Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11, 2023 TIME: 6:30 P.M. Via WebEX.com MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Ed McKeon Councilman Darnell Ford Staff Present: Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Director of Public Works Howard Weissberg, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Rohan Manning- Chief Management Analyst Public: Kathy McPherson, Jane Harris, Dennis Law, Mick Bolduc, Tim Hollister, Steve Cronkite The meeting was called to order by Councilman Nocera at 6:30 p.m. Councilman Nocera amended the agenda to add two new business items. Councilman McKeon moved to approve the additional items to the agenda. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. The motion passed. Councilman McKeon moved to approve the Meeting Minutes dated September 13, 2023. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. The motion was approved. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Kathy McPherson- Asks the council to place a memorial bench by the trees of honor at Vets Park for Morty Pear who recently passed away. The family would like to pay for the memorial bench. Jane Harris- The Urban Forestry Commission is looking to put a “mini forest” at the old Middletown Pool Club. They would like to try this in a small fashion at this location. A temporary 50 foot by 50 foot area has been staked out. Mini forests typically consist of woody plants, shrubbery and herbaceous material. It will grow over time and improve the soil. They have received a donation from Eversource of native trees to plant and another donation from the Bartlett Tree Company. Dennis Law- No specific questions but looking to see what is happening with the Public Works Department at this time. Tim Hollister- Of 1000 Chamberlain Hill Rd is here to see the update on drainage issues on the street. CORRESPONDENCE: No correspondence. NEW BUSINESS: a. New England Chapter APWA Fall Conference- Director Holden stated this is a regional meeting for the New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association. Councilman McKeon made a motion to approve. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. b. Bench for Morty Pear at Vets Park- Director Holden highly recommends this. He shared a view of where the bench would be placed in the park, along the trees of honor. Councilman McKeon made a motion to approve. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. c. Building Department Training- 2021 IRC Plan Review training is being held in November that will discuss codes and plans for the Building Department Officials. Councilman McKeon made a motion to approve. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. There were no questions. The motion passed unanimously. d. Plantings for Pool Club- This was discussed in depth during public comment. Councilman McKeon made a motion to approve. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: a. Dog Park Update – Deputy Director Weissberg stated the working group is still evaluating options for locations. He is waiting for them to get back to him with comments about what he has presented to be able to move forward. b. Veterans Park, Pool & Splash Pad Update- Director Holden stated that they are in the punch list phase of the project. There are a few more items that need to be installed, but are scheduled for next week. c. Proposed Paving Program Update- Deputy Director Weissberg stated that paving has been significantly delayed by the substantial rainfall in September. There are several locations that have been milled and are just waiting for paving. Some roads will be done next year because of the delayed schedules. d. Chamberlain Hill Rd Issues- There was a motion to move this item to the beginning of old business. Councilman McKeon made a motion. Councilman Ford seconded the motion. The motion passed. Director Holden stated that they met with a contractor and came up with some new ideas to address the drainage issues. One of the things discussed with the contractor is a calcium chloride treatment for the road. It will help keep the dust levels down, fine materials from migrating and keep the road stable. There will be a pilot on Chamberlain Hill this fall to see how it performs. They are working with another contractor to see how to get some of the basins clear. There are some very large rocks that will need to be extracted and they will be attempting to mitigate some of the heavy water flow. Councilman McKeon made a motion to allow a resident to speak after public comment. Councilman Ford seconded that motion. The motion passed. Resident Mick Bolduc stated that the rain has already started damaging the recently patched potholes. He expressed his concerns about water run off that will impact winter weather travelling. Tim Hollister seconded what Mick Bolduc stated. e. Honorary Naming of Existing Streets while retaining its actual name- Director Holden stated that they are working on a policy with the General Councils Office. There should be more information to present next month. f. Raving Avenue Abandonment Update- Director Holden stated that there has been no action yet. They are waiting to get the surveyor out to take the first steps. g. Newfield Street Addressing- Director Holden stated this is more of a naming than a numbering request. The developer wants to name the street as Springside Lane. Director Holden shared the list of approved historic street names that are available with the developer and asked them to submit something to Public Works as to why they want to name the street Springside Lane. He has not received anything to date other than that is what they want to name the neighborhood. He believes that the last development they made them select off the approved street names list. Councilman McKeon suggested the approved street name list be presented to the Historic Society to be reviewed every so often. h. Saybrook Road- Director Holden stated that they met with Cardinal Engineering. Deputy Director Weissberg said that the goal at this moment is to eliminate as many easements and encroachments as possible by minimizing impact to resident properties. The goal is to have an updated set of plans by November and a public information meeting in January so that the project can be bid in the spring time and started in late summer. The Water Department project has started and this will need to be completed first. Councilman McKeon stated that pedestrian safety and accessibility is very important on Saybrook Rd. i. Smith Park-Director Holden is working on getting a design to improve the playground. He stated there should be about $600,000 to accomplish this project. j. Skating Rink at Vets Park- City mechanics and the parks department will be working on disassembling the wall and flipping the pieces of the rink. They should be able to meet the late November timeframe. k. 455/465 Middlefield Street- The property has been walked through and is going through the permitting process. There are some additional complications with people living illegally in the second building and a second spray area that are causing concerns. The Fire Marshalls Office and Health Department are looking into this. Director Holden stated the back building has been condemned by the Building Department. Councilman McKeon stated another complaint was made a week before the Public Works meeting. OTHER: Reported on by Christopher Holden a. September Department Updates- Deputy Director Weissberg went over the complete streets grant that the City was given and that they have been working on pedestrian level lighting on Main St and Grant St intersection. It illuminates the crosswalk better. b. September 2023 Monthly Report Highway – There has been mostly road construction and some response to storms. c. September 2023 Monthly Report Parks – Parks has been working on mowing. d. September 2023 Public Works Overtime Report- Nothing additional to report. e. September 2023 Building Permits – Building Department permit totals are at $630,000. There have been some major projects going on that have been driving up permit totals. The Building Officials have been working overtime to keep up with inspection demands. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: None Adjourn – As there were no further questions the meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.