DEP Site Visit a 'Good, Substantive Meeting'

For town and school officials and the residents appealing the project, all that’s now left to do is wait.

Department of Environmental Protection representatives joined officials and petitioning residents on the school grounds on Thursday morning for a site visit, and the DEP will now rule within 30 days on if there is validity to the appeal.

“I thought it was a good, substantive meeting,” said Town Manager Michael Caira. “We had a very civil and constructive dialogue, particularly with the Headwaters Stream Team members that were there. I came away feeling positive about the town’s position. I think the town has done a very good job in presenting its plans, and we now just have to sit and wait.”

Caira said there was a total of about 20 people in attendance during the site visit, including himself, members of the design team and High School Building Committee, various other department heads and about five of the appealing residents.

Because the ruling by DEP is key in the construction timeline, Caira said he believes the decision will come sooner rather than later.

"They appear to be understanding of the critical nature of project and importance to residents of Wilmington," said Caira. "Just as they scheduld very quickly, I’m hopeful they will turn around a decision within the next few weeks."

Wilmington’s Town Manager said for the most part, he believes the town is on the same page as the Headwaters Stream Team. But Caira said there is a significant difference in opinion with other appellants.

The was . A group of 13 residents appealed the Conservation Commission’s decision to rule the school construction as environmentally safe.

with the School Committee on Monday at 7:45 p.m. inside Town Hall to discuss the progress of the school plans and what impact the appeal may have on construction.

Thursday’s visit to the school was the second site visit for DEP representatives. When , the DEP walked through the grounds as well. No decision was needed in that case, however, as the .

“In terms of the protection of wetlands, we have taken the right steps to ensure that,” said Caira. “Certainly the impression I was left with, based on conversations of the group and personal conversations that I’ve had, I believe there has been a productive meeting of the minds and there really is no reason as to why this project can’t go forward.”