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| Public Works
Committee Actions |
DECEMBER 4, 2007
ATTENDANCE: William Krummel, Chair; Kelly Straniti; Laurel Lindstrom; Andrew
Conroy; Fred Bondi (7:40 p.m.); Carvin Hilliard (7:45 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director; Lisa Bardon; Richard Linnartz
Mr. Krummel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and welcomed Ms. Lindstrom
and Mr. Conroy.
PUBLIC INPUT
Mr. Krummel explained the public input procedure.
Ms. Diane Cece, Olmstead Place said that she was anxious to hear about the operating
budget and how it will pertain to flood remediation.
Ms. Diane Lauricella asked if the Committee would make the operating budget
available in hard cover for people who do not have access to e-mail. She also
asked that there be a chance to discuss recycling as related to school projects.
There were no further comments and the public input session was closed.
APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS
1. Approve the Minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting of Monday, November
5, 2007.
** MS. STRANITI MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED
** MOTION PASSED WITH TWO (2) ABSTENTIONS (MS. LINDSTROM AND MR. CONROY)
2. Approve 2008 schedule of Public Works Committee meetings.
Mr. Alvord noted that there were two departures from the first Tuesday of the
month due to holidays.
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED TO ACCEPT THE 2008 SCHEDULE
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Approve list of proposed Freeholders.
** MR. CONROY MOVED THE ITEM
Mr. Alvord said that this was a doubling of the list. Mr. Conroy asked if they
had to abide by the minority rule. Mr. Alvord said that they did not have to
worry about that.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Bondi arrived at 7:40 p.m.
4. Authorize the Mayor, Richard, A. Moccia, to execute an amendment to the agreement
with Sanborn to provide Planimetric and Contour Mapping for the GIS System for
a sum not to exceed $36,000.
Account No. 0901/02/03 4031 5777 C0037 ($16,448)
0908 4031 5777 C0420 ($19,552)
** MS. STRANITI MOVED THE ITEM
Mr. Alvord explained that they had contracted with them for aerial photography,
when they discovered that the existing data base was unacceptable. It will take
a lot of effort to clean up the data base, but it is essential to bring it up
to date.
Mr. Bondi asked if they were a sole bidder. Mr. Alvord said that Sanborn and
already flows the City in the event we put out a bid; they were a sole source
provider. Ms. Lindstrom asked if the cost was within a normal range. Mr. Alvord
said that they were comfortable with the base price. This is an amendment to
an existing contract with them. They found the deficiency in the data base.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with CDM
to provide GIS support services for a sum not to exceed $100,000.
Account No. 0908 4031 5777 C0420
** MR. BONDI MOVED THE ITEM
Mr. Hilliard arrived at 7:45 p.m.
Mr. Linnartz explained that this is a funded capital item to provide service
to update the 1994 GIS data base. This task is to review where all departments
could best utilize GIS.
Mr. Conroy asked if the project manager, Mike Yosoff could attend the next meeting
to provide the Committee with an update.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE (1) ABSTENTION (MR. CONROY)
6. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with GM2
Associates, Inc. to provide professional design engineering services in connection
with the Rowayton Avenue Improvements at the Metro-North Railroad Bridge for
a sum not to exceed $95,484.
Account No. 0902 4021 5777 C0239 ($80,484)
0907 4021 5777 C0393 ($15,000)
** MR. CONROY MOVED THE ITEM
Mr. Alvord said that this was a minor road widening and sidewalk project. They
expect to be able to maintain the traffic except when they are hanging steel.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
7. Authorize extension of retainage agreement with Holland and Knight in connection
with the Solid Waste Disposal Operation for a sum not to exceed $200,000.
Account No. 01 0000 2275
** MR. BONDI MOVED THE ITEM
Mr. Alvord said that this would allow Malcolm Pirnie to evaluate solid waste
disposal services. They did a qualification process and selected them with the
approval of the Law Department. Ms. Lauricella asked if there was a running
tally between Malcolm Pirnie rates vs. Holland and Knight. Ms. Bardon said that
she scrutinizes Holland and Knight’s bills and verifies that all of the work
has been done.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE (1) ABSTENTION (MR. CONROY)
DISCUSSION
8. Engineering Division Report
a. Personnel.
