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 March 16, 2021 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on the Department of Public Works was held in Remote via Zoom webinar, on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 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 Mary Mulroney, National Grid Representative Dennis McCaffrey, National Grid Joe Carroll, National Grid Elsworth Andrew, National Grid Manager of Construction Bill Eddy, National Grid APPROVAL OF MINUTES • November 17, 2020 Motion made by Councilor Mackin to approve Minutes of November 17, 2020 Motion: by Councilor Mackin to Approve Minutes of November 17, 2020 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) OLD BUSINESS • None March 16, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 1 of 5 NEW BUSINESS • 21 004 National Grid Petition: Ivory Street or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan stated we have a recommendation from the DPW that National Grid replace old piping. National Grid stated all conditions have been reviewed and agreed to. Chairman Ryan stated when we did the change in the moratorium in 2015 we could not make that retroactively. Councilor Flaherty asked when the work will begin and it is good to note this will be night work. National Grid stated we made a recommendation that we begin as soon as possible. Probably mid- May and could take about 8 to 10 weeks. National Grid stated we had to cut off service to the Motel 6 due to active leaks. If there is any business going into that restaurant or hotel that is something different. Motion was read by Councilor Mackin with all Staff Recommendations: MOTION: National Grid hereby requests to relay approximately 1040 feet of 4 inch, 60 psig Aldyl-A plastic (1979) with approximately 1040 feet of 6 inch, 60 psig plastic in Ivory St from Union St to the existing 6-inch, coated steel at 280 Ivory St. Relay approximately 860 feet of 4 inch, 60 psig Aldyl-A plastic (1979) with approximately 860 feet of 6 inch, 60 psig plastic in Grossman Drive from Union St to the existing 4 inch, 60 psig plastic (1996) at #100 Grossman Drive, and relay approximately 370 feet of 2 inch, 60 psig Aldyl-A plastic (1979) with approximately 370 feet of 4 inch, 60 psig plastic in Union St from Ivory St to the end of main at #125 Union St. WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: BELD: BELD has underground 115,000-volt pressurized oil filled transmission lines and 15,000-volt concrete encased distribution lines located within the scope of work. BELD Engineering should be notified forty-eight hours in advance of any excavation to be performed in close proximity to 115,000-volt transmission line. BELD will provide on-site support and safety personnel at no cost to the project to ensure this critical infrastructure is identified and monitored throughout the excavation process. All BELD Electric facilities will be identified and marked through the DigSafe process. DPW: The DPW has reviewed National Grid’s petition #21-004, proposing to replace older (1979) first generation plastic gas pipe with new plastic gas pipe in the following locations: - Union Street, from its intersection with Ivory Street easterly, approximately 370 feet - Ivory Street, from its intersection with Union Street southerly, approximately 1040 feet - Grossman Drive, from its intersection with Union Street northerly, approximately 860 feet Union Street, Grossman Drive, and approximately 200 feet of Ivory Street (from the intersection with Union Street southerly) were paved in 2014 and as such, are under the ten year moratorium enacted by the Council in 2015 for longitudinal trenches. The remainder of Ivory Street to the proposed project limits, approximately 850 feet, was paved in 2006 and is not within the moratorium, although the pavement is in good to fair condition. It is the DPW’s understanding that the work is being proposed at this time due to the deteriorating condition of the existing plastic pipe and the pipe’s vulnerability to gas leaks. March 16, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 2 of 5 If the Council approves the subject petition, the DPW recommends that National Grid be responsible for the restoration of all disturbed areas within the work limits once work is completed, including the following specific requirements: - Along disturbed areas of Union Street, National Grid shall perform a curb-to-center island 2-inch mill and overlay - Along disturbed areas of Ivory Street, National Grid shall perform a curb-to-center island 2-inch mill and overlay - Along disturbed areas of Grossman Drive, National Grid shall perform a curb to curb (full width) 2- inch mill and overlay. - The entire intersection of Union Street, Ivory Street, and Grossman Drive shall be resurfaced by a 2- inch mill and overlay. - The entire intersection of Ivory Street with the Covanta driveway and the MBTA driveway shall be resurfaced by a 2-inch mill and overlay. - Any sidewalks disturbed during construction shall be replaced in kind - Any vehicle detection loops that are damaged during construction will be replaced immediately following completion of work at that location, at first on a temporary basis after trench patching, and then permanently following final paving - All thermoplastic pavement markings shall be replaced in-kind immediately following the final paving We also recommend that the following requirements be added to the permit, if it is to be granted: “The DPW and the Police Department reserve the right to require construction during nighttime, weekend, or off-peak hours as to minimize the disruption to commuting traffic along these high volume arterial roads and intersections” “Neither National Grid nor any contractor 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 21 004 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) March 16, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 3 of 5 • 21 010 National Grid Petition: Huntley Road or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan stated we have a recommendation from the DPW that National Grid replace their main before we resurface the street after replacing water mains. Motion was read by Councilor Mackin with all Staff Recommendations: MOTION: National Grid hereby requests due to water work by the Town of Braintree, National grid recommends relay 165 feet of 2inch Bare Steel (1924) and 140 feet of 2inch Bare Steel (1968) gas main in Huntley Rd from Hayward St to end of main with 305 feet of 2 -inch Plastic gas main WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: BELD: BELD has underground 115,000-volt pressurized oil filled transmission lines and 15,000-volt concrete encased distribution lines located within the scope of work. BELD Engineering should be notified forty-eight hours in advance of any excavation to be performed in close proximity to 115,000-volt transmission line. BELD will provide on-site support and safety personnel at no cost to the project to ensure this critical infrastructure is identified and monitored throughout the excavation process. All BELD Electric facilities will be identified and marked through the DigSafe process. DPW: The DPW has reviewed the subject petition and the accompanying sketch for the new gas main location and have the following recommendations: Huntley Road is not under the moratorium. The street was resurfaced with a shim and micro surface in 2015, however, the Braintree Water and Sewer Division has already excavated along portions of Huntley Road to replace the aging water main which had a relatively recent break. Huntley Road is scheduled to be resurfaced, and we would recommend that the petition for be granted as soon as possible so that the gas main replacement and the paving can be coordinated and completed in a timely manner. The petition should be granted under the normal conditions, with emphasis on the requirements that the trench pavement not be left low for any length of time, and that any excavation within the limits of Hayward Street will require a permanent trench patch repair by grind and inlay after trench settlement is complete. 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 21 010 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) March 16, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 4 of 5 It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 6:49p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 21 004 National Grid Petition: Ivory Street or take up any action relative thereto • 21 010 National Grid Petition: Huntley Road or take up any action relative thereto March 16, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 5 of 5