Public Works Committee

Filed in the City Clerk’s Office: CITY OF FITCHBURG FITCHBURG CITY CLERK PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Jun 27 2024 2:27 pm A meeting of the Public Works Committee was held on Tuesday, March 26, 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. Agenda Items: 1) Vote to approve minutes from previous meeting (February 27, 2024). Minutes were approved unanimously 3/0. 2) DPW Updates: Streets Division: Superintendent Hillman provided an update to the snow & ice account after the recent storms on March 23rd and 24th. He mentioned that depending on the upcoming weather, they plan to start street sweeping in the coming weeks beginning with Ward 2 and it is anticipated to be completed in June. He also mentioned they have been working on storm water management with cleaning out culverts and jetting lines. Water Division: Commissioner Erickson mentioned that the Boulder Drive water main replacement project will be starting late April or early May. He noted they are still waiting on the schedule from the contractor which will be distributed to the public once available. Wastewater Division: Commissioner Erickson explained that J.A. Polito & Sons will be resuming the combined sewer separation project on the western end of Main Street on April 1st which will require road closure Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. within the Greek Town area. He noted that Main Street to River Street will remain open and local traffic will be able to take Goddard and Arlington Street to route around the closure. Other Updates: Commissioner Erickson noted that Mass DOT will be starting the River Street Bridge replacement project beginning in early May. He mentioned that their plan is to keep the eastbound traffic open during construction to vehicles and pedestrians and detour the westbound traffic around the work. This traffic will be diverted from Main Street to West Street to either Sheldon Street or Wallace Road back onto River Street. He noted that this project is anticipated to take two to three years to complete so it will be a substantial closure. He also noted that Mass DOT’s Circle Street Bridge project is anticipated to be completed on July 1st which is behind schedule by a few months. Once this work has been completed, it will help with the detour around the River Street bridge project by allowing the westbound traffic to route around the bridge. 3) NEW petitions for review: a) 079-24. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Orlando Jimenez of 507 Water Street, to request removal of dying trees on Lancaster Street located above his home. (Referred from City Council on March 6, 2024) Discussion: Councilor Shultz mentioned that he met with the resident and one tree had already come down and done damage to his property and he is hoping the remaining trees can be removed. Commissioner Erickson explained that Lancaster Street is a public right of way that has been unimproved for many years and that the City is liable for these tree removals, He noted that one of the challenges is the budget to undertake the work. Superintendent Hillman explained that they currently have about $20,000 available in the tree removal account for the remainder of the fiscal year and out of these funds approximately $5,000 has been appropriated for stump removal. Councilor Cruz asked if they accepted the petition whether it would be put into the queue for when funds would be available. Commissioner Erickson confirmed this and suggested amending the petition to read “pending available funds and other tree removal priorities”. He explained the reason for the inclusion of the language regarding the priorities of other tree removals is due to the fact that they have a backlog of tree removals and some are more critical than others to address. A motion to amend the petition accordingly was approved by a vote of 3/0. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3/0 that the petition be APPROVED as amended. b) 083-24. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of The Church of God Pentecostal M.I. at 276 Water Street, to request installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at the 276 Water Street crosswalk. (Referred from City Council on March 19, 2024) Discussion: Councilor Shultz mentioned he spoke with the constituent whom requested this petition be filed and that he visited the site with staff from the Engineering Department and their recommendation was to first have the crosswalk painted as it is a dangerous road to cross. He also noted that he understands if beacons were to be installed it would be a longer term project due to the funding for both the equipment and installation but he hopes it is something that can be done in the future. Commissioner Erickson noted that this corridor of Water Street is on the City’s radar for streetscape improvements which will include lighting, signage, sidewalks, etc. He mentioned they will be able to get the crosswalk painted once the weather is favorable. He explained the cost for the RRFBs is approximately $20,000 for the equipment and installation and at present the account for street lights and traffic light signals are pretty depleted and there are some traffic signal upgrades that need to done with the remaining funds this year. Councilor Fleming asked whether they could place cones at the crosswalk to hopefully slow traffic down in this area. Commissioner Erikson mentioned he would check to see if they have any signs in stock that state “Mass State Law – Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks” but noted that they often either get damaged or stolen, but that they could certainly place some cones in the area. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3/0 that the petition be APPROVED.  c) 084-24. City Councilor Bernie Schultz, on behalf of Pam Lawrence of 566 Milk Street and Rosemary Reynolds of 570 Milk Street, to request removal of tree stumps from recently cut down city trees, one tree stump in front of 566 Milk Street and the second tree stump in front of 570 Milk Street, and to also include sidewalk repair once the two tree stumps are removed. (Referred from City Council on March 19, 2024) Discussion: Superintendent Hillman stated that these trees had recently been taken down and he agreed that the stumps do need to be removed and that the work could possibly be arranged with a batch of stump removals already scheduled in the upcoming weeks. 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 & 2/27/24 meetings) Discussion: Commissioner Erickson noted that he had not had a chance to visit the site and recommended the Committee hold the petition until the next regularly scheduled meeting. Recommendation: The Committee voted 3/0 that the petition be HELD. 5) Any Other Business: None Motion to adjourn by Councilor Fleming and seconded by Councilor Schultz.