Mr. Alvord reported that all of the positions in Mr. Linnartz’s division have
been filled.
b. Projects - See attached project status sheet.
Ms. Lindstrom asked about the status of the Strawberry Hill traffic calming
project. Mr. Alvord said that Mr. Linnartz’s staff is buried right now; they
do not have the resources.
Ms. Bardon said that the morning after the WPCA meeting, the newspaper published
a number to call to complain about the odor coming from the Waste Water Treatment
Plant; the number is also posted on the City’s website. There have been only
four complaints to date.
The Committee discussed the work proposed for the Haviland Street parking deck.
Ms. Cece said that this Committee needed to know that there is a feeling that
business in South Norwalk should be asked in advance when is the best time to
schedule projects. She said that the Common Council needs to take a leadership
role in this. Mr. Bondi replied that if they did that they would never get any
projects done. Mr. Hilliard said that if the business association has an issue
they should bring it to their councilperson. Mr. Krummel said that he did not
realize that the activity would disrupt businesses.
Mr. Alvord said that when the South Norwalk Business Association existed, he
attended their meetings each month.
c. Tentative schedule update – stormwater-related work.
Norwalk is on the list for WPCA for treatment plant upgrades. There is a plan
and the two designated individuals taking the lead are Bob Wagman and Larry
Caffero.
d. NASH request for revision of Norwalk Code Chapter 97 – Excavating and Filling
of Land.
Mr. Alvord said that the staff found a cooperative resident. This is a claim
that some of the fill had dumped on a neighbor’s property; however, upon inspection
they did not see it. He said that this is a very good ordinance and it is enforced.
There is no need to revise Chapter 97 to serve the City’s purpose. There are
other issues involved here and there are other solutions. Planning and Zoning
along with the Building department have been informed about this issue.
e. Status of CY 2007 Pavement Management Program.
f. Planned CY 2008 Pavement Management Program.
Ms. Lindstrom asked if sidewalks could be added during the paving projects.
Mr. Alvord said that it depends upon the funding. Some projects are funding
with sidewalks, but those are the exceptions. Ms. Lindstrom said that in some
cases, property owners are billed; she asked if that could be looked at in selected
situations.
g. Other
Ms. Straniti asked if there have been any requests for a four way stop on the
corner of Cove Avenue and Second Street in East Norwalk; she said that there
is a site line issue there. The Committee discussed traffic control issues in
East Norwalk.
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9. Operations Division Report
a. Personnel
(1) Mechanics
All of the mechanic positions have been filled.
(2) Maintainers
There are two openings for maintainers.
b. Equipment
(1) Snow plows
(2) Vac truck
(3) Mason trucks
(4) Pickups
Mr. Alvord updated the Committee on the status of the arrival of new equipment.
OTHER
10. Planned “Garbage and Sewage” Tour.
Mr. Alvord said that he received responses from seven people.
11. Update on solid waste disposal efforts.
Mr. Alvord said that they received three proposals this week. The cost proposals
will not be opened until they go through the technical proposals in late January
or early February 2008.
12. Update on recycling efforts.
The contract runs through 2013. There is an opportunity to withdraw from the
contract if notice is provided by June 30, 2008. Mr. Alvord said that he intends
to enter into an arrangement with City Carting for cost savings. He said that
the amendment is being drafted now.
13. Status of FEMA claims.
Mr. Alvord said that they received all of the money from FEMA that they are
going to receive. There are three projects that need to be completed.
Ms. Lauricella suggested that there be an effort to include the Conservation
Commission.
14. Overview – 2008-2009 DPW Operating budget submission.
Mr. Alvord provided an overview of the budget that was included in the packets.
Mr. Krummel suggested that Mr. Alvord provide as much backup as possible in
order to make a case for funding.
15. Action on any item discussed herein.
There was no other action.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO ADJOURN
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services
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