PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Click here for Public Works Committee Action May 1, 2001
Click here for Public Works Committee Action July 1, 2001
Click here for Public Works Committee Action March 5, 2002

Mr. Kimmel called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm in Mr. Perone’s absence.

ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002.

** MS. RIVAS SECONDED.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE RENAMING OF CONCORD STREET FOR REVEREND JAMES P. BALL FOR TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2002, 7:30 P.M, COMMUNITY ROOM.

** MS. RIVAS MOVED:

Ms. Olmstead-Sawyer stated that the name was "John P. Ball."

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ISSUE ORDER ON CONTRACT TO SAFETY MARKINGS, FOR PROJECT NO. RD 2001-1, PROPOSED PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS AND LEGENDS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND SCHOOLS, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.

ACCOUNT NO. 01 40 23 5269

** MR. PORUBAN MOVED:

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOULSY.

PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED STREETS FOR TRAFFIC CALMING APPROVED BY THE TRAFFIC AUTHORITY.

SCHEDULE A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TO DISCUSS TRAFFIC CALMING PROJECTS FOR TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2002, 7: 30 P.M, COMMUNITY ROOM.

Mr. Linnartz presented information on this item and stated that the department currently has $100,000 in its capital budget for traffic calming and an additional request for $100,000 in next year’s capital budget, which would allow them to do approximately 10 streets. He stated that they have had over 50 requests for traffic calming; they have 40 streets, which they consider to be eligible because they were not on an emergency response route. Mr. Linnartz stated that these streets do

not have restrictions such as limited site lines, which would make speed bumps even more dangerous than existing conditions. Mr. Linnartz distributed a chart, which list the 10 projects being proposed. He noted that six of those streets had petitions signed by the majority of the residents indicating community acceptance of the project. Mr. Linnartz reported that the department identified those areas, brought them to the traffic authority for conceptual approval and after this committee’s consideration, they would bring it to a public informational meeting, notify all the owners in writing inviting them to this meeting and asking them to sign a letter in support of this project. Mr. Linnartz stated that they were looking for a consensus in these communities. He pointed out that a 66% majority would be a good indication of community acceptance. Mr. Linnartz presented a map of the areas DPW have already completed and the areas they were proposing to work on.

Every public member who attended this meeting commented positively on this project.

APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MARCH 12, 2002, TO DESIGNATE A PORTION OF FILLOW STREET AS A SCENIC ROAD.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED:

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH VOLLMER ASSOCIATES, LLP., TO PROVIDE ON-CALL STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $20,000.

ACCOUNT NO. 01 40 26 5258

** MS. OLMSTEAD-SAWYER MOVED:

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

AUTHORIZE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PAY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE REQUIRED DEMAND DEPOSIT OF $7,800 IN CONNECTION WITH STATE PROJECT NO. 102-299, FEDERAL AID PROJECT TEA-PEDS (56), NORWALK RIVER VALLEY MULTI-PURPOSE TRAIL.

ACCOUNT NO. 09 00 60 30 5777 C0132

Mr. Linnartz reported that as part of the Standard Construction Agreement with the State, they were requesting a demand deposit of $7800.00 from the City. He stated that the State would not authorize the letting of bids on this project until this demand deposit was paid.

** MR. MANN MOVED:

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

DISCUSSION – HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY

Mr. Grumman stated that he had concerns with Norwalk being the only City that runs two hazardous waste plants. Mr. Grumman presented a cost breakdown of maintaining these plants as well as a list of other towns Norwalk residents could go to, to dispose their hazardous waste. He presented a proposal to the committee, which suggested that the City limit their day to the spring and Norwalk citizens in the fall could go to Westport, New Canaan and/or Wilton. He stated that Norwalk allow citizens from these towns to use Norwalk’s facility so this courtesy was reciprocal.

He stated the City currently spends $37,000 per day on hazardous waste, and commented that what bothered him was the $10,000 that is spent on the Norwalk Hour for this advertisement. He stated that he would like to limit this expenditure by using other median to advertise this. This would also include using the department’s website.

