The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 17

Th Burlington (Vt.) Free Press, Saturday, January 12. 1085 3B State Says Williamstown Fearful of Responsibility By STEVE ROSENFELD Free Press Correspondent MONTPELIER Williamstown's reluctance to join a proposed settlement of a pollution suit between the state and Unifirst Corp. may be the result of the town's fear of being held partially responsible for the pollution, state officials say. The town's fears center on responsibility for ground-water pollution at the municipal landfill in 1981 during a cleanup the town undertook at the municipal sewage treatment plant, the officials said. "This could link them (the town) to possible litigation of their own in regard to the composting operation," said Al Fillip, solid waste geologist for the state.

"I think this is a false concern because they will be pulled in one way or another. They have to be a party." Assistant Attorney General Merideth Wright, who is handling the state's case against the Unifirst agreed, saying she also believed the town could be reluctant about joining in the settlement because of the landfill issue. Town officials promptly rejected the charge. "They have said this right along," said Donald Brown, chairman of the Williams-town Board of Selectmen. "They said we didn't compost the landfill correctly.

I don't know how they could tell, because they weren't here." Fillip said the town instead should actively become involved in the settlement plan. "It's on their land. It's foolish to stay on the sidelines," he said. "They should get involved and take an aggressive stance for themselves." Unifirst is a dry-cleaning firm blamed for chemical contamination in Williamstown in a controversy that has spanned two years. Earlier this week, former Attorney General John Easton announced that Unifirst accepted terms of a tentative settlement proposal in a lawsuit filed over cleanup procedures and costs.

Unifirst agreed to set up a $380,000 trust for continued investigation and eventual cleanup of several sites in town. The proposal could be worth $1 million, Easton has estimated. Both town officials and a local citizen's group sharply rejected the state's settlement efforts, saying the proposal left too many questions unresolved and forced the town into accepting its conditions. They said they would join forces to try to make a better deal. The town and committee members said they disapproved of the settlement because the 91,000 sum allocated for renovation of the town water supply might not cover the cost of actual replacement or treatment costs.

Last fall, the Health Department said traces of carcinogens were rising in the water supply. "They (the state) are perturbed we didn't agree to enter into the negotiations," Brown said. "The reason is we didn't know what the costs of all the cleanup would be. Once we put our name on the thing we are tied. It composting plan," said Richard Valentinetti, Environmental Conservation Agency air and solid waste director.

William Brierley, agency public facilities director, said about three-quarters of the sludge was composted in an isolated area as instructed by the state. The rest was buried. "I think ground-water patterns show it could have leached from the landfill towards the town well," he said. "That is certainly a possibility," agreed Fillip. "That is why we want the ability to go out and investigate the situation further.

It is a tremendous unknown." The landfill is about 7,000 feet from the town well. Unifirst's plant is about one mile away. "They (the state) haven't even proved that the contamination in the well is coming from Unifirst," Brown said. "If they would prove that, we would have no problem. They are willing to settle for half a loaf just to get the case settled." says we can't ask for anything additional at a later date if it will cost more." Jeffrey Amestoy, who was sworn in as Vermont attorney general Thursday, said he was committed to "getting the best possible settlement for the state and the town." Other top-level Kunin administration officials said Friday they were studying the case and would comment in coming weeks.

A hearing on the proposal has been scheduled Jan. 24 in Orange County Superior Court. Wright said if the town were a party in the lawsuit it could ask for three times the actual damages to the well, under Vermont statutes. The state can make more limited claims under a nuisance law and Health Department statutes. The landfill issue stems from a settlement between the town and Unifirst four years ago in which the town collected $30,000 to dean up and dispose of sludges at its sewage treatment plant.

The waste was taken to a section of the town landfill. Cleanup eventually cost $100,000. "They did not follow through on the Democrats Get 8 Chairmanships From Page 1 together for six years. There were, in fact, times when we didn't vote the same. But I don't see a problem there.

I'm very proud of my brother in this (new) position." Here are the committee assignments for the next two years. The first name on each committee is the chairman; the second name is the vice chairman: Appropriations: May; Avery; Douglas Racine, D-Chittenden; Ker-mit Smith, D-EssexOrleans; Francis Howrigan, D-Franklin; George Little, R-Chittenden; Jane Gardner, D- Bennington. Education: Soule; Doyle; Flor Rules: Welch, Avery, Soule, Gannett, May. Agriculture: Howrigan, Illuzzi, Morse, Baker, Hunter, Carter. General Affairs: Avery, Soule, Gannett, Welch, Hunt.

Government Operations: Doyle; Gardner; Spaulding, Conrad, Baker, Delaney. Judiciary: Skinner, Illuzzi, Hunter, Hoff, Robillard, Bloomer. Energy: Gibb, Manchester, Racine, Carter, Parker, Little. Highways: Crowley, Howrigan, Morse, Smith, Godnick, Mazza. ence Robillard, D-Rutland; Stuart Hunt, R-Windham; John Bloomer, R-Rutland.

