Public Works Committee

Filed in the City Clerk’s Office: CITY OF FITCHBURG FITCHBURG CITY CLERK May 23 2023 9:31 am PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in the West Conference Room at City Hall, 718 Main Street at 5:00 PM. Committee Members Present: Councilors Marisa Fleming (Chair), Paul Beauchemin, Sally Cragin, Bernie Schultz, and Sam Squailia; Superintendent Gary Withington; Other Participants: Sgt. Daniel Boudreau and Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga. 1) Vote to approve minutes from previous meeting (1/31/23): Minutes were approved unanimously 5/0. 2) Vote to approve the proposed meeting date of Tuesday, October 24th (originally presented as Tuesday, October 31st): Meeting date approved unanimously 5/0. 3) DPW Updates: Superintendent Gary Withington stated that street sweeping of Ward 4 was completed today and that sweeping of Ward 5 will start tomorrow and hopefully they will be done sweeping the City by the end of next week. He mentioned any streets they have not been swept that have been reported by phone or to SeeClickFix will be done after they get through all the Wards. 4) NEW petitions for review: a) 037-23. City Councilor Bernie Schultz and Anthony Velardi of 229 Rollstone Street to request continuation of sidewalk paving on Rollstone Street from the corner of Charles Street and Rollstone Street to Kimball Street. (Referred from City Council on February 7, 2023) Discussion: Superintendent Gary Withington stated that he visited the location and spoke with the resident and requested they speak with their Ward Councilor to file this petition to have the work done. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. b) 038-23. Councilor Andy Van Hazinga to repair approx. 6 feet of plow-damaged berm at 201 Scott Road. (Referred from City Council on February 7, 2023) Discussion: Councilor Van Hazinga stated that this is a common outcome at the end of the winter season and this is one area that needs to be addressed. Councilor Beauchemin suggested that they look into establishing an ordinance requiring residents place stakes as guides along where the berms are located to avoid them being damaged during the winter months. It was suggested that he file a petition to this effect. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. c) 084-23. Councilor Derrick Cruz and President Anthony Zarrella, on behalf of the residents of Eleanor Street, Tibbett Circle, Watts Way, and Brittany Lane, for sidewalk repairs and improvements to be made throughout the neighborhood. (Referred from City Council on March 21, 2023) Discussion: Superintendent Gary Withington stated this is similar to the situation at Stoneybrook Village and would require the same work to be performed. Councilor Squailia asked if the repairs necessary were due to the tree roots causing damage and that instead of removing the trees, they would trim them and smooth out the areas where the roots have damaged the sidewalk with asphalt. Superintendent Withington confirmed that this would be the approach taken. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED.  d) 093-23. City Councilors Bernie Schultz and Amy Green, on behalf of Barry Watson, petition for a sidewalk repair located at 24 Spruce St. (Referred from City Council on April 4, 2023) Discussion: Superintendent Gary Withington stated that the sidewalk is in need of repair. Councilor Beauchemin suggested that the City put in place a plan to address the issues with the City’s sidewalks similar to how we map out the roads that need to be paved. Councilor Cragin expressed concern with this approach due to the time and resources that this would put on Engineering & DPW. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. e) 094-23. Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga to repair the asphalt berm at 138 Mount Vernon Street, which was extensively damaged by snow plows during the last winter. (Referred from City Council on April 4, 2023) Discussion: Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga stated that this section was heavily damaged during the past winter and is in need of repair. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. f) 095-23. Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga to repair the asphalt berm at 131 Longwood Avenue along Caswell Street, which was damaged by snow plows during the last winter. (Referred from City Council on April 4, 2023) Discussion: Councilor Andrew Van Hazinga stated that this is the same situation as his previous petition and was a result of the recent heavy snow storm and the processes of widening the road. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. g) 105-23. City Councilor Bernie Schultz and Gina Teixeira of 40 Nashua Street to request repair of sidewalk asphalt in front of 40 Nashua Street. (Referred from City Council on April 18, 2023) Discussion: Superintendent Gary Withington stated he visited the site and that the sidewalk needs to be repaired. