MANCHESTER FOCUS SPORTS DOT admits gulH A rookie teacher In paving feud r i Red Sox rally has her first day to down Texas ... p«g«3 ••• p A 0 O pago 14 iHanrliratrr) WsnchestRr A Cily of Villaqo Chrirm HrralJi Thursday, Sept. 4.1986 25 Cents S DEP sues town on sewage plant E B y John F. Kirch Herald Reporter The state Department of E n vir­ onmental Protection, which has worked closely with Manchester officialfl to improve the sewage P treatment plant on Olcott Street, has filed a lawsuit against the town for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The D E P 's suit charges that the plant violated its state permit on at least eight occasions in 1985 when it exceeded the effluent limitations set by the state, excessively polluting the'Hockanum River. The guidelines set in the Clean Water Act are incorporated Into the state permit covering the plant, D E P officials said. In addition, the suit charges that the town violated a 1981 agreement it had with the D E P and the Manchester Environmental Coali­ tion. which at the time was threatening to file a lawsuit against the town in connection with the sewer plant. That agreement required the town to give the D E P a monthly statement on all new Herald photo by Rocha sewer connections and helped avert legal action against the town. StudlBM n»um9 In July, the environmental coali­ tion, headed by pharmacist Mi­ Andrew Fotta. 15, a tenth-grader at school students who attended classes chael Dworkin, again threatened Manchester High School, arranges his on the first day of school In Manchester to sue the town over the sewage notes during third-period study hall this plant if the D E P did not take Wednesday. action. The group charged that morning. Fotta was one of 7,116 public sewer discharge was polluting the Hockanum beyond federal stand­ ards and called for a possible sewer hookup moratorium that could have had grave effects on the Teachers and town see gains rapidly developing North End. 4 The environmental group, which Ki has filed a separate suit against the Harild photo by Tuekor massive Buckland Hills Mall being Effluent from Manchester’s sewage treatment plant in new contract negotiations planned for northwest Manches­ ter, denied that its legal threats empties Into Hop Brook and flows Into the Hockanum over the sewer plant were Just River. By John Mitchell Assembly. another way to block the mall from and Alex GIrelll The Board of Directors, the Under the law, trigger towns — being built. rious enough, the D E P will refer it ot the Manchester Herald Board of Education and the M EA town is currently under federal those that ranked higher than 100 State Assistant Attorney Gen­ to this office for the proper must now approve reopening con­ orters to upgrade the plant so that on a formula comparing average eral Richard F. Webb, who filed remedies,” Webb said. Manchester’s failure to qualify tract negotiations. Deakin said. So the Hockanum River is fit for teacher salaries and average the action in state Superior Court Manchester attorney Bruce as a trigger town under the state's salary Increases over the past far, none has formally voted on In Hartford, today denied that the swimming and fishing by theend of Education Enhancement Act reopening, but It Is seen by officials Beck, who represents the environ­ 1988. three years in the context of D E P suit was being brought mental group, could not be reached shouldn't affect upcoming teacher as Inevitable. Discharge from the plant filters comparable state averages — did against the town in an attempt to for comment. negotiations, officials said this not have to negotiate for portions of School Superintendent James block the efforts of the environ­ Into the Hockanum River via Hon morning, adding that they still Kennedy said today he will recom­ In the lawsuit, the state is Brook. the money. mental group. seeking town compliance with its haven’t developed strategies for In Manchester, the scope of the mend that the Board of Education D E P officials, who are trying to Last week, the D E P approved a the talks. approve reopening. permit and the legally binding $12.8 million grant to help pay for coming negotiations has to meet help the town make the improve­ agreement between the town, the " It ’s not a big Impediment, we Leonard Seader, chairman of the the improvements, which are the approval of the M E A, and the ments to the sewage plant, ac­ D E P and the environmental coali­ can move along," said Wilson E. Board of Education, said today expected to cost about $26 million. union has said it will not negotiate knowledged that the suit was being tion and a fine of up to $10,000 for Deakin Jr., assistant superintend­ that while he cannot speak for the The grant is important because it over minimum salaries alone, but brought in response to the environ­ each of the eight alleged violations. ent of the Manchester schools. will want to discuss salaries as a board, he approves of opening the mental group’s threat. But they allows the town to gp ahead with talks again. Manchester officials, including " It ’s a good thing for us.” said whole. said it was not intended to stop the the improvements. Under a bond Catherine Mazzotta. president of “ I think the package of benefits the town manager and town issue approved by voters last At stake for the town is $4,246,385 group from bringing its own suit. attorney, could not be reached for An the Manchester Education Associ­ over the next three years, which is so important to us that we have "Certainly, if violations are November, townspeople approved to reopen contract talks," he said. comment today. ation. which represents more than Manchester Is eligible to receive made known, and the D EP , upon the upgrading of the plant, but the Moi 500 town teachers. Two members of the Board of The D E P has worked closely vote does not allow Manchester to a hole under the bill’s provisions If the review, determines they are s^ with the town over the years to In order for the town to collect Directors contacted by the Herald. spend more than $14.3 million in arm y town can upgrade the mimimum improve the treatment plant. The any of the bonus funds provided teacher salary to $20,01X1 and agree Democrat Peter DiRosa and Re­ municipal funds. same under the act. Mazzotta and other with the MEA on distribution of publican Thomas H. Ferguson, Pal officials said, negotiations have to other salary increases to be funded both said they favor reopening. profei be reopened for salaries to be paid under the Education Enhance­ Deakin said today that In the He dii negotiations, the administration In the school year that began ment Act. Dealers running out of cars pro-ai Wednesday. will seek changes in the contract Seven public school teachers in Cours Their comments came after the involving in-service time by town are making around $19,000, " I t ’i state Department of Education teachers. He said that while under less than the minimum amount. was u announced that Manchester was "We were fairly confident we law the school calendar itself is not not among the 88 towns that had wouldn’t be a trigger,” Mazzotta a negotiable matter, the impact of thM calendar on teachers is. as finance rates are slashed met requirements to receive state said. Presumably the school adminis­ funds under the education act, "It was what we expected,” tration would seek more time from By Georee Layng Other dealers reported similar passed In June by the General added Deakib. Herald Reporter were filled with customers, and Sal the teachers for the binds that record-breaking sales during the others were in the parking lot must be distributed In salaries last week in what Is now known as getting ready for test drives. Deti under terms of the act. As American Motors Corp. an­ "C ar W ars." Most of the discount nounced Wednesday that It would However, he said customers in a fi Deakin said he did not think offers last until Oct. 8 and allow charge no interest on loans for new have not Just been throwing their small In-service time would be a difficult customers two years to pay back 1986 models, more than Just money around. "Customers are he cau TODAY’S HERALD issue to negotiate. the loan, with interest rising if the astute. They’re thinking ahead customers were looking for a deal. payoff period is longer. Chrysler’s Duri Deakin said the matter has to be ’They’re not Just buying anything." M ichii settled before Thanksgiving or the Lipman AMC-Jeep-Renault Inc. program lasts until Oct. 12. said Patemo. of Hartford has been looking to buy Muske Mono of the above Drizzle and fog town and the teachers’ union could “ They’re virtually almost fight­ Jeeps from other dealers around end up in binding arbitration. But ing over the cars,” said Don Carter DeCormier, of DeCorm- Chroni Nevada voters often would Drizzle and areas of dense fog the country to replenish supplies Nielsen, business manager for ier Motor Sales Inc., said that even berg, < rather hove nobody representing he predicted arbitration would be tonight, possibly some rain mixed avoided. “ You can’t call these that are dwindling rapidly because Carter Chevrolet Co.