Institutions: Gannett; Skinner; Crowley; Richard Mazza, D-Grand IsleChittenden; Henry Manchester, R-Lamoille. Finance: Parker; Welch; Gilbert Godnick, D-Rutland; Arthur Gibb, R-Addison; Dennis Delaney, R-Chitten-den; Harvey Carter, D-Bennington; Gerald Morse, R-Caledonia. Health and Welfare: Hoff; Baker; William Hunter, D-Windsor; Sally Conrad, D-Chittenden; Vincent Illuz-zi, R-EssexOrleans; Jeb Spaulding, R-Washington. dentials on his own." Sen. Douglas Baker, an Addison County Republican, said he saw no problem with that appointment either.

"It struck me as perfect that Edgar got Appropriations," Baker said. "It tickles me." Later, Kunin said she is confident the sibling relationship will not be detrimental to the state. "We have disagreed from time to time in our growing-up years," she said. "And we served in the House mi in i in. in i Hi Zampieri to Be State Buildings Director HH The Associated Press MONTPELIER Scott Cameron was promoted from deputy personnel commissioner to the department's chief Friday, and veteran lawmaker John Zampieri became state buildings director.

The appointments were announced by Gov. Madeleine Kunin and Administration Secretary Arthur Ristau. "Both gentlemen bring experience to their respective jobs, but what I think of as a fresh perspective as well," Kunin told reporters at a Statehouse news conference. Cameron, 33, succeeds Jacqueline Chouinard, now human resources director for Central Vermont Public Service the state's largest electric utility. He has been deputy commissioner for two years, and joined state government in 1980 as an assistant attorney general.

Asked how he perceives the differences in labor relations approach between former Gov. Richard Snel-ling and his new boss, Cameron said, "It's a little too early to say." But he added that Kunin has emphasized her commitment to im serve in the administration of Madeleine Kunin is as exciting and chal-lenging an opportunity as Appropriations would have been," Zampieri said. He said he has not reviewed the Buildings Division budget yet, but doubts he will find much fat in it. "The Buildings Division has been one of the best-operated divisions in state government," he said. Zampieri, owner of an insurance agency, replaces Irving Bates, who retired last month after 18 years in the job.

proving morale among state employees. "Those were things of concern within the Snelling administration," he said. "What I hope is that things we were doing right, we'll do better. And things we did wrong, we'll eliminate." Zampieri, a Ryegate Democrat who served 20 years in the House with stints as chairman of both the Transportation and Institutions committees, had been in line this year to head Appropriations. "I believe the opportunity to Ex-Fugitive to Testify in Maine Jan.

30 The Associated Press Ice Fence The sun was shining brightly but it wasn't warm enough to melt the icicles hanging from the fence rails at the Northfield home of William Osgood on a chilly day in Vermont. Teachers Settle Shelburne Issues New England was technically invalid. Cyr's order said Levasseur's lawyers must have unimpeded access to their client from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays.

The judge also said prison officials must not monitor phone conversations between Levasseur and members of his legal team. Prison Warden Martin Magnusson withheld comment until he has had a chance to read what the judge had to say. Meantime, Magnusson and his staff had a visitor Friday: U.S. District Judge Gene Carter. Thursday, Carter said he had trouble "visualizing" the unit where Levasseur is being held, and expressed interest in seeing it himself.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Former fugitive Raymond Luc Levas-seur will get his chance later this month to explain why he said he considered it his duty to escape from prison, an attorney representing Le-vasseur said Friday. Portland Attorney James R. Bushell said U.S. District Judge Conrad Cyr issued a writ of habeus corpus directing prison officials to produce Levasseur for testimony Jan. 30.

Cyr is considering a civil suit filed on behalf of the 38-year-old Sanford native charging that Levasseur is being held under unreasonably harsh conditions while he awaits trial on bank robbery charges. Levasseur was labeled a security Ray to be in court so he could explain his statement," Bushell said. Levasseur's attorneys have argued that anyone seriously contemplating an escape would not announce that intention in a courtroom. And they have maintained that Levasseur made the remark under the stress of abuse he suffered from U.S. marshals after his capture.

Officials at the state prison in Thomaston have said Levasseur has not caused any problems since being returned to Maine in late November. In addition to issuing the writ of habeus corpus, Cyr also ordered prison officials to hold another administrative hearing on Levasseur's pretrial confinement status. The judge said an initial hearing From Page 1 risk shortly after his arrest last November in Ohio, when he stated in a federal courtroom that he considered it his duty to escape from custody. In light of that, Bushell said he was pleased with Cyr's order requiring Levasseur to testify. "We wanted parties, coming up with viable alternatives and suggestions, and pressuring the parties," said Joseph Blanchette, a negotiator for the Vermont Chapter of the National Education Association.

