Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY JUNE 7, 2023 TIME: 6:30 P.M. Via WebEX.com MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Ed McKeon Councilman Mike Marino Councilman Darnell Ford Councilman Phil Pessina Staff Present: Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Director of Public Works Howard Weissberg, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Cathy Lechowicz, Director of Recreation Services Public: Philip Nettis, Patti Nettis-Deegan, Mick Bolduc, Pete Sullivan, Tim Hollister, Daniel Penney The meeting was called to order by Councilman Nocera at 6:30 p.m. Councilman Pessina moved to approve the Meeting Minutes dated April 12, 2023. Councilman Marino seconded the motion. The motion passed. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: The commission members voted to waive the rules that an item has to be on the agenda for the public to speak on it so that Philip Nettis may address the commission. Councilman Pessina made a motion to waive the rules. Councilman Marino seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Philip Nettis- Asked for an update regarding Saybrook Rd and Dripps Road. Director Holden responded to Mr. Nettis as to why the item has been removed from the agenda. Director Holden stated that Deputy Director Weissberg has met with Mr. Nettis out on site and that if there aren’t things that have been taken care of yet, there are plans to address them. Mr. Nettis said he wasn’t aware of any concrete plans as of yet. Daniel Penney of 1101 Chamberlain Hill Rd spoke to Chamberlain Hill Roads condition and requested an update. Mick Bolduc of 980 Chamberlain Hill Rd is concerned with areas of Chamberlain Hill Road and the rush of water that comes down during rain storms that tears away the road, causing potholes. He states the patch doesn’t last very long due to the water. The water seems to be coming from the Remington Division and another spot further south. The road is in very poor condition and he has safety concerns. He noted that during the winter they get huge spans of ice that is very dangerous. Pete Sullivan of Chamberlain Hill Rd said that the water comes down the hill, gets under the pavement, and causes the pavement to lift. He said a regular ditch isn’t going to solve the problem. Tim Hollister of 1000 Chamberlain Hill Rd said that since he’s moved in there have been issues with water runoff, which carries debris down the hill and clogs the storm drains. During the winter the water that normally runs down the road turns to ice right in front of their driveway. He raised safety concerns due to the ice and water. He said it is also washing away their driveway apron. Jody Kronak- 980 Chamberlain Hill Rd- stated that there are other neighbors that were not able to join. She stated they feel pretty abandoned about the issue and would appreciate being kept in the loop about updates surrounding these issues. Patti Nettis-Deegan- Stated that she would like updates regarding the status of Saybrook Rd and Dripps Rd. CORRESPONDENCE: None NEW BUSINESS: a. Chamberlain Hill Road- Director Holden stated this is a very challenging area and that drainage systems definitely need to be improved. Director Holden has spoken with a few residents about putting a catch basin near where the power lines are as he believes a lot of these issues stem from work that the power company had done. He said they can look to see if there is a way to put a culvert at the end of the driveway to divert some of the water under instead of over. He said that there will need to be an investigation into possible long term solutions, which can take a few years as a new road bond would need to be issued. Councilman Nocera expressed that he feels the road needs to be re-engineered. Director Holden said that they should be able to make some short-term improvements sometime this summer. Councilman Ford asked if there is something that may be able to be done immediately to mitigate some of the erosion before work further in the summer. Director Holden stated that he will need to get some survey data done to get elevations and get a test pit to see how deep that piping can get for a catch basin. He said by the next meeting there should be a better idea of what can be done. Councilman McKeon questioned whether the power company or any of the developments that were put in would bear any responsibility? Director Holden stated that once a cost estimate is created they can supply that information to Eversource. They may pay a portion of the cost estimate based on what their work impacted. OLD BUSINESS: a. Dog Park Update – Director Holden stated that there is a list of 5 sites that are potential locations for the dog park. Details are being looked into to see if they meet the requirements of what a dog park needs. Councilman Marino said that the locations were narrowed down to the two best ones. He did ask what money would be available, if any and when it would be available if there was money. Councilman Nocera requested a realistic timeline for the project be created as well as agree, as a committee, on a capped amount that would be allocated