CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Works Committee Meeting | Wednesday, September 7, 2022 | Esther Howland (South) Chamber | Convened: 5:33 P.M. | Adjourned: 7:02 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson George J Russell | | Vice Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Morris A Bergman |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor George J. Russell
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, who participated in the meeting remotely
Councilor Morris A. Bergman | | | | | Also: | Commissioner of Public Works and Parks Jay Fink
Assistant Commissioner of Engineering Kerry Reed
Assistant Commissioner for Water and Sewer Philip Guerin
Deputy City Clerk Stephen A.J. Pottle, clerk
Stantec Senior Principal Brian Shea | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Works Committee Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98928800472
Public Works Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Works Committee Zoom Access Code: 989 2880 0472 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee on Public Works hereby approves the minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting on May 10, 2022. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 3a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Mark Liniano et al request Weldon St. be made public.
# 11b CC May 15, 2018
In Committee November 27, 2018 - Held
In Committee March 2, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speakers:
1. Mark Lirano, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
2. Samuel Kirua, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
3. Bruce Chamberlain, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
4. Mark B., No residence given, spoke in opposition to the item
5. Florette Willis, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
6. Rachael Odoom, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Russell discussed the prices per property which property owners will have to pay to make public the street and installation of sewer and drainage for properties on the street with the DPW Assistant Commissioner.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed the lack of responses from Weldon St. property owners, the potential cost and increased traffic due to paved road for Weldon St. once it is made public and the importance of disclosing the plans concerning making the street public to potential buyers if properties were to go on sale.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 4. | Street Discontinuance Item | |
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| | | 4a. | Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of Philip Massad et al. request Grand St. from the southeasterly line of Illinois St. southeasterly to the railroad property be discontinued as a public way and removed from the Office Map.
# 17b CC April 26, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the DPW Commissioner, who provided the recommendation to approve, with the provision of an underground easement for the currently existing utilities.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
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| | | 5a. | Petition of Michael Sowyrda, on behalf of 15 Waban, LLC., request the sanitary sewer main on Waban Avenue be extended approximately 242+/- feet in a northwesterly direction at the petitioner's expense.
# 8b CC June 21, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and recognized the DPW Commissioner, who provided the recommendation to approve, with the provision of an underground easement for the currently existing utilities.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speaker:
1. Michael Sowyrda, No resident given, spoke in favor of the item
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be approved.
Recommend Approval on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | |
| 6. | Communications of the City Manager | |
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| | | 6a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a progress report on the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station Failure.
# 10.6A CM July 19, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #6b.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who provided an overview of actions taken relative to the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station Failure, feasibility of long-term plan concerning reducing the flow of sewers to the pump station and changing the directions of the pump stations, and the feasibility of installing pump station in area that does not currently have one with the DPW Commissioner and Stantec Senior Principal.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Stantec Senior Principal, who discussed the recommendations concerning short-term and long-term improvements provided by Stantec.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the backup pumping station with the DPW Commissioner.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with report concerning different flow correction options associated with the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with report concerning different flow correction options associated with the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station. | |
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| | | 6b. | Providing City Council with the preliminary incident report on the Lake Avenue Sewer Pumping Station Failure.
# 15a CC February 15, 2022
In Committee March 2, 2022 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend File (See Item #6a) | |
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| | | 6c. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report concerning the feasibility of administratively predetermining the amount of abatement amounts for bills from private street conversion, as well as utility installations, and automatically in advance, factor in those amounts to each assessment.
# 9.6B CM March 22, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and discussed the process and conditions for sewer and street abatements with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman and Councilor Mero-Carlson, who both spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with rules for sewer and street abatements.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Resolution: That the City Council does hereby support and congratulate the Department of Public Works and Parks for amending the city’s abatement policy, allowing for administratively predetermining abatement amounts into street and sewer assessments.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be filed.
Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with rules for sewer and street abatements. | | | | | | | | Chairman's Resolutions | | | | That the City Council does hereby support and congratulate the Department of Public Works and Parks for amending the city’s abatement policy, allowing for administratively predetermining abatement amounts into street and sewer assessments. | |
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| | | 7a. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works conduct a meeting with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to discuss what policy, if any, exists in writing, which mandates any construction work completed by utility companies on city streets does not deteriorate.
# 12g CC June 7, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with item #7b.
Chairperson Councilor Russell provided an overview of the reasoning behind discussing issues with utility companies and paving on city streets.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed the Department of Public Works’ work with utility companies to ensure the city’s roads are repaved appropriately after work is done that includes tearing up the city’s streets.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Bergman, who discussed requirements associated with contracts the city has with utility companies during repaving processes, the number of times trenches have been replaced because of repaving being completed improperly and the timing of when DPW reviews repaving work being completed by utility companies with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed a backlog associated with reviewing permits associated with utility company work with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with the permit manual for utility companies.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the following speakers:
1. Michael Kane, Holyoke resident, Eversource, spoke in relation to their process for repaving roads in the city
2. Jim Connors, Attleboro resident, Eversource, spoke in relation to their process for repaving roads in the city
3. John Bowler, Spencer resident, Verizon, spoke in relation to their process for repaving roads in the city
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be held.
Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with the permit manual for utility companies. | |
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| | | 7b. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works conduct a meeting with representatives from the utility companies servicing the city and the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks regarding damages done to city streets that are not repaired in a way to hold up over time.
# 12h CC June 7, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (See Item #7a) | |
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