This year, Lobel has helped head off potential strikes in Burlington and Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. Ratification is the next step the teachers must take toward signing a contract. "I would not say a ratification vote is imminent," Boulanger said, adding a major revision of the existing language was necessary before the final draft would be Mass. Medical Society Taking Blues to Court "We are feeling very good about our unity as a teachers association," she said. The teachers' negotiating team consists of one representative from each of the six schools in the Chittenden South Supervisory District.

Boulanger said, "I am impressed to the highest degree with the way the Shelburne teachers conducted themselves." Federal mediator Ira Lobel was commended by teachers for his prominent role in the settlement. "He's quite skilled at reading the BOSTON (AP) The Massachu- scheme. setts Medical Society is taking its 7-year-old billing squabble with Blue Cross and Blue Shield to the U.S. Supreme Court, the society's president said Friday. ing Consumer Affairs Secretary Paula Gold.

Doctors have argued that balance billing is only a small part of their grievance against the non-profit insurer that provides health care coverage to 2.5 million Massachusetts subscribers. "Physicians, statewide, are generally angry with Blue Shield," Duncan said. "And not because of the ban on billing, per se. It's a sum of things." Duncan said doctors also are angered over Blue Shield's slowness in resolving reimbursement disputes. Blue Shield pays doctors 95 percent of what it considers "usual and customary" fees for specific medical procedures.

The remaining 5 percent is used to cover administrative costs. Doctors have complained for years that "usual and customary" charges set by the state with input from Blue Shield are substantially lower than what physicians bill private-paying patients and what they are paid by other insurers. Kunin's Staff Getting Settled In From Page 1 But the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in November. Last July, Gov.

Michael S. Dukakis signed legislation specifically legalizing the Blue Cross policy of limiting physicians' fees. Physicians were upset at the decision partly because it prohibited them from using "balance billing," the term used to describe doctors' practice of charging patients abo.e what the insurer pays for the services. Allowing doctors to use balance billing could mean tens of millions of dollars more in health-care costs for consumers, argue representatives of the Dukakis' administration, includ Dr. Frederick Duncan, president of the society, said the organization's 50-member executive board voted unanimously Wednesday to appeal its unsuccessful antitrust suit, which was filed in 1978.

U.S. District Judge Andrew A. Caffrey ruled last spring in that suit that Blue Cross and Blue Shield's practice of setting reimbursement rates for participating physicians 99 percent of the doctors in the state constituted an illegal price-fixing was in the Statehouse cafeteria and she will miss it. But she was eager to move on to something else. Friday, she sat among the flowers and plants that well-wishers sent her and appeared to have mastered the large switchboard console on her desk.

"It's a challenge," she said of her new job. "It gives me a chance to prove I can do something besides make a cup of coffee." Kunin came to the United States from Switzerland when she was 6 and Randall came from England as a bride in 1956. Randall's husband, a native Vermonter, was in the military and they moved around for about 16 years before returning to his home state. Randall, the mother of two children, said the first job she ever held TJiree-Year-Old Killed in St. J.

Crash SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 SENIOR CITIZENS' SPECIAL Includes Soup du Jour Dessert Soup and Sandwich Special Baked Stuffed Pork Chops wSpiced Applesauce, Potato and Vegetable Sauteed Calves Liver and Onions, Potato and Vegetable hospital spokesman said. State police said the southbound station wagon had slowed for a vehicle which was turning right. The pickup, driven by Lonny Ruggles, 18, ran into the rear of the station wagon, and the child was killed instantly. No injuries to occupants of the pickup were reported, police said. The death was the second Vermont highway fatality of the year, compared to two at this time last year.

Dinner For Two I ST. JOHNSBURY Nathan Le-lourneau, 3, of St. Johnsbury Center Was killed Friday when the station wagon he was in was struck from behind by a pickup truck on U.S. 5 about 8:15 p.m., officials said. Tina Chase, 15, of St.

Johnsbury Center was in critical condition with Severe head injuries, according to a doctor at the scene, and was taken to Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, N.H. The other passengers, Jennifer Chase, Vickie Carbone, 21; Kristen Letourneau, Janice Jackson, 42, and Robert Jackson, 32, the driver, all of St. Johnsbury Center, were treated at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital and released, a Posies liHMiiiiaTimjiw Distinctive Dining DlUS tax Includes: Appetizer, Salad Bar, Potato or Vegetable, Vt Litre House Wine, Dessert Entrees: Prime Rib of Beef au jus Baked Filet of Sole Stuffed wCrabmeat, topped with Newburg Sauce Tonight in Patches Pub 9 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Risque Williston So. Burlington AT THE CLOVERLEAF 863-6361 What is COST EFFECTIVE COMPUTING? (See Page 11 A) You'll never know the power of Free Press Classified until you use it.

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