Public Works Committee

City of Department of Fitchburg (seal) Public Works June 25, 2019 COMMISSIONER 301 Broad Street 978-829-1910 Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes 978-345-9687 FAX A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at DPW Headquarters, 301 Broad Street, at 5:00 PM. Committee Members Present: Councilors Joel Kaddy (chair), Paul Beauchemin, STREETS & PARKS 301 Broad Street Dave Clark, Marisa Fleming, and Sam Squailia. 978-829-1900 978-345-9687 FAX Committee Members Absent: none Other Participants: Councilor Elizabeth Walsh DPW Commissioner Lenny Laakso WASTEWATER DPW Superintendent Gary Withington Princeton Road DPW Commissioner-in-training Nicolas Bosonetto 978-345-9622 978-345-9623 FAX Action taken as follows: SEWER COLLECTION Petition 209-18: Multiple citizens to repair McTaggart's Dam to refill pond and restore 301 Broad Street 978-829-1905 wildlife population. 978-345-9687 FAX Discussion: Commissioner Laakso reported that concrete core samples need to be collected from the dam once water level drops. Estimated completion date of study is September 2019. The Committee voted 5-0 to HOLD the petition, pending WATER completion of the ongoing alternatives analysis. 1200 Rindge Road 978-345-9616 978-345-9555 FAX Petition 286-18: Councilor Marisa Fleming, to have the City place bales of hay at the top of High Rock Road where it meets the paper road portion of High Rock Road. During heavy rain the water runs down into the back yards of 1191 and 1179 Ashby State Road causing flooding and debris. ENGINEERING 301 Broad Street Discussion: Superintendent Withington advised that hay bales would not help much, 978-829-1917 978-345-9687 FAX except to hold back silt. The Committee voted 5-0 to WITHDRAW the petition. Petition 111-19: Councilor Paul Beauchemin, on behalf of Roger Ouellette, to alleviate CEMETERIES the water problem at 14 Norfolk Street. 115 Mount Elam Road 978-345-9578 978-345-9686 FAX Discussion: Superintendent Withington agreed that this problem could be rectified. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 www.fitchburgma.gov Petition 123-19: David Duval of 100 Falulah St., Fitchburg, MA to request the grinding and repaving of Falulah St. from Melrose St. to 100 Falulah St. be completed along with the repair of two storm drains as outlined in the petition. Discussion: DPW Engineering estimates that the paving cost would be $98,000. The Committee would like to know the Pavement Condition Index of Falulah St; Commissioner Laakso replied that DPW is transitioning to the automated street scan system for evaluating pavement and scanning of all city streets will occur in June with results available in July/August. Concerning the catch basins, Superintendent Withington stated that they will be repaired this summer. Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the portion of the petition relating to the repair of the two storm drains and voted 5-0 to WITHDRAW and refer paving portion of the petition to engineering. Petition 126-19: Councilor Joel Kaddy, to correct water problem at 15 Thurston Place. Discussion: Councilors Squailia and Beauchemin visited the site and believe that runoff from the street jumps the curb and flows into the yard or the driveway. The Committee voted 5-0 to HOLD the petition and requested that DPW observe the problem during a rain event so that an appropriate remedy can be determined. Petition 140-19: Councilor Marcus DiNatale, to repair the sidewalk from the Reingold Elementary Exit on Franklin road to Reingold Avenue. Discussion: Superintendent Withington reported that the sidewalks in that area have been repaired over time, and that only segment remain in disrepair. Estimated cost is $2,450. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. Petition 141-19: Councilor Michael Kushmerek, to investigate and remedy the water run-off in front of 546 Blossom Street that causes hazardous road conditions during the winter. Discussion: Commissioner Laakso recommended that a perforated pipe drain be installed along with a swale and catch basins to resolve this drainage issue. Estimated cost is $6,500. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. Petition 160-19: Councilor Paul Beauchemin, to install an apron to eliminate water problems at 41 Leroy Street. Discussion: Councilor Beauchemin reported that water is going from the roadway through to the driveway. Estimated cost is $325. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. Petition 161-19: Councilor Marisa Fleming on behalf of John Belli of 190 Will Thompson Way, to eliminate some of the reflectors at the intersection of John Fitch highway and Pearl Hill Road. Discussion: Councilor Fleming commented that the reflectors are blinding at night due to glare from the many reflectors. Commissioner Laakso commented that the reflectors and traffic calming measures were built as a short-term solution while long term solutions are studied. The Committee voted 5-0 to REFER the petition to the Public Safety Committee. Petition 162-19: Councilor Marisa Fleming on behalf of Mary Cunningham of 56 Richardson Rd, to have a berm installed. Discussion: Estimated cost is $650. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. Petition 163-19: Councilor Michael Kushmerek, to explore the installation and use of a guardrail between 645 and 575 Blossom St. Discussion: Engineering Division reported an estimated cost of $42,000. The Committee voted 5-0 to WITHDRAW the petition. Page | 2 Petition 164-19: Councilor Samantha Squailia, Councilor Joel Kaddy, and Mr. Wil Darcangelo, to install a pedestrian crossing signal with audible beacon at the existing crosswalk from Prospect St. at Main St. Discussion: Commissioner-in-training Bosonetto reported that in order to install an ADA compliant crossing, half of the intersection would have to be rebuilt because the current sidewalk, utility pole and traffic cabinet locations are all non-ADA compliant. Estimated cost is $50,000. The Committee voted 5-0 to WITHDRAW the petition. Petition 165-19: Councilor Samantha Squailia and Councilor Elizabeth Walsh on behalf of Melissa Beaudry, install a raised driveway apron or otherwise find remedy to the street water issue, ponding issue, at 207 Electric Ave. Discussion: Estimated cost is $1,600. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. Petition 193-19: Councilor Michael Kushmerek on behalf of resident Jannine Carson, to trim the tree canopy on Longwood Avenue between its intersection with Lyman St. and Upland St. Discussion: Estimated cost is $3,000. The Committee voted 5-0 to GRANT the petition. The meeting was adjourned at 5:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Nicolas Bosonetto, Commissioner of Public Works Clerk of Committee Distribution: Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale City Clerk, City Councilors Gary Bevilacqua, Assistant City Engineer Gary Withington, Superintendent of Streets File 2.3A Page | 3