to the project. Director Holden stated that it is possible to get Locep money to help with this project. b. Veterans Park, Pool & Splash Pad Update- Director Holden said that the pool is going along great. The splash pad is in the final stages of being constructed and the landscaping is going in. The hours of operation of the splash pad will be 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The splash pad won’t be staffed but the pool will be during those hours. Councilman Pessina requested the pool be open at 9:00 AM and signage being posted that there will be times that it will be unstaffed. Director Lechowicz stated that during the week the pool will be open at 9AM during the week for swim lessons. It won’t be open at that time to the public. She stated that the hours of 10AM to 7PM were chosen for staffing reasons. It would be one shift instead of being split into two shifts. Councilman Nocera asked Director Holden to see if the consultants could assist with signage for the pool and splash pad. c. Old Road Drive Update- Councilman Nocera and Director Holden drove Old Road Drive. Councilman Nocera said that while the condition of the road isn’t great, it’s not “Chamberlain Hill.” General Council provided some information, which was read to the committee. Full copies of what was provided will be made available to committee members. Director Holden read a portion that stated the statute only allows the City to regulate the use of streets for public and private purposes, not to expend public funds to improve private streets. An expenditure made to solely to improve a private road that serves approximately 3 homeowners cannot be said to constitute a public purpose. There is not a new development being constructed, nor is the road going to be accepted by the City as a public street. There was discussion about access for emergency services and Councilman Ford stated that he will bring up concerns during the public safety meeting. Councilman McKeon brought up that point that technically the City could do something by accepting the street as a City street. Director Holden stated that the Council does have the right to accept a road as a City road. d. Public to Private Road Acceptance- Nothing additional to the update above. e. Street Naming/ Field Naming- Councilman Nocera shared that he did ask the BOE Chair about naming the field after Q Williams. He will be following up with her to find out the status, but she was in favor of the idea when they spoke. f. Naming in Honor of Mayor Maria Holzberg- Councilman Nocera stated that Harbor Park maybe the best place to do a naming in her honor. It was suggested to get a standing plaque or bench to place along the walking path that she and the garden club did plantings for. Councilman Nocera will write up a resolution to propose this to the Common Council. Councilman Pessina made a motion. Councilman McKeon seconded the motion. It was approved unanimously. g. Proposed Paving Program Update- Director Holden shared they have started the first phase of hot in place. This heats the asphalt to loosen it, it is raked and a mini milling machine mills it about an inch and a half to two inches deep. Once it is mixed, emulsion oils are added to it and a paving box at the end of the train resets it and rollers come up behind it. Once complete, it is top coated. In this case it will be a rubberized chip seal. It has been done on Paterson Drive and a section of Preston Ave. Deputy Director Weissberg stated this has been done on about three miles of roads. It was done on Industrial Park, Miner Street, Smith Street and Sachem Road. It is done as it is more environmentally friendly, there is less impact to traffic during the process, and it is a significant cost savings compared to traditional mill and overlay. The life expectancy is comparable to traditional mill and overlay. Deputy Director Weissberg will be sending out a full list of roads that will be paved this year to committee members. There will be a full pavement inventory done this fall. OTHER: Reported on by Christopher Holden a. April & May Department Updates- Atkins Street is about 3-4 weeks away from being paved. b. April & May 2023 Monthly Report - Nothing additional to report. c. April & May 2023 Monthly Report - Parks Division – Councilman Nocera said that Pat Kidney facilities had been vandalized. It is requested that the City painter paint some of the restroom doors as they were vandalized. Director Holden confirmed that the doors were already painted. United has been notified to pick up their portapotty. Picnic tables have been installed. The Parks Department has been working very hard the last few weeks with baseball, soccer, and the Memorial Day parade. d. April & May 2023 Public Works Overtime Report- There has been a lot of road work being done, as well as work done at the Emergency Management building. e. April & May 2023 Building Permits – Building Department permit numbers are around $1,500,000. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: None Adjourn – As there were no further questions the meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.