Field Study Committee member Mark Juitt told the School Committee on Thursday that workers at the field complex construction site recently found deep cracks beneath the cave, from blasting.
“Unfortunately the rock underneath…does not look like it’s supportive enough to support that area,” Juitt said.
Devil’s Den is a rock structure some claim is historic, located near the athletic field construction site, on a hill behind the high school. Damage to the cave earlier this year during construction infuriated some residents and prompted the town to modify construction plans to save the cave.
Assistant Town Manager Mark Purple yesterday said there are cracks below the cave, but it is too early to guess whether they might endanger the den until a geotechnical engineer studies the area.
“It may look fractured but it may be stable,” he said.
Purple said workers have excavated to ground level but still need to dig down another nine feet to install pipes and electrical wires.
Field Study Committee Chairman Dave Barrett said the committee will meet on Wednesday night before Town Meeting, but won’t make decisions about the cave until they get a report from the geotechnical engineer.
“It’ll be up to the geotech to decide what impact these cracks have,” Barrett said.
The Historical Commission, meanwhile, is working to hire its own geotechnical engineer to study the site, said chairwoman Julie Nardone, which Barrett said his committee will allow.
In addition, the Open Space Committee has formally requested a seat at the table when all decisions about the cave’s future are made.
Juitt last night said he does not think the cave should be taken down, but said plans will likely have to be modified since the rock below the cave is crumbling.
“I see no value in tearing the den down, in light of everything that’s going on,” Juitt said.
Meanwhile, others in town are upset the cave may once again be in peril. Many concerned residents have become regulars at the public construction meetings held weekly at the high school.
“Other towns preserve their geological icons and Native American sites,” said Historical Commission Chairwoman Julie Nardone. “In Ashland, we treat them like unwanted piles of rock to fracture and split.”
Nardone said she is working on finding a geotechnical engineer to give a second opinion. She estimated it would cost about $200, which she said the commission will ask the town to pay.
“If they’re paying for one they should pay for two,” she said.
But Juitt last night said those residents have been disruptive and stalled the meetings with concerns about the cave. He said they were reprimanded at this week’s meeting.
“They’ve been somewhat accusatory at meetings,” he said last night.
Open Space Committee Chairwoman Roberta Soolman yesterday said she sent an email Thursday requesting Open Space and Historical Commission representatives be allowed to weigh in on what is best for the cave.
Soolman said the email went to selectmen, Town Manager John Petrin, School Committee Chairwoman Marcia Reni, Barrett, Juitt, Purple and Nardone.
“Because Devil’s Den is a town asset that belongs to everyone, it has historical value, it has architectural value, it just has intrinsic value to people in town,” she said. “I think the decision on what to do with it needs to be undertaken by more than just the site committee.”
Soolman said construction officials seem to think seeing the cave is enough, but others want access to the den, which now might be out of the question because of the cracks.
That misunderstanding is “why people continue to be upset about the preservation of the den,” Soolman said.
She said Barrett told her no decisions have been made, but she said she’s not sure that’s true.
“I think it’s moving a long perhaps more quickly than that,” she said, adding that citizens don’t want to stall construction, just make sure no hasty decisions are made without their input.
“We want to be there when those decisions happen,” she said.
Juitt last night invited the School Committee on Wednesday morning to attend the 9 a.m. construction meeting and site visit at the high school.
“If they’re paying for one they should pay for two,” she said.
But Juitt last night said those residents have been disruptive and stalled the meetings with concerns about the cave. He said they were reprimanded at this week’s meeting.
“They’ve been somewhat accusatory at meetings,” he said last night.
Open Space Committee Chairwoman Roberta Soolman yesterday said she sent an email Thursday requesting Open Space and Historical Commission representatives be allowed to weigh in on what is best for the cave.
Soolman said the email went to selectmen, Town Manager John Petrin, School Committee Chairwoman Marcia Reni, Barrett, Juitt, Purple and Nardone.
“Because Devil’s Den is a town asset that belongs to everyone, it has historical value, it has architectural value, it just has intrinsic value to people in town,” she said. “I think the decision on what to do with it needs to be undertaken by more than just the site committee.”
Soolman said construction officials seem to think seeing the cave is enough, but others want access to the den, which now might be out of the question because of the cracks.
That misunderstanding is “why people continue to be upset about the preservation of the den,” Soolman said.
She said Barrett told her no decisions have been made, but she said she’s not sure that’s true.
“I think it’s moving a long perhaps more quickly than that,” she said, adding that citizens don’t want to stall construction, just make sure no hasty decisions are made without their input.
“We want to be there when those decisions happen,” she said.
Juitt last night invited the School Committee on Wednesday morning to attend the 9 a.m. construction meeting and site visit at the high school.
Source: Metro West Daily News