Town Council - Public Works Committee

MEMBERS Braintree Town Council Charles Ryan, Chairman Lawrence Mackin, Vice Chairman Committee on the Department of Public Works Julia Flaherty, member One JFK Memorial Drive Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 October 20, 2020 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on the Department of Public Works was held in Remote via Zoom webinar, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 6:30p.m. Councilor Charles Ryan, Chairman was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. Due to remote participation all votes are taken by roll call vote. Present: Charles Ryan, Chairman Lawrence Mackin, Vice-Chairman Julia Flaherty, member Also Present: James Arsenault, DPW Director John Thompson, Assistant DPW Director/Town Engineer Chris Sidoti, Property Owner APPROVAL OF MINUTES • September 15,2020 Motion: by Councilor Mackin to Approve Minutes of September 15, 2020 Second: by Councilor Ryan (stepping down as chair and back to chair) Vote: For (2 – Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (1 - Flaherty,), Abstain (0) Councilor Flaherty arrived at 6:34pm OLD BUSINESS • None October 20, 2020 Department of Public Works Page 1 of 3 NEW BUSINESS • 20 068 Property Owner Petition: Request for Gas Installation to 86 Hancock Street or take up any action relative thereto Chris Sidoti - Property Owner, President of Integrated Electrical Systems Inc. is in attendance. He recently closed on the property May 15th, 2020. The intention is to move his current offices and warehouse from 258 Willard Street in Quincy to 86 Hancock Street in Braintree. He called National Grid for gas installation and was told it was repaved in 2019 and this request must now go through the Town of Braintree and Town Council for approval. John Thompson, Assistant DPW Director/Town Engineer stated due to this being under moratorium we recommend not approving the petition but if the Council sees fit to approve it then the best course of action is repair curb to curb as stated below. We also recommend a $5000 surety to ensure work is done in a timely fashion and to our standards. Councilor Mackin asked who picks up the tab on this. John Thompson stated the Town does not pay for this at all. It is a combination of National Grid and the Property Owner. Chairman Ryan asked John Thompson about the DPW not recommending this. Mr. Thompson stated if the road is put back and repairs are done as staff recommendations listed then it will be satisfactory. James Arsenault, DPW Director stated in the past we typically follow the moratorium and if it the road is under moratorium we do not recommend the petition be granted. It is up to the Council but if the road is to be put back per the Town Engineers recommendation then it would be adequate but we typically do not accept it. Chairman Ryan stated when a road was just done in 2019 it is difficult to allow National Grid to come and cut up the street. Councilor Mackin stated due to this being a new business in Braintree and it will not cost the town anything I will be approving this and I hope you stay with us for a long time. The Motion was read by Councilor Mackin. MOTION: To install a gas service line to the business at 86 Hancock Street with staff recommendations: BELD: There are no underground electric utility conflicts or special requirements within the proposed scope of work. DPW: Hancock Street is under the moratorium enacted by the Town in 2015 having been overlaid in 2019. For transverse trenches in a road resurfaced as Hancock Street was the moratorium is 5 years. Road openings may be made after 2024 without waiving the ordinance. Since the street is under the moratorium, I recommend that the petition not be granted. However, if the Council finds extenuating circumstances and there is no viable option to meet the business’ needs without excavating the newly October 20, 2020 Department of Public Works Page 2 of 3 re-paved street, I would recommend that the petition for this road opening only be granted if the following conditions can be met: A temporary patch shall be placed immediately after the work. The street excavation should be saw- cut, backfilled and compacted in 8-inch lifts, paved to match existing asphalt depth (with a minimum depth of four inches) in two inch lifts to match the existing street grade. After maintaining the temporary patch through one winter, a permanent patch shall be placed the following May. The permanent patch should be milled curb to curb as to provide at least five feet of overlap on both sides from the temporary patch, but for a length no less than fifteen feet, and machine laid with 2-inches of asphalt top course. Tack coat should be applied to milled surfaces and joints prior to paving. Finished joints should be treated with infrared or with a rubberized asphalt sealer, at the Highway Superintendent’s discretion. Similarly, the new concrete sidewalk may be patched temporarily with asphalt, but must be replaced in-kind the following May. Entire flags of concrete must be replaced if disturbed. All thermoplastic pavement markings should be replaced in-kind following the permanent patching, and surety in the amount of $5000 should be put in place to guarantee the satisfactory completion of the repairs. We also recommend that the following requirement be added to the permit, if it is to be granted: “Neither National Grid nor any of its contractors is authorized to close any street or to close a direction of travel to facilitate their work without authorization from the Director of the Department of Public Works or the Highway Superintendent. The Chief of Police can also authorize a closure for a police or fire emergency. Construction zone traffic safety issues are to be addressed by using appropriate traffic control signs and devices and the use of police officers for traffic control to safely guide traffic through the work zone. If a closure is authorized by the DPW, it shall not be implemented until signs and police officers (where needed) are properly in place in conformity with the written plan prepared by the contractor’s engineer and approved by the DPW and Police Department.” Motion: by Councilor Mackin to Approve Order 20 068 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:54p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • Minutes September 15, 2020 • 20 068 Property Owner Petition: Request for Gas Installation to 86 Hancock Street or take up any action relative thereto October 20, 2020 Department of Public Works Page 3 of 3