbeck were not returned Friday.
Perry will be discussing the DPW’s plan to fix the sewer problem 6 p.m. Monday at city hall. The previously-planned meeting is being held to share details with the public about why the new treatment plant has jumped in cost from $9 million to $13.5 million.
***
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com.
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