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| Public Works
Committee Actions |
MARCH 7, 2006
ATTENDANCE: William Krummel, Rev. Phyllis Bolden, Kelly Straniti,
Fred Bondi (7:40 p.m.), Carvin Hillard (7:43 p.m.) Doug
Hempstead (8:50 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director of Public Works, Richard Linnartz, Principle
Engineer, Lisa Bardon, DPW Operations Manager, Mike Yeosock,
Senior Civil Engineer.
OTHERS: Attorney David Waters, Lepofsky, Lepofsky and Lang; Michael
Dolhancryk, Nwlk CDEPP Director; Alan Kingsbury,
Norwalk Tree Alliance, Jim Clark, BET; Douglas Sutton, Common
Council Geoff Steadman, Harbor Commission Consultant, Steve
Anderson, Applied Geographics; Jo Anne Clemens, Pictometry
PUBLIC HEARING
Mr. Krummel called the Public Hearing of Necessity to Abandon a Portion of Lynes Place and Appoint Freeholders to order at 7:31 p.m.
Attorney Waters was present to represent Mr. Selleckson, who owns the property surrounding the short dead end street. There were no members of the public present to speak either for or against the issue. In lieu of that, Attorney Waters gave the Committee a very brief overview and history of the location.
Mr. Krummel stated that a committee of freeholders would be appointed to review the situation and make a report. A second hearing will be scheduled upon the receipt of the report.
Mr. Krummel closed the Public Hearing at 7:37 p.m.
Mr. Bondi arrived at 7:40 p.m.
DISCUSSION
6. Engineering Division Report
Mr. Krummel requested that Mr. Linnartz present his report. Mr. Linnartz informed the Committee that the application for repairs on the Wall Street Bridge have been submitted to the State. Work will be begin upon their approval.
Mr. Hillard arrived at 7:43 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Krummel announced that a quorum was now present and the Committee was now called to order at 7:44 p.m.
GIS PRESENTATION
Mr. Alvord gave a brief overview of electronic mapping, which is also referred to as G.I.S. This would increase the effective services that the City offers. When something is readily available, it is utilizted. Mr. Alvord review the numerous departments that request mapping information, among them: the Police and Fire Departments, Combined Dispatch, Emergency Planning, Redevelopment, Planning and Zoning, Conservation, Tax Assessors, Health Department, Public Works, Board of Education, Registrar of Voters and many more. Currently, those needing maps must go to the office for the paper copy of the map requested. These maps are compiled from aerial photographs from 1994. During the intervening years, the course of the river has changed, along with many streets and buildings. Over the years, the centerlines of the maps have shifted and the maps are no longer accurate. The current system is expensive, time consuming and the City is not able to charge the staff costs. Updating the G.I.S. would allow for the maps to be brought up on the computers, provide multiple layers for the various infrastructures and cut the amount of time the staff spends on producing the paper map. Mr. Alvord introduced Mr. Anderson, a Vice President with Applied Geographics, Inc., to the Committee.
Mr. Anderson narrated a Power Point presentation about the program Applied Geographics offers and how it could be utilized in Norwalk. Ms. Straniti asked if making the various maps available online would reduce the fees that DPW currently collects. Mr. Alvord replied that the fees are set up to cover the amount of work involved. Having the general maps available would allow the staff to spend time on the specialized maps, such as the ones requested by the U.S. Attorneys for cases involving drug arrests within the drug free school zones, or the Call Before You Dig requests. Ms. Straniti asked about real estate transactions. Mr. Alvord stated that real estate mapping would be available, but that the first priority was Emergency Services. Ms. Straniti asked whether the Registrar of Voters would be utilizing this program. Mr. Alvord replied that there were plans to do so. Another concern was how often the base map would be updated. Mr. Alvord replied that once the base map was accurate, it would constantly be updated by the input from the hand held GIS units. Mr. Alvord then introduced Ms. Clemens from Pictometry.
Ms. Clemens explained that her company’s product works in tandem with the basic GIS mapping. Currently, standard aerial photograph provides an photograph that has been taken from a 90 degree angle, or straight down. This is referred to as an orthogonal view. Pictometry provides aerial views that are from oblique angles, so that features can be seen in their entirety. These items can be views from anywhere between three to twelve different views. The software also contains a component that allows measurements to be calculated from the images.
Mr. Hempstead arrived at 8:50 p.m.
Following the conclusion of her PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Krummel asked Mr. Alvord how much this would cost the City. Mr. Alvord replied that this had already been included in the current Capital Budget request of $300,000. Norwalk had a state of the art GIS mapping system twelve years ago, but the lack of updating has rendered it useless. Mr. Krummel thanked Mr. Alvord, Mr. Anderson and Ms. Clemens for their presentations.
APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS
1. Approve the Minutes from the Public Works Committee meeting of Tuesday, February 7, 2006.
The following correction was noted:
Page 5, paragraph 6, line 2 - please change “merge the two departments” to “merge the two maintenance functions”.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 7, 2006 PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE MEETING AS AMENDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Approve the Necessity to Abandon a Portion of Lynes Place and Appoint Freeholders.