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. h) 106-23. Councilors Marcus DiNatale and Andrew Couture, on behalf of Leo and Debra Bousquet, to replace damaged berm at 580 Shea Street. (Referred from City Council on April 18, 2023) Discussion: Superintendent Gary Withington stated that the berm was damaged during the last storm. Recommendation: The Committee voted 5-0 that the petition be APPROVED. 5) HELD petitions for review: a) 089-20. Councilor Bernie Schultz and resident Alex Freeman to remove the “No Turn on Red” sign at the intersection of John T. Cetrino Memorial Drive and Water Street. (HELD at the 10/28/20, 1/26/21, 7/27/21, 10/26/21, 3/29/22, 4/26/22, 5/31/22, 7/26/22, 9/27/22, 10/25/22 and 1/31/23 meetings). (Amended the spelling of Cetrino at the January 2021 meeting). Discussion: Councilor Bernie Schultz noted that he spoke with Commissioner Erickson and he stated that they have money set aside to address the traffic lights and once this has been completed it may alleviate the issue with traffic backing up coming off the bridge on Water Street. Councilor Squailia also noted that the engineering report recommended they do not remove the no turn on red sign. Recommendation: The committee voted 5-0 that the petition be given LEAVE TO WITHDRAW. b) 093-22. Councilor Sam Squailia on behalf of resident Nick Hains, to add a 4-way controlled stop at the intersection of Victoria Lane, Industrial Drive and Game-On Way. During times of heavy traffic flow in or out of the Game-On facility, residents of Victoria Lane do not have the right of way to cross, and thus must wait for long periods while the traffic lines go through. If a 4-way stop sign is not feasible, an alternate solution shall be investigated by the City. (HELD at the 5/31/22, 7/26/22, 9/27/22, 10/25/22 and 1/31/23 meetings). Discussion: Sgt. Daniel Boudreau stated that the first engineering report they received stated that this configuration would not fit traffic-wise most of the time and that it only becomes an issue when there is a large event at Game On. He mentioned that he spoke with the Police Chief about an alternative solution and he was amendable to the approach. He stated that in conjunction with the no parking signage that will be installed that they place cones on the entry and exit to Victoria Lane as well as the other exit/entryway and provide access to Roper Road only for residents of Victoria Lane. He stated this can be done at the Chief’s discretion for public safety but noted that they would need cooperation from Westminster to put up temporary signage on their side. Councilor Squailia suggested they hold the petition until they have had a chance to talk with the residents about this proposed solution. Recommendation: The committee voted 5-0 that the petition be HELD. c) 243-22. City Councilor Bernie Schultz and Judy Perla of 236 Walton Street to install a yield sign on Pole 1615 facing out on Munroe Street at the intersection of Fairbanks and Munroe Streets to improve traffic safety when motorists depart from South Street Elementary School (HELD at the 9/27/22, 10/25/22 and 1/31/23 meetings). Discussion: Sgt. Daniel Boudreau noted that the Public Safety Committee gave this petition Leave to Withdraw at their November 15, 2022 meeting. He mentioned that the DPW had cleared as much as they could from the corner and they are waiting for the school department to clear their section. He believes that once this is taken care of the site lines will improve. In addition, they had discussed possibly updating the chevrons on the guardrail so the traffic knows to go left as you get to the bottom of the hill. He stated that another solution which would require cooperation from the DPW and School Department was to widen the section on Munroe Street towards the back of the school because it is not wide enough for dual traffic. It was suggested that a new petition should be submitted to widen Munroe Street. Recommendation: The committee voted 5-0 that the petition be given LEAVE TO WITHDRAW. d) 244-22. City Councilor Derrick Cruz on behalf of Tyrone and Sheila Tines, residents of Clyde Street. I request that the City of Fitchburg implement either “No Parking from Here to the Corner” or “No Parking Signs” at the corner of Hancock and Summer Street, an appropriate distance on both sides. As residents exiting Hancock Street cannot see past the row of cars parked there, it has become a public safety concern for them. (HELD at the 9/27/22, 10/25/22 and 1/31/23 meetings). Discussion: Sgt. Daniel Boudreau noted that the Public Safety Committee gave this petition Leave to Withdraw at their February 7, 2023 meeting. He mentioned the Police Department had started to do some extra enforcement in the area which has helped some, but hasn’t alleviated the issue completely. He mentioned that the DPW is planning on installing a “no parking from here to corner” sign at the 20 foot mark which aligns with the general parking ordinance. Recommendation: The committee voted 5-0 that the petition be given LEAVE TO WITHDRAW. Motion to adjourn by Councilor Schultz and seconded by Councilor Squailia.