City Council - Public Works Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE APPROVED 10-11-2016 MEMBERS Fred Krampits Frank Laflamme Shane Brooks Gary Labrie Adam Lamontagne MINUTES March 8, 2016 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM at City Hall, Council Chambers, 4th floor, City Hall Annex. Members Present Krampits, Laflamme, Brooks, Labrie, Lamontagne Also Present Councilor Zygarowski, Councilor Courchesne, Jeff Neece (Superintendent DPW), Councilor Tillotson, Dan Garvey (Associate Solicitor) In compliance with the open meeting laws the Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. ITEM #1 ORDERED THAT the Public Works Committee meet to discuss the sidewalks on lower Dale Street. Councilor Lamontagne stated that the condition of the sidewalks on Dale Street were bad. Jeff Neece stated that we ran out of weather last year and the Gas Company wasn’t able to finish their work. The Gas Company will start work in April and we anticipate them being there for a short time, then we can start the sidewalk work. He stated that the highway crew we had last year of six to eight people are now gone. We have ten vacancies and twenty six positions in DPW Highway. We need to rebuild the Highway Department Craftsmen vacancies and then we can feel comfortable that we will be able to do these sidewalks. Councilor Brooks stated that you have raised a point with the amount of vacancies that you’ve had. This will inhibit any kind of road work throughout the city. Jeff Neece stated that the Mayor’s office and Human Resource are aware of it. Jeff Neece stated that we don’t have the full ability to do anything without the manpower. Councilor Zygarowski asked why are they not hiring the employee’s if they’re in the budget. Jeff Neece stated that we can’t get people to show up for the interviews at the rate we’re paying them. He stated that you need a CDL B license and it’s very expensive to get it. Councilors Tillotson and Zygarowski asked if the laborers need to have a CDL B to work at the DPW Highway. Councilor Laflamme stated that he checked and they require a CDL B for all DPW workers. Councilor Tillotson stated that there should be truck drivers and laborers. I never heard that everyone has to have a CDL, no wonder you can’t get the truck drivers for thirteen dollars per hour. He further stated that this whole operation should be looked at. There’s always going to be manual labor needed and I don’t believe a laborer should need a CDL license. 1 Councilor Tillotson stated that Amy Berube-Rivera sent out an email to all of the Councilors to come up with all the things that need to be done with sidewalks for their ward. We should not only be focusing on Dale Street but, the city wide possibility of where sidewalks are truly needed. Councilor Labrie stated that he thinks we should look at what other cities are paying for their truck drivers and laborers. If the lifeguard is making eleven dollars an hour and we’re paying a truck drive thirteen dollars an hour and they have to have a special license, I think a study should be done. Councilor Brooks stated I think we should do a large scale salary study because we’re going to see this across other settings where other communities will be more attractive and we’ll have a hard time with retention. If the minimum wage is ten dollars per hour and a laborer has this license that’s worth five thousand dollars; he’s not going to work for the DPW when he could work at McDonalds and make thirty five thousand dollars per year. He stated that if we’re not going to be compatible with other municipalities we are going to struggle to hold on to skilled laborers and good employees. We’re not going to be attractive to anyone who is going to want to work for us long term. I think we need to look at increasing our salaries across the board. Councilor Tillotson stated that the gas company can get some of the work done in April and DPW can do the rest of the work after next year’s fiscal budget when you hire more laborers. 1. Council to send a letter to the Mayor regarding short staffing in the highway Department/sidewalk crew and salary study of DPW Departments verses other communities. 2. Estimated that work on Dale Street be completed this season. Councilor Laflamme motion to approve – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #2 ORDERED THAT Harry Street, a paper street, be abandoned to the abutters. Councilor Krampits stated he was informed by Steve Frederick that this street is not owned by the City of Chicopee but is owned by Western Mass. Electric. Therefore this is null and void. Property owned by eversource cannot be abandoned by the city. Place on file. Councilor Laflamme motion to place on file – Councilor Labrie 2nd the motion – motion passed Committee vote 5 – 0 favorable ITEM #3 Minutes – July 15, 2015 Councilor Labrie motion to approve – Councilor Laflamme 2nd the motion – motion passed Meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM. 2