Treatment Plant Manager David Minardi announced on July 29 that the city of Cuba has the opportunity to join a class action lawsuit against 3M and DuPont.

Both companies have already reached a multi-billion-dollar settlement, and even though the city’s drinking water tested negative for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Minardi said that joining the lawsuit now could give them access to settlement funds if the water tests positive in the future.

PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, break down slowly and are used in everyday items, such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, cosmetics, food packaging and in making clothes and carpets stain-resistant.

It depends on age, gender, ethnicity, health, genetics and length and quantity of exposure to PFAS, but studies have shown multiple health effects associated with PFAS, including increased cholesterol levels, a small decrease in birth weight, kidney and testicular cancer and changes in liver enzymes.

Minardi said that if city water does eventually test positive, then the settlement money will be used to help treat and remove PFAS. The only cost to the city is a retainer fee that would come out of any settlement money it receives.

“So this just protects us in the future,” Minardi said.

Bill No. 2232, which authorizes the mayor to execute a retainer agreement with the law firm of Napoli Shkolnik for legal representation in a claim of negligence against individuals or corporations found to be liable for contamination of water supplies by polyfluoroalkyl substances, became Special Ordinance 973 after it was approved with a 4-0 vote.

In regard to the bid from N.B. West Construction for $389,012.50 for street repair that was tabled at the July 21 board of aldermen meeting, Comptroller Jennifer Basham said that the budget had to be revised to make it work.

“We’re going to need a revision in the non-capital construction budget of about $842, and the capital budget about $21,671,” Basham said. “It will come from the reserves, which we’re already borrowing from reserves in the fund 22 in the capital fund. Yes, we do have the leniency to take the money from reserves.”

A motion to revise the budget for street repairs was approved with a 4-0 vote.

With the revision approved, a motion to accept N.B. West Construction’s bid for the repairs was approved with a 4-0 vote.