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| Public Works
Committee Actions |
MARCH 6, 2007
ATTENDANCE: William Krummel, Chair; Douglas Hempstead; Carvin Hilliard; Kevin
Poruban; Kelly Straniti (7:32 p.m.); Fred Bondi (7:37 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director, DPW
PUBLIC HEARING
Public Hearing on the Report of Freeholders regarding the abandonment/discontinuance
of Putnam Avenue – North (between Crescent Street and Reed Street) pursuant
to Section 5.6 of the land Disposition and Development Agreement by and among
the City of Norwalk, the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency and 95/7 Ventures, LL.
Public Hearing to begin at 7:30 PM.
The public hearing was opened at 7:30 p.m.
Ms. Straniti arrived at 7:32 p.m.
Mr. Jack Burritt, Norwalk Redevelopment Agency explained that this is a request
for an abandonment of a segment of land, in terms with the land disposition
and development agreement.
There were no members of the public who wished to address this item and the
public hearing was closed at 7:34 p.m.
2. Approve the Report of the Freeholder’s regarding the abandonment/ discontinuance
of Putnam Avenue – North (between Crescent Street and Reed Street) pursuant
to Section 5.6 of the Land Disposition and Development Agreement by and among
the City of Norwalk, the Redevelopment Agency and 95/7 Ventures, LLC.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE FREEHOLDER’S
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS
** MR. PORUBAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2007 AS PRESENTED
1. Approve the Minutes from the Public Works Committee meeting of Tuesday February
6, 2007.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
PUBLIC INPUT
There were no members of the public who wished to speak.
Mr. Bondi arrived at 7:37 p.m.
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 3, 2007 AT 7:30
P.M.
3. Schedule a public hearing for 7:30 PM Tuesday April 3, 2007 for revising
house numbers on East Rocks Road.
Mr. Alvord explained that four years ago they attempted to re-number the houses,
but the residents resisted that effort. Recently the Fire and Police departments
were called for an emergency and they had to knock on doors before they could
find the right home.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. BONDI MOVED ITEMS 4A AND 4B
4a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with Deering
Construction for Project No. 4R 2007-1, Proposed 4R Pavement Management Program,
for a sum not to exceed $2,096,007.50.
4b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, to issue Orders on Contract to Deering
Construction for Project No. 4R 2007-1, Proposed 4R Pavement Management Program,
for a sum not to exceed $209,600.
Account No. 0903 4021 5777 C0021 0905 4021 5777 C0021
0903 4021 5777 C0283 0906 4021 5777 C0021
0904 4021 5777 C0021 0907 4021 5777 C0021
Mr. Hempstead asked if the Deering Company had to be motivated to complete
the Foxboro project. Mr. Alvord described the dispute that took place between
the DPW and Deering. He said that FGB has done excellent work. The Committee
decided to meet prior to the Common Council meeting to discuss awarding the
contract to the second lowest bidder.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO TABLE THE ITEMS FOR REVIEW BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT PRIOR
TO THE NEXT COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. BONDI MOVED ITEMS 5A AND 5B
5a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with Costello
Industries, Inc. for Project No. 4R 2007-4, 4R Crack Sealing at Various Locations,
for a sum not to exceed $134,837.50.
5b. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue Orders on Contract to Costello
Industries, Inc. for Project No. 4R 2007-4, Proposed 4R Crack Sealing at Various
Locations, for a sum not to exceed $13,483.75.
Account No. 0907 4021 5777 C0021
Mr. Alvord explained that this work is being done under the 4R program. They
are looking for other applications they can use on the city streets. He said
that they have done a good job. They are going to test a different material
this year so that they will be able to fill wider cracks in the roads.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED ITEMS 6A AND 6B
6a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with New
England Paving Construction and Development Corporation for Project No. 4R 2007-2,
Proposed Bituminous Concrete Permanent Pavement Repair, for a sum not to exceed
$398,840.
6b. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue Orders on Contract to New
England Paving Construction and Development Corporation for Project No. 4R 2007-2,
Proposed Bituminous Concrete Permanent Pavement Repair, for a sum not to exceed
$39,884.
Account No. 03 0000 2602
Mr. Alvord discussed concerns they had with the quality of work produced by
Marquis.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. PORUBAN MOVED THE FOLLOWING ITEM
7. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement and any and
all documents with the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for
State Project No. 102-326, Traffic Signal Upgrade.
Mr. Alvord explained that this item has to do with a grant that will bring the
traffic signal system into the 21st century.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED THE FOLLOWING ITEM
8. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with VHB,
Inc., for the Design of State Project No. 102-326, Traffic Signal Upgrade –
Phase I, for a sum not to exceed $361,190.41.
Account No. TBD
Mr. Alvord explained that this is an authorization to execute the agreement.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
** MR. BONDI MOVED ITEMS 9A AND 9B
9a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with PJF
Construction, Inc. for Project No. BR 2007-1, Wall Street Bridge Rehabilitation,
for a sum not to exceed $447,245.
9b. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue Orders on Contract to PJF
Construction, Inc. for Project No. BR 2007-1, Wall Street Bridge Rehabilitation,
for a sum not to exceed $45,000.
