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| Public Works
Committee Actions |
NOVEMBER 1, 2004
ATTENDANCE: Kevin Poruban, Chair; Douglas Hempstead; Bruce Kimmel; William Krummel; Fred Bondi (7:40 p.m.); Jeannette Olmstead-Sawyer (8:20 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director; Dick Linnartz, Principal Engineer
Mr. Poruban called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m.
APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS
Approve the Minutes from the Public Works Committee dated Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Page 1 – correct Councilmember Wrenn, to Mr. Wrenn
Page 3 – under suspension of the rules, add 3 Duke Place
** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Linnartz explained the following item. He said that an audit was performed between July 2003 and August 2004 on over/under billings and they came up with an adjustment of electrical charges for that period.
** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE A MUTUAL
RELEASE, WHICH RELEASES THE CITY OF NORWALK’S CLAIM FOR BILLING ERRORS AGAINST
CL&P IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT BY CL&P IN THE AMOUNT OF $233,152.62
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Bondi arrived at 7:40 p.m.
Mr. Linnartz explained the following item. He said that this is a project that the City and United States Department of Environmental Protection will work on to repair the pedestrian bridge. They are also going to do work to stop erosion in the river. They expect to go out to bid this winter and start construction this spring.
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE ANY AND
ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT $113,769.49 FROM THE CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, FOR THE “SILVERMINE RIVER FISHERIES
ENHANCEMENT AND STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT AND SILVERMINE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
REHABILITATION PROJECT”
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Linnartz explained that this item requires two easements.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH FUSS AND O’NEIL TO PROVIDE TWO EASEMENT MAPS IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOXBORO TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $3,400.
ACCOUNT NO. 0903 4120 5777 C0284
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Linnartz explained that this is a change order request to an existing contract with Deering Constriction.
** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ISSUE ORDERS ON CONTRACT TO DEERING CONSTRUCTION IN CONNECTION WITH CONCRETE REPAIRS AT THE CONCERT HALL AND BEN FRANKLIN SCHOOL FOR PROJECT NO. RD 2003-7, PROPOSED BITUMINOUS CONCRETE SIDEWALKS AND CURBS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $26,775
ACCOUNT NO. 0904 7100 5777 C0326 ($25,000)
0140 74 5269 ($1,775)
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
DISCUSSIONS
Discussion – Storm Drainage at Silvermine Avenue and Mary Austin Lane
Mr. Linnartz explained that this situation has been around for at least eight years. A request for funding for this project was made seven years ago, but did not make it past the budget process. This requires major work that would cost in excess of $200,000. Mr. Linnartz said that he would be looking for funding for this project in this year’s budget.
Mr. Linnartz said that this area flooded three times this year. There is no new development in the area that is causing this flooding. Currently the water gets into the river by sheeting across people’s yards.
Discussion – General Flooding and Drainage Issues
Mr. Poruban asked how many drainage issues there are in town. Mr. Linnartz said
that there are about 10. There are some that they cannot do anything about,
because they have to wait for the State. He added that he has a list of projects
that he wants to address.
Discussion – Rename and Renumber a portion of Styles Lane
Mr. Linnartz presented an aerial photograph of the area. He explained that the residents have conflicting addresses. He said that he tried a voluntary solicitation of the residents asking them to rename the street, but did not get a response.
Mr. Linnartz asked to schedule a public hearing to decide to re-name the street and re-number the parcels. He said that Public Works has the authorization to number the parcels and name streets. Mr. Alvord said that the notices could be hand delivered to the residents.
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE NEXT MEETING TO RE-NAME
STYLES LANE
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Mr. Linnartz said that one resident would like to re-name the street in recognition of how the property evolved. He said that in the notice, he would ask residents to suggest names.
Discussion – Operations Manager
Mr. Alvord said that on December 8th, Lisa Barden would join the department as the Operation Manager. He reviewed her qualifications and background and said that he feels she will be a strong Operations Manager.
Mr. Alvord said that he received 48 applications from people around the world. He interviewed eight candidates and Ms. Barden was the unanimous choice.
Discussion – Wastewater Systems Manager
Mr. Alvord said that Ralph Kolb would join the department on November 15th. He reviewed his background.
Ms. Barden will be located in the office at City Hall and Mr. Kolb will be housed at the Wastewater Treatment plant.
Mr. Alvord explained that they went through an exhaustive process to find a software package to support the customer service package and each time came up with the Customer Service Center Software package.
Ms. Jeannette Olmstead – Sawyer arrived at 8:20 p.m.
Mr. Alvord explained where the centers will be located and the costs.
** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH MUNICIPAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE THROUGH CITYWORKS, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $75,000
ACCOUNT NO. 0905 0600 5777 C0286
0180 80 VARIOUS
Mr. Hempstead asked to see a demonstration. Mr. Poruban said that this is the easiest package to use and the least expensive.
Mr. Alvord said that Mayor Knopp wants to do a demonstration of the software at the November 9th Common Council meeting, but he strongly disagrees, because he feels it will be meaningless. He said what is most important is the customer service. He urged everyone to call Connie Blair at 854-3200 and said that they will see how the customer service works. It will be staffed during normal business hours and will have a recording system, which will record calls that come in after hours.
Mr. Hempstead said that he would want to be able to find out the status of a complaint. Mr. Alvord explained that a response would be made to the person who called in with the complaint.
Mr. Poruban explained that if there were multiple complaints on the same issue, everyone who complained would be contacted.
The Committee held a lengthy discussion about the system.
Mr. Hempstead asked who would prioritize the complaints. Mr. Alvord said that the Foreman would.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE (1) ABSTENTION (MR. HEMPSTEAD)
Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute an Agreement with TBD to perform field and lab testing in connection with the Broad Street Bridge Improvement Project, for a sum not to exceed $7,000
Account No. 0900 4021 5777 C0028 (100% grant reimbursable expense)
(WITHDRAWN)
DISCUSSIONS (continued)
Discussion – Customer Service Center/Action Item for Implementation
· Contract with Cityworks
· Personnel
· Funding Sources
Mr. Alvord said that this package was presented to the Board of Estimate and Taxation this evening and was approved. The job description and was approved by the Personnel Committee and the package will go to the Common Council on November 9th. Mr. Poruban asked if one individual would be able to speak Spanish. Mr. Alvord said that they would try to hire one or two people who speak Spanish, although that requirement is not included in the job description.
Mr. Hempstead asked if the positions could be out-sourced. Mr. Alvord said that he would not out-source the Customer Reporting position, because there would be no control. Mr. Hempstead asked about hiring part timers. Mr. Alvord said that they determined that they need 3 full time people to do the job right. The turnover with part time people would be very high. Mr. Bondi commented that a customer service department is only as good as the people handling the problems.
Discussion – Follow up Public Works Open House
The next Public Works Open House will take place on October 1, 2005. Mr. Alvord said that they are in the process of doing lessons learned from the first open house. He said the he would welcome any comments on how to improve the open house.
Mr. Bondi suggested a tie in with a Hazardous Waste Collection. Mr. Alvord said that they are going to do something different. He wants to have hazardous waste collection take place anytime of the year.
Mr. Hempstead suggested holding a bulk pick up day.
Mr. Bondi said that he received a call today from a storeowner on Wall Street. She said that the alleyway between Wall Street and Isaac Street looks good, but wanted to know why the trees are being cut down by her store. Mr. Alvord explained that the Bradford Pear trees are being replaced this fall with Blue Ginko trees because they grown nicer.
There was no further business and the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemarie Lombardi
Telesco Secretarial Services
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