City Hall knew about leaking oil tanks for years
By George P. Hassett

Despite an earlier claim, high ranking officials in Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s administration have known about seven abandoned oil tanks, including one that is leaking, on city property for years.
  In August, Curtatone spokesperson Thomas P. Champion said the administration had only recently learned of the tanks. But a March 3, 2003 letter obtained by The Somerville News, disputes that claim.

  The letter is addressed to Department of Public Works Commissioner David Dow and copied to Director of Finance Carol Antonelli and Environmental Protection Officer Vithal Deshpande from Buildings and Grounds Superintendent James Aurilio. The authenticity of the letter was confirmed by Champion.
  The letter said, ‚ÄúDPW/ Schools underground oil tanks need to be brought up to code and some are outdated.‚Äù It then lists the locations of the tanks and their problems. At the Department of Public Works, the letter said one tank is leaking and two tanks have no spill containment.
  The letter was circulated during the Dorothy Kelly Gay administration, but Aurilio, Antonelli and Deshpande continue to work for the city under Curtatone. Antonelli is now superintendent of the Water Department and Aurilio and Deshpande have the same jobs under Curtatone as they did under Gay. Dow left his job and is currently working for KSS Realty. Antonelli and Deshpande claim to have no knowledge of the letter, Champion said.
  Champion said facts were not shared between departments and Curtatone did not learn of the problem tanks until earlier this year.
  ‚ÄúSometimes in government, knowledge is not always transferred. This is one of those times,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúBut the important thing here is this administration, unlike other administrations, has a plan in place to work with the state and deal with this problem.‚Äù
  According to experts, leaks in abandoned oil tanks are particularly difficult to detect and could go undiscovered for decades. Leaks cause bad smells, fires and may contaminate underground water supplies.