Whitman DPW Committee Votes to Extend Builder's Risk as Oil Tank Cleanup Drags On

WHITMAN — July 14, 2025 — Whitman DPW Building Committee votes to extend builder's risk insurance after buried oil tank stalls site work. The committee unanimously approved a 30-day extension of its builder's risk policy, which expires August 30, after a roughly 200-gallon underground oil tank discovered around June 18 during demolition of the old green building contaminated between 200 and 400 cubic yards of soil now stockpiled on site. Environmental consultant Andrea from ADS Environmental has been managing the release under a DEP tracking number, with lab results on soil classification expected within a few weeks before disposal can proceed. Committee member Rick said flatly, "I am not convinced that the town should bear the full cost for this," citing the contractor's failure to follow established protocols when the tank was breached. The project's contingency balance stands at approximately $898,000, but extended contractor overhead running roughly $2,000 per day could push remediation costs well above $100,000, with a revised no-cost schedule extension targeting August 28 completion.