** MR. MANN MOVED TO APPROVE THIS PROPOSAL.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

DISCUSSION – EXPANDING SOLID WASTE COLLECTION ROUTES

Mr. Grumman stated that he and Mr. Linnartz evaluated the cost to the City to take over the Fifth Taxing District waste collection routes and presented cost estimates to the committee. He stated that it was possible without changing the mill rates to extend the routes. However there were a lot of problems with purchasing three more garbage trucks, employing nine more people and having a consultant re-evaluate the existing routes and the proposed routes. He presented a blue print of the collection areas and stated that the new collection area was 104 miles of road length vs. 140 miles they presently have. He stated that this was feasible but there were a number of items that did not compute. He stated that there were 13 licensed haulers, 7 of which serve the majority of the district. Mr. Grumman noted that these were small businessmen who have been in the business for a very long time providing very satisfactory service to the people, which he commented he could personally attest to.

Mr. Kimmel stated that the cost estimates should be handled by the Finance Department and a saving comparison should be made between private haulers handling these routes vs. the City.

An unidentified member of the public stated that it was not fair for the City to put them out of business. He stated that some of them have been doing this work for 30-40 years and taking good care of their customers. Mr. Kimmel replied that this issue always comes up when he is campaigning and that people have questions. Mr. Kimmel stated that some Norwalk citizens felt they were paying a lot of money for private haulers and paying high taxes to the City. Mr. Mann commented that all the Committee was doing in regards to this issue was gathering information to properly assess and address the situation.

DISCUSSION – GUIDE RAIL IN THE SILVERMINE AREA

Mr. Grumman stated that this item was initiated due to a broken set of guardrails on Perry Avenue. He indicated that after evaluation, DPW suggested that the repairs be made with permanent structures, which were composed of weathering steels, but some in the community wanted more attractive guardrails with a timber rub rail and steel backing. He stated that there were a couple of problems with this request and cost was one of them. Mr. Grumman stated that the cost for the weathering steel was about $14.50 a linear foot and the timber-faced steel rail costs was almost $50 per linear foot. He stated that the other problem was that the wooden faced rail projected further out onto the road and the road was only 18 feet wide. He noted that they would have to cut a couple of feet out of the width of the road, which would make it even more dangerous. Mr. Grumman stated that at their last meeting they felt it was proper to designate this project in the future as a capital improvement project, but for the present, safety considerations have to be considered and DPW was recommending putting a weathering steel not only on Perry Avenue but also on appropriate stretches on Silvermine Avenue and James Street.

Mr. Kimmel asked if this would require State involvement because it’s along a river. Mr. Grumman replied yes. Mr. Kimmel asked if this would change the character of the road thereby affecting the Silvermine area being potentially designated as a historic district. Mr. Grumman replied yes.

Sue Palinkos stated that she was not in favor of a temporary fixed and asked what insurances would the neighbors have that this would eventually be fixed permanently. Mr. Linnartz replied that this would be part of the capital budget. Mr. Kimmel advised that they keep in touch with the committee.

DISCUSSION – RECONSTRUCTION OF FLAX HILL ROAD AT HIGHLAND AVENUE

Mr. Linnartz stated that as part of the second phase of the Flax Hill Road reconstruction, DPW was looking to make traffic improvements to the intersection of Flax Hill Road and Holland Avenue. He stated that this intersection had a small traffic island that over the years has gotten smaller and smaller as the roads have been widen. Mr. Linnartz also stated that these were two major roads in Norwalk and illustrated with a map how traffic flowed and where the danger lied. He stated that part of DPW’s proposal was to remove the islands to allow for safer vehicular passage.

Members within this community who attended this meeting raised objection to the removal of the island for aesthetic reasons.

