Town Council - Public Works Committee

MEMBERS Braintree Town Council Charles Ryan, Chairman Julia Flaherty, Vice Chairwoman Committee on the Department of Public Works Lawrence Mackin, member One JFK Memorial Drive Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 April 5, 2022 MINUTES A meeting of the Committee on the Department of Public Works was held in Johnson Chambers, Braintree Town Hall, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 6:30p.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 Julia Flaherty, Vice-Chairwoman Lawrence Mackin, member Also Present: James Arsenault, DPW Director John Thompson, Assistant DPW Director/Town Engineer Mary Mulroney, National Grid Representative APPROVAL OF MINUTES • September 30, 2021 Motion: by Councilor Flaherty to Approve Minutes of September 30, 2021 Second: by Councilor Mackin Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) OLD BUSINESS • None April 5, 2022 Department of Public Works Page 1 of 4 NEW BUSINESS • 22 014 National Grid Petition: 22-111 Parkside Avenue or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan discussed the recommendations by BELD and DPW. He asked National Grid representative if they agree to all the recommendations. National Grid agrees to all requested recommendations. Motion was read by Vice-Chairwoman, Councilor Flaherty for favorable recommendation to the full Council with Staff Recommendations: MOTION: To Relay approximately 1070 feet of 2-inch bare steel and approximately 125 feet of 2- inch coated steel with approximately 1195 feet of 2-inch plastic in Parkside Ave from Walnut St to #20 Parkside Ave, and approximately 235 feet of 1.5-inch bare steel and approximately 75 feet of 2- inch bare steel with approximately 310 feet of 2-inch plastic in Acorn St from Parkside Ave to #67 Acorn Street with Staff Recommendations: BELD: BELD has an 115,000 volt oil filled transmission line located on Walnut St. BELD Engineering should be notified in advance of any excavation to be performed in close proximity to 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 the road. This is a concrete encased duct bank to be identified through the Dig safe process. BELD also has a 13,800 volt underground system from Pole #1 Acorn St crossing Parkside Ave feeding the underground system to Sheffield Drive. Please see attached map of the location of 13,800-volt system. DPW: The DPW has reviewed the subject petition and the accompanying sketch for the gas main replacement on Parkside Avenue and Acorn St. The work is being proposed to eliminate aging gas infrastructure. These sections of Parkside Avenue and Acorn Street are not subject to the excavation moratorium having both been resurfaced by overlay in 2011. While the roadways are not under moratorium, the pavement on each street is in good condition. As such, the DPW recommends 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 spring. The permanent patch shall be a curb-to-crown mill and overlay with a pavement depth 1.5 inches. We also recommend that the following requirements be added to the permit, if it is to be granted: April 5, 2022 Department of Public Works Page 2 of 4  - National Grid must arrange a pre-construction meeting with Braintree the DPW to discuss utility corridor assignment. The new gas mains must not encroach on any existing utilities. - 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 Flaherty to Approve Order 22 014 Second: by Councilor Mackin Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) • 22 016 National Grid Petition: Sampson Avenue or take up any action relative thereto Chairman Ryan discussed the recommendations by BELD and DPW. He asked National Grid representative if they agree to all the recommendations. National Grid agrees to all requested recommendations. Motion was read by Vice-Chairwoman, Councilor Flaherty for favorable recommendation to the full Council with Staff Recommendations: MOTION: To Relay approximately 500 feet of 1.5-inch bare steel with approximately 500 feet of 2- inch plastic in Sampson Ave. from the existing 2-inch plastic near Washington St to the end of main at #42 Sampson Ave. with Staff Recommendations: BELD: BELD has no conflicts on Sampson Ave. DPW: The DPW has reviewed the subject petition and the accompanying sketch for the gas main replacement on Sampson Avenue. The work is being proposed to eliminate aging gas infrastructure. Sampson Avenue is not subject to the excavation moratorium having been resurfaced by total reconstruction in 2012, however, the roadway pavement is still in excellent condition. As such, the DPW recommends 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. April 5, 2022 Department of Public Works Page 3 of 4  - After maintaining the temporary patch through one winter, permanent restoration shall be completed the following spring. The permanent restoration shall be a curb-to-crown mill and overlay with a pavement depth 1.5 inches. 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 the DPW to discuss utility corridor assignment. The new gas mains must not encroach on any existing utilities. - 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 Flaherty to Approve Order 22 016 Second: by Councilor Mackin Vote: For (3 – Flaherty, Mackin, Ryan), Against (0), Absent (0), Abstain (0) It was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:15p.m. Respectfully submitted, Susan M. Cimino Clerk of the Council Documents provided for Meeting • Minutes of September 30, 2021 • 22 014 National Grid Petition: 22-111 Parkside Avenue or take up any action relative thereto • 22 016 National Grid Petition: Sampson Avenue or take up any action relative thereto April 5, 2022 Department of Public Works Page 4 of 4