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| Public Works
Committee Actions |
JULY 9, 2007
ATTENDANCE: William Krummel, Chairman; Kevin Poruban, Douglas
Hempstead, Fred Bondi, Kelly Straniti (7:31 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Public Works Director, Paul Sotnik, Asst.
Civil Engineer, Ralph Kolb, Wastewater Systems Manager
OTHERS: Diane Cece, Margaret Peterson, Jack Burritt
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Krummel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Krummel called the Public Hearing to receive the Report of the Freeholders on the repair of private sanitary sewer laterals and the removal of private storm drainage connections to the sanitary sewer collection system as part of the Westport Avenue Inflow and Infiltration Remediation Project (Water Pollution Control Authority Project 2007-2) to order at 7:30 p.m.
Ms. Straniti joined the meeting at 7:31 p.m.
Ms. Cece, who resides on Olmstead Place, addressed the Committee first. She pointed out that the freeholders had been appointed at the June 26th Common Council meeting, but their report was dated June 27th. She then asked how the freeholders had analyzed the situation and if they had held a meeting to discuss this.
A number of residents joined at the hearing at this time.
Ms. Peterson, who resides at 6 Gwendolyn Street, addressed the Committee next. She stated that she has been having problems with sewage and flooding for the last six years. She then stated that it was determined earlier that the problem with the storm water and the sewage was not from Gwendolyn, but from another street. Recently, a contractor was working on her street ripping up asphalt and repaving. Ms. Peterson said that it was a poor paving job and that two neighbors had complained. She also commented that the contractor planted grass seed in the flowerbed by the telephone pole and that there were chunks of loose asphalt around the area.
Chairman Krummel then asked if there was anyone else who would like to speak for or against the freeholder’s report on the repair of private sanitary sewer laterals and the removal of private storm drainage connections to the sanitary sewer collection system as part of the Westport Avenue Inflow and Infiltration Remediation Project. He then repeated the request two additional times.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Chairman Krummel said that he would like Mr. Alvord to respond to Ms. Cece’s comments. Mr. Alvord said that Mr. Sotnik had notified the freeholders about the situation and the tight time frame in advance of the Common Council meeting on the 26th.
** THE MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE FREEHOLDERS ON THE REPAIR OF PRIVATE SANITARY SEWER LATERALS AND THE REMOVAL OF PRIVATE STORM DRAINAGE CONNECTIONS TO THE SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM AS PART OF THE WESTPORT AVENUE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION REMEDIATION PROJECT (WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY PROJECT 2007-2 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m.
APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS
** MR. PORUBAN MOVED AGENDA ITEM #2 - AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH A.J. PENNA & SON CONSTRUCTION OF CT., INC. FOR PROJECT NO. DRG 2005-1, GENERAL DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $250,000. ACCOUNT NO. 0908 4027 5777 C0302
Mr. Alvord briefly explained that Penna had agreed to continue the contract with the same prices from the previous fiscal year. Chairman Krummel said that after examining the back up material for the item, he was wondering why DPW would believe that A.J. Penna was the lowest bid. Mr. Alvord explained that the staff had reviewed the prices and determined that even with the increased cost of asphalt, A.J. Penna would still be the lowest bidder.
Mr. Hempstead commented that it was a common practice among corporations to extend the contracts when a contractor offers to keep the previous period’s prices. He stated that he did not have a problem with this practice and that many of the contractors have extended their pricing in the same manner.
Ms. Cece stated for the record that she objected to contracts of this size and nature being extended. She then said that if the criterion were that all the contractors offer last year’s prices for an extension, all the contractors would do this. She also said that DPW can probably turn out a bid package in 30 days.
Ms. Cece then asked about the general drainage definition and if it covered catch basins. Mr. Alvord replied that it did not.
Ms. Cece then stated that she was philosophically opposed to single source contracts and that this was a continuation of a troubling trend in the Department of Public Works. She then stated that there was no reason why this could not be held for further analysis.
Ms. Cece then said that she did not understand the flooding issues on Meadowbrook Lane and that none of those residents had attended any of the meetings with the Public Works Committee. She also commented that their flooding problems were contained to just yards rather than the actual residences. She objected to the amount of money being spent to correct a problem where no homes were being flooded.
There was a brief discussion regarding putting the project out to bid. Ms. Cece repeated her objection to the contract extension for A.J. Penna. Mr. Krummel asked if the Purchasing Agent had reviewed this contract extension. Mr. Alvord replied that Mr. Foley had not. Mr. Krummel asked if Mr. Foley needed to review the contract extension. Mr. Alvord replied that he did not need to review it.
Ms. Peterson commented that A.J. Penna had installed the check valve at Gwendolyn and that the valve has never functioned properly. Mr. Kolb pointed out that the City had no access to that valve and thus could not maintain it. Mr. Bondi said that Manzi had installed the original line and was no longer in business.
** THE MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM #2 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. BONDI MOVED AGENDA ITEM #1. ACCEPT AND APPROVE THE REPORT OF THE FREEHOLDERS FOR THE REPAIR OF PRIVATE SANITARY SEWER LATERALS AND THE REMOVAL OF PRIVATE STORM DRAINAGE CONNECTIONS TO THE SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM AS PART OF THE WESTPORT AVENUE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION REMEDIATION PROJECT (WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROJECT 2007-2).
Mr. Hempstead asked Mr. Alvord if anyone had checked the original field cards for the houses on Fullin Road. Mr. Alvord said that this had not been done yet. Mr. Hempstead said that he wanted this done before the assessment to see who signed off on the combined system.
** THE MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM #1 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED AGENDA ITEM #3. SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING OF NECESSITY ON THE ABANDONMENT/DISCONTINUANCE OF PUTNAM AVENUE – SOUTH (BETWEEN REED STREET AND PINE STREET EXTENSION) 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, LLC. PUBLIC HEARING TO BE CONDUCTED AT 7:30 P.M., TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2007 IN ROOM 225 (DPW LIBRARY), NORWALK CITY HALL.
Mr. Burritt came forward, introduced himself and displayed a map of where the abandoned section of Putnam Avenue is located. He said that this request was part of a process that had started in December of 2006.
** THE MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM #3 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OTHER
4. Next Public Works Committee Meeting: Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Room 225, Norwalk City Hall
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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