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 September 21, 2021 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on the Department of Public Works was held in Johnson Chambers, Braintree Town Hall, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 7:00p.m. There was a moment of silence for all those serving in our armed services, past and present, and the meeting was opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Councilor Charles Ryan, Chairman was in the Chair. Clerk of the Council, Susan Cimino conducted the roll call. 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 Homeowner, 100 Adams Street APPROVAL OF MINUTES • None OLD BUSINESS • None September 21, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 1 of 3 NEW BUSINESS • 21 042 Resident Petition: Gas Installation – 100 Adams Street or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan stated we have a recommendation from the DPW stating Adams Street is under moratorium. This street was totally reconstructed in 2019. For transverse service trenches, the moratorium is 5 years, therefore any excavation made during or prior to 2024 requires waiving of the ordinance. Chairman Ryan stated we want to help residents especially new homeowners who want to upgrade their new home. The gas connection is located on the other side of the street. It was noted to the homeowner this could be costly for them. The will need to contact National Grid and get on their list and find out the pricing and costs that National Grid will pay and what is required from the homeowner. Motion was read by Councilor Mackin for favorable recommendation to the full Council with Staff Recommendations: MOTION: Resident hereby requests petition for the installation of a gas service line to the residence at 100 Adams Street with Staff Recommendations: BELD: BELD has no utility conflicts with this petition Order 21 042. DPW: The DPW has reviewed the subject petition for the installation of a gas service line to the residence at 100 Adams Street. This section of Adams Street is under the moratorium enacted by the Council in 2015, having been totally reconstructed in 2019. For transverse service trenches, the moratorium is 5 years, therefore any excavation made during or prior to 2024 requires waiving of the ordinance. The gas main is located on the opposite side of Adams Street from the property, near the curb line in the eastbound travel lane. If the Council does elect to waive the ordinance in this instance, our recommendation is that the petition be granted with the following conditions: 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. 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: September 21, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 2 of 3 “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 21 042 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 7:26p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • Minutes of June 15, 2021 • 21 042 Resident Petition: Gas Installation – 100 Adams Street or take up any action relative thereto September 21, 2021 Department of Public Works Page 3 of 3