Selectmen Order Removal of Underground Gas Tanks at Fire-Damaged Station-August 28, 1984

Citing ongoing public safety hazards, the Board of Selectmen has officially ordered the removal of underground gasoline tanks from the site of a former South Norwood service station destroyed by fire. The directive targets the former South Norwood Exxon station located at 1266 Washington Street, requiring property owner A. Civitarese & Sons to fund the extraction.

Selectmen and Fire Chief Thomas J. Barry Jr. expressed mounting frustration that the property owners failed to remove the tanks voluntarily following a devastating explosion and fire at the facility in January, which prompted the board to revoke the station’s operating license in February. “It was hazardous eight months ago and it’s hazardous again today,” Chief Barry stated, warning that even empty tanks continue to harbor hazardous sludge-like residue.

Legal Recourse and Financial Concerns

With no immediate cost estimates available, Selectman Joseph F. Curran questioned whether the town could recover expenses if municipal crews were forced to perform the work, noting that the owner claimed funds would be unavailable until an insurance settlement is finalized. However, Town Counsel Justin C. Barton advised that the town could legally attach the removal costs as a lien against the property provided the board formally designates the tanks an active hazard.

Ultimately, the board moved forward with the order, while Selectman Curran abstained from the vote due to his role as a bank director holding a mortgage on the Civitarese property.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger