Public Works Committee
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · October 29, 2019
Minutes
October 29, 2019
Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at DPW
Headquarters, 301 Broad Street, at 5:00 PM.
Committee Members Present: Councilors Joel Kaddy (chair), Paul Beauchemin, Marisa
Fleming, and Sam Squailia.
Commissioner Nicholas Bosonetto
Superintendent Gary Withington
Committee Members Absent: Councilor Dave Clark
Other Participants: Councilor Beth Walsh
Minutes from 9/24/2019 meeting were approved
Action taken as follows:
Petition 244-19. Councillor [sic] Amy Green, on behalf of Dorothy McNamara, to
request a berm repair at 27 Greendale Avenue.
Recommendation: The Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the petition be GRANTED.
Petition 252-19. Councillor [sic] Paul Beauchemin, that Boulder Drive from Putnam
Street be closed to traffic, for pedestrian use only.
Discussion & Recommendation: The Committee voted 4-0 to HOLD the petition
because further discussion is needed to plan out improvements to Main Street and
Boulder Drive 2-way traffic conversion.
Petition 253-19. Councillor [sic] Amy Green, on behalf of Ray Gauguen, to fix the
broken fence at the corner of Seneca and Milk Streets.
Recommendation: The Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the petition be GRANTED.
Petition 254-19. Councillors [sic] Marcus DiNatale and Amy Green, to install a new
berm at 89 St. Anthony St.
Recommendation: The Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the petition be GRANTED.
Petition 255-19. Councillors [sic] Sam Squailia and Amy Green, on behalf of Karen
Tinger, to request asphalt pavement installed in the dirt shoulder between the sidewalk
and edge of road pavement at 9-11 Warren Street to alleviate erosion. To match work
done at 15 Warren Street, reference petition #258-18.
Discussion & Recommendation: A berm has been installed at this location. The
petition would pave the grass area between the roadway and the sidewalk. The
Committee voted 4-0 be given LEAVE TO WITHDRAW the petition.
Petition 256-19. Councillor [sic] Elizabeth R. Walsh, on behalf of Robert & Myrtle
Pelullo, 39 Matthew Street, to 1. Erect either a berm or other resolution to mitigate the
problem of water draining into his driveway and garage during rain storms, and 2. To
trim or cut down trees on the south side (Gale Street side) of his home, which are leaning
toward the Pelullo home and entangling overhead wires.
Discussion & Recommendation: The second part of the petition has already been
completed, so the motion was amended to remove that part of the request. The
Committee voted 4-0 to recommend the petition be GRANTED AS AMENDED.
Petition 209-18. Multiple citizens, to repair McTaggart's Dam to refill pond and restore
wildlife population. (HELD during June & September 2019 meetings, pending completion
of the ongoing alternatives analysis).
Discussion & Recommendation: The draft report from the consultant firm examining
the dam is being reviewed and the final report will be available soon. The consultant’s
scope of work includes public outreach and presentations to be given to explain the result
of the study. It is recommended that the petition be held until the report can be released
and public presentations can be given to explain the recommendations. The Committee
voted 4-0 to HOLD the petition.
126-19. Councilor Joel Kaddy, to correct water problem at 15 Thurston Place. (HELD
during June & September 2019 meetings, and requested that DPW observe the problem
during a rain event so that an appropriate remedy can be determined
Discussion & Recommendation: On-site inspections did not reveal a drainage problem.
However, DPW staff will revisit the issue during heavy rain-storms to try and determine
the severity and cause of the problem. The Committee voted 4-0 to HOLD the petition.
Petition 243-17. Councilor Paul Beauchemin, on behalf of Norman Beauvais, to request
a sidewalk in front of the Dunkin Donuts located on Electric Ave. (GRANTED during
City Council on 4/3/2018)
Discussion: The history of the issue seems to extend from the Planning Board review
and approval of the development. It is unclear whether the landscaping installed within
the public ROW was dictated by the conditions of the Planning Board. DPW will
research the history to try to determine why the landscaping was installed in the sidewalk
area, thereby blocking the pedestrian route. The Committee voted 4-0 to HOLD the
petition.
10/31/19 City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 Page 2 of 2
www.fitchburgma.gov
Agenda
CITY OF FITCHBURG Filed in the City Clerk’s Office:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
MEETING DATE: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
MEETING TIME: 5:00 ☐AM ☒PM
MEETING PLACE: DPW
Name of building (if applicable)
Room number (if applicable)
Address 301 BROAD STREET
City FITCHBURG, MA 01420
AGENDA ITEMS:*
1) Vote to approve minutes from previous meeting
2) New petitions for review:
a) 244-19. Councillor [sic] Amy Green, on behalf of Dorothy McNamara, to request a berm repair at 27 Greendale
Avenue. (REFERRED during City Council on 10/1/2019)
b) 252-19. Councillor [sic] Paul Beachemin, that Boulder Drive from Putnam Street be closed to traffic, for pedestrian
use only. (REFERRED to Public Safety Committee and Public Works Committee during City Council on 10/15/2019)
c) 253-19. Councillor [sic] ] Amy Green, on behalf of Ray Gauguen, to fix the broken fence at the corner of Seneca and
Milk Streets. (REFERRED during City Council on 10/15/2019)
d) 254-19. Councillors [sic] ] Marcus DiNatale and Amy Green, to install a new berm at 89 St. Anthony St. (REFERRED
during City Council on 10/15/2019)
e) 255-19. Councillors [sic] Sam Squailia and Amy Green, on behalf of Karen Tinger, to request asphalt pavement
installed in the dirt shoulder between the sidewalk and edge of road pavement at 9-11 Warren Street to alleviate
erosion. To match work done at 15 Warren Street, reference petition #258-18. (REFERRED during City Council on
10/15/2019)
f) 256-19. Councillor [sic] Elizabeth R. Walsh, on behalf of Robert & Myrtle Pelullo, 39 Matthew Street, to 1. Erect
either a berm or other resolution to mitigate the problem of water draining into his driveway and garage during rain
storms, and 2. To trim or cut down trees on the south side (Gale Street side) of his home, which are leaning toward the
Pelullo home and entangling overhead wires. (REFERRED during City Council on 10/15/2019)
*Please note: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requires that all topics that the Chair reasonably anticipates must be listed and
that the list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting.
CITY OF FITCHBURG
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
3) HELD petitions for review
a) 209-18. Multiple citizens, to repair McTaggart's Dam to refill pond and restore wildlife population. (HELD during
June & September 2019 meetings, pending completion of the ongoing alternatives analysis)
b) 126-19. Councilor Joel Kaddy, to correct water problem at 15 Thurston Place. (HELD during June & September 2019
meetings, and requested that DPW observe the problem during a rain event so that an appropriate remedy can be determined)
4) Any Other Business
c) Review of 243-17. Councilor Paul Beauchemin, on behalf of Norman Beauvais, to request a sidewalk in front of the
Dunkin Donuts located on Electric Ave. (GRANTED during City Council on 4/3/2018)
NICOLAS BOSONETTO, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS
Name and title of person submitting this notice
*Please note: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requires that all topics that the Chair reasonably anticipates must be listed and
that the list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting.
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