There was extensive discussion concerning the removal of the islands. Mr. Grumman stated that DPW’s first concern was 1) the safety of vehicular traffic, 2) pedestrian traffic and 3) aesthetic. Mr. Linnartz stated that his recommendation would be to have independent parties study these islands and give their recommendation because DPW has a significant concern about leaving the islands the way they were currently situated. Mr. Grumman stated that alternates would be considered in the plan and DPW could have another meeting devoted to this issue.

DISCUSSION – SAMMIS PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE RAILINGS

Mr. Linnartz stated that the City received a lot of complaints from residents in the Sixth Taxing District concerning the height of the railings on this bridge. He stated that the railings were built to bicycle standards and distributed two sets of photographs to illustrate the current state of the bridge and what the Sixth Taxing District administrator was proposing. Mr. Linnartz stated that the Sixth Taxing has presented the City with an alternative railing system, which would remove the wood rail, remove the bench on the bridge and replace it with wire strand type railing. Mr. Linnartz stated that the department would not recommend this railing because it does not meet the standards for bicycle rail. The Administrator for the Sixth Taxing District stated most people in his district were upset about this bridge, and most felt it was aesthetically offensive, it blocked their vision of the river and was needlessly large for the purpose that it served since the intent was to prohibit bicycle traffic on the bridge. He stated that the District was proposing to lower the height of the post by cutting and removing the horizontals and putting in a thinner aluminum rail between the post and stainless steels wires vertically to the bottom rail. He stated that the District was asking the City for financial assistance to re-design this bridge.

There was extensive discussion among the members concerning the safety and expense of this project. Mr. Poruban expressed concerned about accessibility for wheel chair traffic especially with wire-strand type railings. Mr. Mann commented that if the District wanted ownership of the bridge and take care of this problem it would be fine, but he was not for the City spending more money to

undo the bridge, which could also increase the City’s liability. Mr. Kimmel advised the Sixth Taxing District Administrator to discuss the possibility of the district taking full ownership of the bridge and report back to the Committee.

Mr. Overton stated that some in the City’s engineering department looked at the proposed drawings presented this evening which showed wire-strands and he wanted the record to reflect that they would have significant concerns with the use of wire-strands on this bridge regardless of what type of wires were used.

Mr. Wrenn stated that they should consider two proposals one where the District takes the bridge and the other where the City maintains the bridge.

DISCUSSION – ISSUES FROM THE POLICE BUILDING COMMITTEE

Contract With Osprey Environmental Engineering:

Mr. Kimmel stated that due to the late hour, discussion concerning this contract would be postponed. Mr. Grumman stated that the Mayor had put together a committee consisting of staff from the legal and finance department and he would keep the committee informed on activities.

Increase In Architect’s Fee (Valus and Carpenter) For The Relocation Design Of The Firing Range .

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

** MR. MANN MOVED:

Agreement Between The City and Condon/Brown To Move The Two Houses In Connection With The Police Building Project

Mr. Overton distributed information concerning this item and stated the City would be responsible for the removal of the interior asbestos. The cost to remove the two houses would be $20,000.

DISCUSSION – STANDBY GENERATOR AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

Mr. Grumman distributed information on this item and stated that the Third Taxing District would take over the stand-by generators. He stated that the District would run, repair and replace the generators if necessary. He also stated that the law department approved the contract. Mr. Poruban commented that his problem with this contract was the cost. He stated that he did a quick review of the electrical consumption report and it seemed to him that this would not be cost beneficial for the City. Mr. Grumman stated that he would look into this further and advise the committee.

FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES – STREET TREE PLANTING BUDGET.

Mr. Grumman stated that to date slightly over $10,000 has been expended from the $15,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2000-2001 leaving a balance with the FY01-02 budget of approximately $29,000. Mr. Wrenn stated that he would like to get together with Don Nelson of Norwalk Tree Alliance to come up with a list of other areas where trees could be planted since there was funding available.

ACTION ON ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS LISTED HEREIN.

These actions were noted above.

ADJOURNMENT

** MS. RIVAS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING

** MOTION PASSED UNANNIMOUSLY

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Gerda Adonis

Telesco Secretarial Services

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