Mr. Krummel read the names of the freeholders from the list which he had received from the City Clerk. He stated that one of the members of the freeholders should be from the Public Works Committee.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO APPROVE THE NECESSITY TO ABANDON A PORTION OF LYNES PLACE
BY THE CITY OF NORWALK.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO APPOINT MR. WILLIAM KRUMMEL, MR. DOMINIC PENDARY, AND
MR. JOHN PENNINGTON TO THE FREEHOLDERS COMMITTEE WITH MS. JACQUELINE LUBELL
AS AN ALTERNATE TO OVERSEE THE ABANDONMENT OF LYNES PLACE BY THE CITY OF NORWALK.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Authorize, the Mayor to sign a resolution and the Director of Public Works to install a memorial street name sign on South Smith Street in the name of Donald E. Scott (40 year City employee, former Superintendent of Highways, now deceased).
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO AUTHORIZE, THE MAYOR TO SIGN A RESOLUTION AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO INSTALL A MEMORIAL STREET NAME SIGN ON SOUTH SMITH STREET IN THE NAME OF DONALD E. SCOTT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NORWALK RELY SOLELY
AND EXTENSIVELY ON THE PROFESSIONAL MOTIVATIONS
AND CAPABILITIES OF THE CITY STAFF FOR THE
EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES: AND
WHEREAS, DONALD E. SCOTT FAITHFULLY AND EFFECTIVELY
SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NORWALK
FROM AUGUST 3, 1964 TO MARCH 12, 2004; AND
WHEREAS, IN HIS FINAL ASSIGNMENT AS SUPERINTENDENT OF
HIGHWAY ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE, DONALD
E. SCOTT ACHIEVED UNPARALLELED LEVELS OF
LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE IN PROVIDING SAFE AND
EFFICIENT TRAVELWAYS FOR THE PUBLIC USE; AND
WHEREAS, DONALD E. SCOTT HAS SET AN EXAMPLE, AND LEFT A
LEGACY, OF PUBLIC SERVICE THAT HAS BECOME THE
STANDARD MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE FOR ALL
CITY STAFF.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK
THAT SOUTH SMITH THREE IN THE CITY OF NORWALK SHALL ALSO BE KNOWN AS “DONALD
E. SCOTT MEMORIAL DRIVE.”
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with Almstead Tree and Shrub Care Company, LLC, for Tree Removal/Trimming Services to increase the FY 2005-2006 contract amount by a sum not to exceed $52,000. Account No. 01 40 29 5298
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH ALMSTEAD TREE AND SHRUB CARE COMPANY, LLC, FOR
TREE REMOVAL/TRIMMING SERVICES TO INCREASE THE FY 2005-2006 CONTRACT AMOUNT
BY A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $52,000. Account No. 01 40 29 5298
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. Authorize the Director of Public Works to coordinate with the Purchasing Agent the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a web-based GPS/Automatic Vehicle Locating (GPS/AVL) system. Account No. 0906 4010 5777 C0377
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO COORDINATE
WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT THE ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR
A WEB-BASED GPS/AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATING (GPS/AVL) SYSTEM. ACCOUNT NO. 0906
4010 5777 C0377
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION CONT’D
6. Engineering Division Report.
a. Personnel - No report.
b. Project updates
1) Road repaving - The road paving will resume when the weather warms up and asphalt can be laid again. The list of streets to be repaved was in the Committee’s packet.
2) Foxboro traffic signal - State Representative Bob Duff was able to get a $50,000 grant from the State for the Foxboro traffic signal. The bank voluntarily increased it’s donation. Consequently, when the grant money comes in, the amount will be split pro rata between the bank and Foxboro.
c. RFPs/IFBs on the street or pending
1) General drainage - In progress
2) Utility markout software - In progress
3) Flooding consultant - In progress.
4) Wall Street bridge repair - As stated earlier, the designs are complete and have been submitted to the State for Approval.
5) Five traffic signal projects - August is the target date for replacing these signals
d. Other
1) Marina dredging – Norwest Marine and Total Marine - The Marina dredging is completed and came in under the estimated costs. The City should be receiving a $13,000 - $14,000 refund for the CAD cell fee.
7. Operations Division Report
a. Personnel
1) Superintendent of Highway Operations - Alex Sturges resigned. The job description is being updated by Personnel.
2) Fleet Services Manager - This position is currently open. The job description is being updated by Personnel.
b. Equipment issues
1) Vacuum truck - The vehicle is currently on order.
c. Facility issues
1) Fuel tank repair - One of the fuel tanks has been out of service for more than a year. A contractor will be starting work on it soon.
2) Salt shed repair - The structural damage to the salt shed is being evaluated and work will start on it soon.
d. Other - There were no additional comments.
8. Customer Service Center Report - Mr. Alvord’s only comment on the Customer Service Center was that several report formats have been developed and that the Customer Service
9. Action on any item discussed herein. No further discussion needed.
10. Next Public Works Committee Meeting:
Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Public Works Library, Room 225, Norwalk City Hall Center is now open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
OTHER
Mr. Bondi asked about the status of the Westport Avenue project. Mr. Alvord said that he would be happy to review it with Mr. Bondi.
Rev. Bolden commented that there was a problem on Bayview with the patching job that Yankee Gas had done. Mr. Alvord will have someone contact the gas company and request that they redo the patching job.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services.
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