Building and Utilities Committee recommends emergency authorization to test for PFAS and join settlement

The Building and Utilities Committee on Monday, Dec. 8 recommended that City Council authorize the director of public service and safety to enter a legal services agreement with Grossman and Kelly LLP to participate in a nationwide PFAS class‑action settlement and to allow settlement‑coordinated testing of the city’s water system.

Mr. Titterington, who presented the request, described PFAS as longstanding man‑made chemicals and said the firm is coordinating testing on behalf of participating systems. "There is no cost to us at all," he said, adding that "the settlement will cover the cost of testing." He also told the committee that testing required by the settlement must occur this year.

Committee members asked how any potential recovery would be used and whether local testing already showed contamination. A member asked whether settlement funds, if received, would be restricted to water treatment; the presenter said the assumption was that any funds would be used for water services. Members were told existing local testing shows the system is "well below" both prior and newer detection thresholds, but that the settlement testing would confirm those results.

A speaker explained the settlement outreach was open to systems in certain regions and did not reflect prior findings specific to the city. Committee members noted tightened federal and state detection thresholds for PFAS and discussed how detection technology has only recently become able to measure the lower levels regulators now seek.

After questions, the committee endorsed an emergency recommendation so testing and any related participation can be completed before the end of the year. The committee agreed to recommend council authorize the director to enter the legal services agreement; the committee then adjourned.

The committee did not take a recorded roll‑call vote with member names in the transcript; the meeting record states the recommendation to proceed with emergency legislation was unanimous.