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 April 27, 2021 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on the Department of Public Works was held in Remote via Zoom webinar, on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 7:00p.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 APPROVAL OF MINUTES • February 23, 2021 Motion: by Councilor Mackin to Approve the Minutes of February 23, 2021 Second: by Councilor Flaherty Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) OLD BUSINESS • None April 27, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 1 of 3 NEW BUSINESS • 21 015 National Grid Petition: Middle Street or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan stated we have a recommendation from the DPW stating Middle Street is not under moratorium. The Town has water main replacement and National Grid will also be replacing their gas lines. This is an example of utility coordination. This is a good thing. Motion was read by Councilor Mackin with Staff Recommendations: MOTION: To Install and Maintain gas lines due to Water/utility work that the Town of Braintree is planning with the following staff recommendations: BELD: BELD has a 115,000-volt oil filled transmission line located on Elm/Middle/Morrison/River streets. BELD Engineering should be notified in advance of any excavation to be performed near this line. BELD will provide onsite support and safety personnel at no cost to the project. BELD also has a 13,800-volt underground system on these roads. This is a concrete encased duct bank to be identified through the Dig safe process. DPW: The DPW has reviewed the subject petition and the accompanying sketch for the new gas main location and have the following recommendations: - Relay approximately 700 feet of 4-inch coated steel (1957) gas main in Middle Street from Elm St to #54 Middle St with 700 feet of 6-inch plastic gas main and abandon same limit. - Relay approximately 670 feet of 4-inch coated steel (1957) gas main in Middle St from Morrison St to River St with 670 feet of 6-inch plastic gas main and abandon same limit. Middle Street is not under the moratorium. The street was last resurfaced with microsurface treatment in 2008. The Braintree Water and Sewer Division is planning a water main replacement project along this section of Middle Street during the 2021 construction season, and we would recommend that the petition be granted as soon as possible so that the gas main replacement, the watermain replacement, and the subsequent roadway paving can be coordinated and completed in a timely manner. It should be noted that National Grid is not proposing to replace the gas main currently suspended beneath the railroad crossing bridge because they have determined it to be in great shape, having received regular maintenance and coatings on the exposed steel. 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 the gas main shall not encroach on any town-owned utilities. We also recommend that the following requirements be added to the permit, if it is to be granted: “National Grid must arrange a pre-construction meeting with Braintree DPW, Braintree Police and BELD prior to any excavation to discuss utility corridor assignment and traffic management for the project.” April 27, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 2 of 3 “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 21 015 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 7:06p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • 21 015 National Grid Petition: Middle Street or take up any action relative thereto April 27, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 3 of 3