Public Works Committee

Filed in the City Clerk’s Office: CITY OF FITCHBURG FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 18 2024 8:41 am PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in person at the Legislative Building, 700 Main Street at 5:00 PM. Committee Members Present: Councilors Derrick Cruz (Chair), Marisa Fleming, and Bernie Schultz. Also in attendance was DPW Commissioner, Nick Erickson and Superintendent of Streets, Jeff Hillman. Public Comment: Chris Couture of 399 Cathy Street spoke in favor of petition 032-24. Agenda Items: 1) Vote to approve minutes from previous meeting (January 30, 2024). Minutes were approved unanimously 3-0. 2) DPW Updates: Commissioner Erickson introduced the new Superintendent of Streets, Jeff Hillman, to the committee members and provided an update to each of the DPW divisions as follows: Cemetery Division: Commissioner Erickson mentioned that the DPW is planning for the final touches on the memorial gardens expansion area with final pathway paving and a section that will be dedicated to columbarium units. He explained this expansion would provide approximately 700 additional graves, but noted they still need to look long-term at the lot across the street on Electric Ave for future expansion of the cemetery. Commissioner Erickson also explained they are working on an existing conditions analysis for repairs to the mausoleum to determine what needs to be done. The next phase would be design improvements and the final phase being construction. He noted that currently they do not have funding for the final design or construction, so once they have a better idea of the overall cost, they can attempt to find sources for the funding. Engineering Division: Commissioner Erickson stated the department is currently working on paving construction and pavement preservation contracts. He also mentioned they have hired a new Engineer II and that there is one more position in this department to fill. Parks Division: Commissioner Erickson explained that during the winter months the staff is utilized for winter operations and helping out in the mechanic shop which he is grateful for due to the limited staffing. He noted they have started to hire mechanics to fill the vacant positions. A question was asked if signs had been ordered for the parks. Commissioner Erickson explained that the Recreation Director had applied for and was granted CDBG funding for this purpose and is in the process of putting together templates and getting them ordered. He noted the Director is also working with Community Development to ensure the type of signs being ordered are in line with the scope of the grant. Water Division: Commissioner Erickson explained that this division has been extremely busy this past month dealing with the water main breaks. In addition to this, the Boulder Drive water main replacement project went out to bid recently. They have received four bids for the project and the lowest bidder was GEG Construction, Inc., at 3,367,355.50. Based on this cost, they are estimating the ARPA funds for the Main Street replacement project will allow them to replace the water main from the upper common east to Prichard  Street. He noted they are designing the project to include all of Main Street, but when they go out to bid, they will include the section from Prichard Street to North Street and North Street to Moran Square as alternates so they have flexibility to complete the entire stretch if they get good bid prices, and if not, they will at least be able to complete the base section. Commissioner Erickson stated they are also working on a supervisory control and data acquisition system upgrade project. He explained that this project replaces all of the controls and telemetry systems at the two water treatment plants and various remote sites throughout the water supply system. He noted the work is nearly complete at the Fallulah water treatment plant and that the plant has been shut down while the work was being completed. Once it is back online, they plan to start work on the regional treatment plant in Westminster. He noted Fall River Electrical Associates is the contractor for this project and they have done a great job as well as our engineering consultant, Arcadis. Commissioner Erickson also mentioned that the Oak Hill water storage tank replacement project has been completed and the system is back online. Wastewater Division: Commissioner Erickson explained that J.A. Polito and Sons has ongoing construction with the CSO 10 project happening near the River and Main Street roundabout. He mentioned they are also working on the design of the downtown CSO projects which will be split into two phases, the first being from Prospect Street to about Putnam Street, and the second phase will be from Putnam Street east towards Blossom Street. He noted they will be going out to bid on the first phase in the next few months with the second phase expected this fall and that he expects construction from 2024 – 2026. He noted that as part of the CSO project downtown there will be seven miles worth of paving within the contract. Other Updates: Commissioner Erickson provided an update to the Mass DOT projects that will be forthcoming, one being the four high profile bridge replacements in the City: - Circle Street Bridge: DOT is currently finishing this replacement project which is anticipated to be completed in April 2024. - River Street Bridge: DOT recently awarded a contract for the bridge replacement and work is anticipated to start in the spring and continue until summer of 2025. - Water Street Bridges: DOT is finalizing the designs which will replace both bridges, one over the Nashua River and the other over Boulder Drive/railroad tracks. They estimate to go out to bid in 2025 for 2025/2026 construction timeframe. Commissioner Erickson also noted that Mass DOT is helping repave route 2A which will be occurring late spring or earlier summer this year. This will include some limited sidewalk repairs and ADA crosswalk upgrades in some spots. 3) NEW petitions for review: a) 010-24. Counselor Fleming on behalf of Mary Lotze at 349 Pearl Hill Rd. to install a berm that has deteriorated over the years which is now causing flooding onto personal property. (Referred from City Council on January 30, 2024) Discussion: Commissioner Erickson mentioned they did some paving work this past year, but noted there is more work to be done and one of the major issues in this area is drainage. He mentioned that there are some methods he believes they can implement to address this problem, but in the meantime, both he and Superintendent Hillman agree that a berm should be installed in this location. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3-0 that the petition be APPROVED  b) 031-24. Andrew Couture on behalf of Charles Piermarini to investigate the excessive water on Read Street and to repair/clear out the catch basins. (Referred from City Council on February 6, 2024) Discussion: Commissioner Erickson stated that the DPW is able to repair and clean the catch basins. He noted that they will look into the excessive water, but with the amount of rain we received last year and the extremely high groundwater levels, there may not be much they can to mitigate this issue. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3-0 that the petition be APPROVED c) 032-24. Andrew Couture on behalf of Chris Couture to remove the brush at the Electric/Rollstone rotary. (Referred from City Council on February 6, 2024) Discussion: Commissioner Erickson agreed that the brush needs to be removed on the approach from the hill down to the roundabout to improve sightlines. He noted they would like to remove brush on the opposite corner as well, but in order to do so, they would need written permission from the property owner to clear brush further back. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3-0 that the petition be APPROVED 4) HELD petitions for review: a) 256-23. Andrew Couture on behalf of Brian Rufiange to request a berm to be placed from the intersection of Oak Hill to the storm drain just past 394 Franklin Rd. (HELD at the 1/30/24 meeting) Discussion: Commissioner Erickson explained that he would like to inspect this area during a wet weather event to see how it responds and requested the committee hold the petition until he has an opportunity to do so. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3-0 that the petition be HELD b) 255-23. Marisa Fleming on behalf of Dan Sarasin of 75 Klondike Ave to install a berm in front of his property to mitigate flooding from the higher ground across the street. (HELD at the 1/30/24) Discussion: Councilor Fleming mentioned that the petitioner’s nephew was in attendance and could provide the committee members with the exact location of where the petitioner would like the berm installed. The gentleman explained they were only looking for a berm to be installed on the left-hand side of the driveway directly across from Pierce Farm Road. A motion to amend the petition to read “Install an approximately 20 foot berm across from Peirce Farm Road” was approved 3-0. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3-0 that the amended petition be APPROVED b) Any Other Business: None Motion to adjourn by Councilor Fleming and seconded by Councilor Schultz.