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Date: 2/14/2023
MONSON – Countless homeowners in the area are working to save their foundations from crumbling due to pyrrhotite, but without legislation, there is no recourse.
Monson resident Michelle Loglisci has been active in trying to get the state to help those experiencing pyrrhotite damage by founding a group known as Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Foundations.
She explained, when pyrrhotite is mixed with water and oxygen it begins a slow degradation process that expands and cracks the concrete. “When it cracks and water gets in it makes it even worse,” she said.
Loglisci’s concern on the issue grew when she read an article featuring Russell Dupere, a Longmeadow resident she knew, talking about his home. After reading that JJ Mottes Concrete Company out of Connecticut poured Dupere’s basement, Loglisci said her stomach turned to knots as she used the same company.
“They [JJ Mottes] got their aggregate from a quarry in Willington, CT – Becker’s Quarry from 1983 to 2015. That is how homes in our area are affected,” said Loglisci. “Those homes in Worcester County are affected by aggregate sources right here in Massachusetts.”
Loglisci told Reminder Publishing that the article rushed her to the basement where she began running her hands across the walls, but it didn’t crumble, as Dupere noted his hand.
“Any way you can find a way to deny having a problem, you will do,” said Loglisci.
For months, she continued to touch the basement walls, but the lack of the break led her to believe they had gotten lucky.
When Loglisci’s husband was laid off, he began spending more time in the basement using sidewalk chalk to mark up the cracks and slants that were visible with a light. At that time, the couple knew that it was starting to become a problem.
The Loglisci’s called a structural engineer to come in and look at their foundation. She said the engineer informed them that there was good news and bad news. The good news was that the crumbling was progressing slowly – which is the result of a number of things – including hitting a spring when a cellar hole was dug. Loglisci noted that their basement was never finished, which is good because finished basements make it worse.
The bad news was that the Logliscis were told they would have to live there for a long time.
“No bank will cover a mortgage on a crumbling foundation,” she said. The bank will only cover an abrupt collapse caused by a severe storm such as a tornado or hurricane.
With JJ Mottes long out of business, Loglisci called state Rep. Brian Ashe at the time, who was aware of what was happening.
“Our house was 20 years old,” said Loglisci. “We were ready to freshen up the bathroom, [install] new counters,” among other improvements. “He [Ashe] said, ‘You might not want to spend your money on that,’” and advised the couple to save every penny they had.
In 20 years, the house Loglisci and her husband built was paid off, however, a year later, they found out they could have rented it.
“It took our whole retirement dream and put it on hold,” said Loglisci. “We can’t get a mortgage on it… It’s devastating.”
To replace the foundation, Loglisci received a quote of $263,000.
Unaware of what to do next, Loglisci said she started going to Connecticut homeowner meetings, as many were coming forward with the same problem.
Through a program in Connecticut, over 600 foundations were replaced.
Because of this, Loglisci said, “I knew we would need to do something here. If their [Connecticut] legislators can do something, [we can] too.”
This is when Loglisci created Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Foundations. She shared that she began contacting people who experienced pyrrhotite damage such as Dupere, along with a resident in Wales and Holland. About a dozen individuals met for the first time in June 2018, before meeting more frequently and expanding the group.
Loglisci said the group began advocating last year when a legislation was filed but did not make it through. However, a new session has started and by Jan. 10, state Sen. Anne Gobi filed new bills including one that will help these homeowners. Currently, Loglisci said the group is trying to get other legislators to co-sponsor the bill.
On March 28 at 11 a.m., a legislative briefing will take place at the State House in Boston. Loglisci said it will be a “lobby day for us.”
“It’s a grassroots effort,” she added.
The main goal of the briefing is to raise support among legislators.
She went on to explain that the bill would begin quarry testing standards and allow homes to be scanned for pyrrhotite.
Loglisci will be one of the speakers at the State House. She noted that if enough people are interested in going, Monson Savings Bank has committed to providing a bus to get there with a pickup location in Hampshire and Worcester County on the way to Boston.
Interested participants can reach out to Loglisci online at https://www.massracf.com/. The briefing is open to the public.
“The more homeowners that can go, the better off we will be,” said Loglisci. Her goal is to make the briefing a “standing room only” event.
“We want homeowners to understand [that] as difficult as it is to come forward about this,” it must be done, she said.
She continued, “If we want the state to do something we have to stand up and ask for this. Hiding will not make it go away.”
In East Longmeadow, there are 21 homes experiencing pyrrhotite which Loglisci said is the highest number in the region. Monson is a smaller town but is about the same percentage in comparison to East Longmeadow, with eight homeowners that have come forward.
Loglisci shared that this issue has affected a great deal of people – either directly or indirectly. For instance, since starting the group, membership has increased to over 1,500. She noted that this does not only include homeowners, but bankers, realtors, contractors and more.
“It’s just wrong,” Loglisci said. “It shouldn’t be happening.”
She noted that Connecticut’s program is five years in, and the price to replace a foundation is coming down, including all the equipment and necessary items to do it. If Massachusetts gets a program, she is hoping that the price will also come down.
In the meantime, Loglisci encourages people to come out and support the group at the legislative briefing on Mar. 28.
For additional information, visit the groups Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2077551785602887 or their website, https://www.massracf.com/.
Reminder Publishing reached out to Gobi for comment but did not hear back as of press time.