State of Connecticut DOT Reimbursable Grant (30%)
Account No. 09 03 4021 5777 C0255
09 05 4021 5777 C0315
09 07 4021 5777 C0315
09 07 4021 5799 C0315 (NRA-DECD Grant)
Mr. Alvord said that he received excellent feedback about PJF Construction.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
DISCUSSION
10. Engineering Division Report
a. Projects
1) See attached project status sheet.
Mr. Alvord told the Committee members that the project sheet was enclosed in the packet. He said that of the seven items that need to be done at the DPW Center, only one was approved by the Finance Director. Mr. Krummel asked the Committee if they would like to take action to support the Department’s request for ventilation at the Public Works Center. Mr. Hilliard pointed out that ventilation has to be a priority since it involved the well being of the staff. Mr. Krummel agreed that this is a health issue and should not be ignored.
** MR. PORUBAN MOVED TO SUPPORT FUNDING THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AT THE PUBLIC
WORKS CENTER
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
b. Other
Mr. Alvord explained the Safe Route to School initiative. The Committee members
reviewed the various contracts and the status of those projects.
Mr. Alvord said that there are 86 traffic signals in the City. Overtime the plan is to replace the loops in the road on every signal and install a video detector that works on movement.
11. Operations Division Report
a. Personnel
1) Superintendent of Operations
Mr. Alvord said that this position has been filled.
2) Fleet Services Manager
Mr. Alvord said that he hopes to have this position filled by May.
1) Update on Solid Waste efforts
Mr. Alvord said that five other communities have joined the effort and six others
may join. A dozen communities could potentially work together. Mr. Alvord said
that Malcolm Pirnie will look at the City wide trash pickup. This would require
a change in the City ordinance.
OTHER
12. Budget posture
a. Operating budget
Mr. Alvord said that enclosed in the packet is a memo with comments in response to the Finance Director’s recommended budget.
Mr. Krummel said that he talked to Mr. Alvord about providing a report after the Friday morning rain storm.
Mr. Krummel allowed the residents present to speak.
Mr. Jerry Cece, Olmstead Place said that the Fitch Pond overflowed onto his property. He had water in his yard, barn, garage, family room and bathroom.
Mr. Ted Coppola, Olmstead Place, said that his backyard flooded. The DPW worked on the drain at the pond and there were three streams coming from Fitch School feeding the pond. He said that when he looked in Mr. Cece’s yard, the water was bubbling up from the catch basin. He said that there has to be a blockage between the railroad station and Fitch Street.
Mr. Alvord explained that the culvert that goes under the Metro North railroad has five feet of sediment that has compacted over the years.
Mr. Arnow, Olmstead Place said that he checked the drain on Fenwick Place and that was draining well. He was that he got sewage in his yard and had to disinfect everything.
Mr. Hempstead asked if Fitch Pond could be made bigger to permit a higher capacity. Mr. Alvord explained that they need more storage capacity in the pond, but due to the silt there is none. The grate is almost at the top of the berm level.
Mr. Arnow said that the Foreman, Chris Torre worked hard to remove the trash from Fitch Pond.
Mr. Alvord said that Lockwood Land and Buckingham flooded also flooded on Friday. He said that Bonnybrook Trail collapsed. Steel road plates were placed across the road. He said that this is the third street that collapsed due to storm drainage problems. He added that the infrastructure is falling apart quickly. Mr. Bondi said that a lot of homes along the Five Mile River also flooded. The Committee held a discussion about the flooding issues at various locations in the City. Mr. Hempstead said that he believed that the Common Council was clear about taking funds from the Board of Education to help fund the infrastructure. He added that any extra funding from the State on any level should be applied to the infrastructure.
The sense of the Committee is to send a message to the Board of Estimate and Taxation that full funding should be provided for the repair of the infrastructure in the amount of $500,000.
Mr. Poruban asked the Committee what they were trying to accomplish. Mr. Hilliard replied that the consensus of the Finance Committee was to make the infrastructure a priority. Several members of the Common Council supported that. The emphasis was to take money from the Board of Education and transfer those funds to repair the infrastructure. Mr. Poruban said that no one ever said to remove funding from the DPW; the only reduction suggested was from the Board of Education. He said that Mr. Miklave’s proposal to add $350,000 was shot down. He said that they are diminishing the capability of other departments to function. He said that they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Mr. Hilliard said that Mr. Wilms is seeking guidance from the Common Council. Mr. Hempstead said that the message was made clear to the Board of Estimate and Taxation that funding needs to go to the DPW for infrastructure repair. In the end it is what the taxpayers can afford to pay.
Ms. Straniti said that it is a good idea to provide guidance to the Board of
Estimate and Taxation. It will be their decision as to where to get the funding.
13. Status of public power consultancy.
Mr. Alvord said that they will not get a reliable feasibility study for $100,000.
He said that amount is merely a gesture and therefore proposes not to execute
a proposal or fight for an additional $100,000. Mr. Bondi noted that repairing
the infrastructure is more important.
Mr. Alvord said that if they go the bulk power route, they would still have
to distribute that power to the customers. There would be condemnation of power
lines which would require eminent domain.
There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:50
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services
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