Public Service Committee

REGULAR MEETING PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 14, 2013 Meeting of the Public Service Committee was held in the office of the DPW 416 W. Broadway on Thursday November 14, 2013. Members Present: Councilor James Johnson, Councilor Henry Ares, Councilor Marc Morgan Attendees: City Engineer Robert Hankinson, Assistant City Engineer Chris Coughlin, Principal Clerk and Secretary Denise Merriam. Director Arnold was absent CALL TO ORDER Chairman, Councilor James Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. OPEN MEETING RECORDING ANNOUNCEMENT - any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting, or may transmit the meeting through any medium, subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number, placement and operation of equipment used so as not to interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Any person intending to make such recording shall notify the chair forthwith. All Documents referenced or used during the meeting must be submitted in duplicate to Secretary of the Committee, pursuant to the Open Meeting and Pubic Records Law. All documents shall become part of the official record of the meeting. No one is recording the meeting. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES On a motion by Councilor Marc Morgan second by Councilor Henry Ares it was voted three (3) yeas to approve the Minutes of the October 31, 2013 Service Committee regular meeting as printed. ORDINANCES, GENERAL LAWS AND SPECIAL ACTS Money order for sander just FYI money has not been certified yet. It will get referred back to this committee when it gets to the City Council the first time. REVIEW OF ANY ISSUES WITH WATER/SEWER BILLS Letter to Mr. Atter in response to abatement. Committee received two letters requesting an abatement that Dane has denied. We will wait to see if they request a hearing with the Committee. Councilor Morgan did not realize how many requests came in, how many are valid. Councilor Johnson a lot of people do not include the facts or backup information. We have also started a data base to follow up on them. Councilor Morgan stated the 90 days is better than 30 days. Leave the 30 days on the back of the bill as it was passed in the ordinance and use the 90 days for people who come to the Service Committee, this is just a policy change. REVIEW OF GENERAL ROAD MAINTENANCE Uptown parking lot was paved. Clark St. in process of being paved, manholes up people complaining. Councilor Johnson stated there was no hay or barriers around the reservoir. Bob said he is not sure about that. Lennon St. has base on it will wait till spring for final paving. Councilor Morgan: 31 Blanchard St. stump in the sidewalk would like ground down right side after Nelson St. there is a blind person living there. Bob stated we usually take care of these issue once we know of them. Councilor Morgan: 143 Summer St. sidewalk has a stump that did not get ground down. It is half in the road and half in the walk. Councilor Morgan: 72 Maple St. right side of Maple would like tree cut down. Councilor Morgan asked Bob if the land on Park St, next to the Elks parking lot that is the sub- station now, would be going back to the City. If so he would like to see it beautified, something other than dirt. Memorial or a park, blend in make look good. Make it look scenic. Bob said the power company owns the land would have to ask them. Councilor Morgan: I received a lot of compliments on the trees planted on Central St. Councilor Johnson property still belongs to the utility company, could we request them to do that. Councilor Morgan maybe work together. Councilor Johnson said the dirt spot on the other side belongs to the Elks. Bob said the pool area will have to be watched. REVIEW ISSUES WITH PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS Councilor Morgan would like to send contractor George Ouelette a thank you for his contribution to the City on the Up Town All Around Playground at Ovila Case. Bob asked if the thank you would be from this Committee or the entire City Council. Motion made by Councilor Johnson second by Councilor Morgan to have the City Council write a letter of appreciation. All in favor so voted. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS UNDER COMMITTEE’S JURISDICTION Bob: Tighe and Bond are in today to inspect the work done at Greenwood Playground. That is a Community Development project. FYI in case you hear Wilkins Road and Fredette St. will be the next to come up to the Council for acceptance. I am working with the Greater Gardner Industrial Association who owns the land to meet and get it released, easement, take, or donated. CONSERVATION ISSUES Bob: Watershed protection areas the DPW has done a great job, saved a lot of money. Councilor Morgan Dane has a good crew, they work hard. Bob is grateful for getting the work done. Councilor Johnson would be a big fine if not done. Bob if we had a flood we would not receive any Federal Aide if this was not done. Motion made by Councilor Morgan second by Councilor Ares to adjourn the meeting at 4:50 pm All in favor, so voted. Next meeting scheduled as needed. Respectfully submitted: Denise M. Merriam Principal Clerk and Secretary Minutes approved at the December 12, 2013 meeting.