Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY February 10, 2021 TIME: 6:30 P.M. Via WebEX.com MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Ed McKeon Councilman Philip Pessina Councilman Darnell Ford Members Absent: Councilman Ed Ford Jr Staff Present: William Russo, Director of Public Works Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Kim O’Rourke- Recycling Program Coordinator Others: Krishna Winston Alyssa Broe Councilman Nocera opened the Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting at 6:3 P.M. Councilman Nocera requested a motion to approve the minutes dated January 13, 2020. Councilman McKeon made a motion. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Alyssa Broe spoke about her late father and that her family would like to donate a bench with a plaque in honor of him and have it placed at the South Green in Middletown. Krishna Winston made a brief presentation regarding the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act Resolution. Ross Cormier President of the Middletown Baseball and Softball Leagues brought up some suggestions and well as some request for updates on some of the fields that he would like to see if the City of Middletown could help with. CORRESPONDENCE: none NEW BUSINESS: a. Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act Resolution-Krishna Winston, Chair of the Resource Recycling Advisory Commission gave a brief presentation of the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Resolution. She is asking for the Commissions support of the resolution. Councilman Pessina made a motion to move the Resolution to the March Common Council Agenda. Councilman McKeon seconded the motion and passed unanimously. b. Park Bench Donation on the South Green-Alyssa Broe, daughter of the late Juan Estella would like to donate a bench and a plaque to be placed at the South Green in memory of her late father. Director Russo will work with Alyssa and the family with the plans of the dedication  bench. Councilman McKeon made a motion. Councilman Pessina seconded the motion and passed unanimously. c. Snow School Little League Girls’ Softball- Russ Cormier, President of the Middletown Baseball and Softball has come before the commission to suggest and request a few things that would help the Baseball and Softball League. Hubbard Park Field he would like to see if a shipping container could be purchased for the storage of the sports equipment. He is also suggesting a safety net placed near the concession stands to protect the parents and spectators from any oncoming balls. There are a few post that were cut from a previous fence that are now sticking up from the ground that he states are safety issues. He would like to see them removed before someone gets hurt. At Snow School, he would like to see the fence replaced, it is currently leaning and bowed in some areas. Smith Park he would like to know if it is at all possible to have lights added. Director Russo stated to the commission that he would put together a plan to present to the commission on the next scheduled meeting. d. Approval for Coleman’s Carnival April 15, 2021- April 24, 2021- This item was accidently overlooked. It will appear on the March 10, 2021 agenda. OLD BUSINESS: a. Harbor Park Boardwalk Update- Deputy Director Holden gives an update on the Harbor Park Boardwalk. HE states that they are currently working on setting up the purchase order. A pre- construction meeting will be scheduled. We are waiting for Gerber to submit a phasing plan to us. We are looking at the construction to start in April 2021. b. Saybrook Road Paving- Deputy Director Holden states to the Commission that Cardinal is very close to finalizing the plans in the next week. Once the plans are finalized, they will be submitted to the State of CT for review. Once we have approval we will get it out to bid. Further discussion ensued. c. January 2020 Public Works Overtime- the Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their monthly reports. Director Russo reviewed the overtime and the cost of salt for the snow removal. He explains that we are currently using Town Aid funds for the snow removal. d. January 2020 Building Permits- the Commission reviewed their Building Permits. Building continues to be busy. As of February 11, 2021, it has brought in $645,336.99 in building permits. OTHER: a. January 2020 Monthly Reports- Highway Division- the Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their monthly reports for the Highway Division. There were no questions. b. January 2020 Overtime Reports-Parks Division – The Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their monthly reports for the Parks Division. There were no questions. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: As there was no further discussion, a motion was made to end the meeting by Councilman Ford. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. The Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting adjourned.