Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY August 11, 2021 TIME: 6:30 P.M. Via WebEX.com MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Ed McKeon Councilman Darnell Ford Councilman Edward Ford Jr. Councilman Philip Pessina Staff Present: William Russo, Director of Public Works Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Others: Keith Emery- 725 Main Street Paul Pizzo- Landmark Architect Michael Doherty- SLR International Corporation (formerly Milone & MacBroom) Councilman Nocera opened the Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting at 6:30 P.M. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Keith Emery discussing Kings Avenue Deed. He and his wife own 725 Main Street, 579 King Ave, 12 & 2022 Clinton Avenue. They have had issues with Kings Avenue for several years and would like to have them addressed. They would like the City to Deed back the portion of Kings Avenue to them that is completely surrounded by their properties. A map of the property is brought up on the screen which was provided to the commission. The area that they would like to have deeded back is so full of pot holes that people are twisting their ankles. They would like to pave the entire area. The sidewalk was removed and gravel was put down. People think that the removed section is parking due to the sidewalk removal. Would like to see Kings Avenue paved and evened out. Rain washes out lots of debris into their drainage, clogging it up. When it’s dry, cars going up and down the street kick up rocks and debris into their building. Would like a sediment retention process. Flow of traffic needs to change. Customers have almost been hit. Water is penetrating under Kings Ave and causing sink holes in front of their properties. CORRESPONDENCE: Kings Avenue Deed – Director Russo sent the request to Joe Samolis. Tom Nigosanti put together a plan for the rear of these properties. It does need to be cleaned up and water control issues do need to be addressed. Makes it difficult during the winter to plow because they are gravel driveways. Director Russo thinks that this issue should be tabled for a little bit to involve planning and zoning, the mayor’s office and this commission. Councilman McKeon is interested in shared parking idea. Mr. Emery already allows parking for CHC and Eli Cannons. He is open to working with the city to put elevated parking or parking structure. Councilman Nocera recognizes that confusion and parking are issues there. Councilman Pessina recommends Larry McHugh be at the table- collaborative project to address parking in the North End center. Director Russo will set up a meeting the week of August 23rd, 2021. NEW BUSINESS: a. Parcel Donation on Farm Hill Road-This was approved through P&Z. Potential to use this parcel as a parking lot. Councilman Pessina made a motion to have it moved to the Council. Councilman McKeon seconded. Motion approved unanimously. b. EBC Solid Waste Management Webinar- K. O’Rourke- Motion moved by Councilman McKeon and seconded by Councilman Pessina. This webinar to keep up on current waste issues and the cost of attendance will come out of the recycling budget. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: a. Recreation Center Update- Met with an energy services group that would supply multiple sources of energy including natural gas and solar. Improve efficiencies of different equipment throughout the building. This will move forward to the Council for September. Headway made to go out to bid to redo roof. To make building functional – an additional $190,000 worth of improvements will be made through the Beman building project. It will fall under O&G. Received 1st draft of front end for bidding purposes. Will be modifying. Professional Services Agreement. Roof is not included in this agreement. The energy services group will include roof, new boilers, electrical service and new rooftop equipment. Push to hire local companies and products for this project. Energy Services Company is providing $3.5 million of additional work in the building. About $2 million of that is work they would have had to borrow money. Going out to bid for first phase of work. Councilman McKeon confirmed they will be putting solar panels on the roof – approximately 100 kilowatts of solar on roof. Excess heat from the cogen unit will be used to heat pool. b. Veterans pool and Splash Pad Update - Inland/Wetlands application was submitted. Will be presenting to the commission in September. Drainage is being looked at. Details on the splash pad will be forthcoming. Would like to do an in person meeting to go over finishes. No waterproofing - pending testing. Councilman Pessina requested to preserve the plaque that is currently hanging. c. Harbor Park Boardwalk Update - 95% wrapped up with concrete pouring. No update that changed early September delivery date of railings. Backfilling, top soiling and seeding happening. Councilman Nocera asked about the topsoil that did not meet the specifications; Gerber is going to submit a request to remediate it before it gets approved. Councilman Pessina asked if anything near the dock is going to be fixed as part of this project. Will keep question in the back of mind. Councilman Nocera wanted to add about 10 benches. This is dependent on funding. Councilman Pessina mentions bathrooms being redone. This is being looked at in Purchasing. d. Multiuse Trail Updates- Mapped wetlands and submitted it to the national diversity database and SHPO. One month out of submitting trail updates to planning and zoning. Councilman Pessina would like to add to the September meeting an update regarding the park area being contracted out by Wesleyan Hills. e. July 2021 Public Works Overtime Report- the Public Works Commission reviewed their monthly reports. There were no questions.  f. July 2021 Building Permits- the Commission reviewed their Building Permits. There has been $222,500 worth of Building Permits in July 2021. OTHER: a. July 2021 Monthly Reports- Highway Division- the Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their monthly reports for the Highway Division. There were no questions. b. July 2021 Overtime Reports-Parks Division – The Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their monthly reports for the Parks Division. There were no questions. Councilman Darnell Ford would like an update about Old Road Drive being turned into a public road. The report for this will be available at the September meeting. Councilman Darnell Ford would like an update regarding Mattabassett Trail. Brush cutters are bring scheduled. There will be a cost to fix bridges. If multiuse trails are tied in it will be very nice to connect bridges to these trails to go over the water. Samples would need to be taken of ponds to look into water quality. The trails that lead to the bridges are currently blocked with construction fencing. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: As there was no further discussion, a motion was made to end the meeting by Councilman Pessina. The motion was seconded by Councilman McKeon and approved unanimously. The Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM.