City Council - Utilities Committee

City of Chicopee City Council Utilities Committee Approved 1-10-2017 Members William Zaskey, Chair Timothy McLellan, Vice Chair Shane Brooks William Courchesne Robert J. Zygarowski MINUTES September 26, 2016 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Monday, September 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Zaskey, Brooks, Courchesne, Zygarowski Absent McLellan Also Present Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Councilor Laflamme, Councilor Krampits, Chris Chaban (Assistant City Engineer), Bob Liswell (Project Manager) The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM In compliance with the Open Meeting Law the Vice Chairman asked if anyone in the audience was recording the meeting. Hearing none the meeting continued. ITEM #1 Petition from Charter Spectrum Construction Coordinator to bring a fiber optic cable to Polish National Credit Union located at 244 Exchange Street. Fiber down School Street to Miller Street. Charter is to install 4’ conduit from pole #12 on School Street to the rear of the building. Place two new vaults in the sidewalk along with way for future break out in order to service other businesses within the area. Dan Brault, Charter Spectrum, was present at the meeting. He stated that Polish National Credit Union would like to bring fiber to their business on Exchange Street. In order to do this work Charter would like to build its own conduit and vaults. The vaults will be in the sidewalk. The committee asked if another customer would like to bring fiber to their business will the road have to be opened up. Mr. Brault stated that there will have to be work done in the conduit to add another business but it won’t be to the extent that this project will require. Mr. Brault further stated that he is trying to think ahead and plan for the future by installing the conduit and vaults. Charter cannot be adding to Verizon’s conduits. 1 Chris Chaban stated that the conduit size should be 4 inches not 4 feet. The Engineering department has reviewed the plans submitted by Charter. The first plans required revising. The plans presented to the committee reflect the changes requested. Motion made by Councilor Brooks and second by Councilor Zaskey to approve. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable. ITEM #2 ORDERED THAT a representative from Columbia Gas appear before the Utilities Committee to discuss the gas leaks in the city. The following representatives were present from Columbia Gas Company: Michael Kane, Director, Government Affairs David Nelson, Operations Center Manager Tracy Stefanowicz, External Affairs Bryan Meccariello, Engineer They informed the committee of the following: In 2014 the state legislature voted to pass a bill to regrade gas leaks. Grade 1 leaks must be repaired as soon as possible. Grade 2 must be evaluated every 6 months until they are repaired. Grade 3 must be checked every year but don’t have to be repaired. Currently there are 2 open Grade 2 leaks in Chicopee. They are 4-6 months of old. There have been 93 Grade 1 leaks this calendar year in Chicopee. Massachusetts has the strictest laws in the country governing gas companies. Columbia Gas does not reveal the gas leak locations for security purposes. All Grade 1 leaks are reported to the Fire Department. This was an informational meeting. Committee vote 4 – 0 favorable. ITEM #3 Minutes – March 30, 2016. Motion made to approve. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM 2