HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-01-24 PW Comm mtg AdoptIsland and Composting Watertown Town Council
Committee on Public Works
Meeting January 24, 2017
Report: February 14,2017
The Committee met at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers. Present were: Aaron Dushku, Chair,Anthony Palomba,
Vice-chair; Susan Falkoff, Secretary; Town Council President Mark Sideris, Councilors Feltner and Woodward,
DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee;DPW Director of Administration and Finance Dennis Sheehan; Town Engineer
Matt Shuman; and David Stokes,resident.
Adopt an Island
Mr. Sheehan shared an updated draft of an Adopt-an-Island proposal(Attachment A)that includes an application
form and ten proposed locations. Mr. Mee stressed that currently the islands are being maintained but the goal of
the program is to beautify these locations. The program will be advertised through the Chamber of Commerce,
Rotary Club and through other means. Signs will be made by the town's contractor. The committee questioned
the estimated cost of$150 and Mr. Sheehan said he will clarify that further. The cost for participating is $25/year,
plus maintenance costs. There was some discussion of the fairness of the fee and what potential savings could be
for the town if these islands are maintained privately.
The committee voted 3-0 to recommend approval of the proposal,pending review by the town attorney,
clarification of the language about the duration of the contract(it will be for three years,with annual
renewal), and deletion of the phrase"under unique circumstances"in the sentence giving the
Superintendent the authority to grant exceptions to the rule about non-natural landscaping features.
Since the time of the meeting, legal counsel added some text to specify general liability and workers'
compensation requirements from the landscaping company and an indemnification clause to protect the town from
potential claims from sponsors.
Organic Composting
The trash collection contract with Republic expires in June and is currently being re-negotiated. Councilor
Palomba wondered if a pilot curbside composting program could be included in the new contract. Mr. Sheehan
said that this has been under discussion and the Department and the contractor are interested but there is currently
no market for compostable waste. There is also no obvious solution to the problem of where to store the material.
Councilor Feltner said that her household contracts with a private hauler to pick up compost at her home. The
existence of such a service was surprising to everyone else in the room. The Department does currently offer
compost bins to the public at a reduced fee and they are exploring whether to offer a rotating drum type of bin
instead of the current wire containers that sit on the ground.
The committee voted 3-0 to ask the DPW to publicize private options for compost pick-up on their website
since the town is unable to provide this service at this time,to continue to monitor the market in the hopes of
developing a pilot composting program, and to keep the committee updated on any advances in compost
recycling options and on their decisions about compost bins.
Updates
Mount Auburn Street
There was a productive meeting last week with representatives from DPW,MassDOT,the MBTA and the town's
consultant to provide a project update, discuss scheduling,and coordination.Mr. Mee expects to provide an update
to us in a couple of months. Mr. Shuman said he would like to have a joint meeting with this committee and the
Bicycle/Pedestrian committee.
Howe Park
The cost of renovations is included in the FY'18 Capital Improvement Budget that is on the town council agenda
for January 25.
Howard Street Communitv Path
The Planning Department and the DPW are continuing to work together on this project. Mr.Magoon has been
talking to Cambridge officials about the water main under the location. There is money in an escrow account for
the project once the details are settled. There is some discussion about the developer actually doing the work
rather than hiring a separate contractor.
2017 Road Prouam
Mr. Shuman commented that it was very helpful for us to meet in October and have the 2017 decisions made early.
Mr. Mena and Worldtech and the Tree Warden are already working on the details and the Department hopes to
have draft bid documents prepared by February/March.
Common Street Rotary
This project is also in the FYI CIP. It will be funded through a combination of Chapter 90 and CIP money. The
design is progressing for all 3 components of the project: road,water, stormwater.
Comulete Streets
The town was awarded a Community Compact grant of$50,000 to prioritize complete streets needs. Later,we
will be eligible to apply for a$250,000 construction grant. DPW and Planning are continuing to progress on the
project.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:13 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Falkoff, Secretary
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Town Of Watertown: Adopt An Island Program
The City known as the Town of Watertown "Adopt an Island" Program provides opportunities for
companies, civic groups, institutions, and individuals to adopt a traffic island or other designated public
spaces and create attractive, welcoming"oases" throughout the Town. By adopting an island,the
sponsor commits to maintaining the landscaping of the designated areas by having services performed
including but not limited to trash pickup, grass cutting, weeding and providing approved plantings.
The City known as the Town of Watertown, under the sole discretion of the Department of Public Works
(hereinafter"Department"), will maintain a list of locations available for adoption and will assign spaces
on a first-come,first-served basis with prior year participants given the ability to "re-adopt"the same
space. Initial agreements will be for a duration of one (1)year and will be subject to renewal at the
discretion of the Department of Public Works. The Department will designate locations for adoption
under this Program from time to time, as it deems appropriate, and publicize the opportunity to sponsor
such locations to the general public.
Under this plan, an adopter will pay a yearly fee,to be determined by the Department. In return the
Town will provide and install a sign recognizing the adopter's support, with no other signs or signage to
be allowed on the island. The specifications of the sign will be subject to the discretion of the
Department of Public Works, but shall be uniform across all islands. The fees collected will strictly be
used for the administration of the program.
Program Requirements:
• Participants shall be responsible for installing and/or maintaining landscaping at the adopted
location.
• Only qualified, bonded and insured landscape contractors can perform work under this program
(i.e. citizen volunteers cannot physically perform the work themselves unless they are insured
and bonded to perform landscaping work). Evidence of satisfactory bonding and insurance shall
be provided to the Department.
o General Liability and Workers Compensation from the landscaping company. GL limits
of$1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate.
o Town should be listed as an additional insured.
• Volunteer groups or businesses can secure landscape contractors to perform the work under
their organization or business name.
• The Department and/or Tree Warden shall approve all types of plant materials to be placed,
removed, or aggressively trimmed or pruned. Unnatural physical landscaping objects (pots,
statues, lights, etc.) are not allowed.The Superintendent of Public Works reserves the right to
grant exceptions under unique circumstances. Decisions of the Superintendent of Public Works
shall be final.
• It is understood that most islands and planting areas do not have irrigation; drought and salt
tolerant plant materials should be considered. No pesticides will be allowed and no fertilizers
shall be used without the approval of the Superintendent of Public Works.
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• Maintenance work hours are assumed to be 9 AM-3PM and may be additionally limited at
certain high traffic islands.
• The sign shall state the business name or sponsor only; it shall not display addresses, phone
numbers,website addresses, or additional mottos,taglines, etc.
• The sign will be low profile, prominently displayed, but shall not detract from the appearance of
the island. Islands greater than 1,000 square feet may be allowed to display 2 signs.
• Approval of all signs shall be subject to the discretion of the Superintendent of Public Works and
decisions of the Superintendent of Public Works shall be final
• For locations with irrigation,the Department will continue to manage all aspects of the irrigation
system including maintenance.
• Participants who fail to comply with the program requirements and directions of the
Department may be subject to termination of their participation.
• Due to the limited number of islands available,the Town reserves the right at its sole discretion
to consider whether to make available future island sponsorship opportunities for other
potential sponsors.
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The Citv Known As the Town Of Watertown
Adopt An Island Program Agreement
I. This document serves as an Adoption Agreement between
("Sponsor") and the City known as the Town of
Watertown ("Town")for participation in the "Adopt-an-Island" program.
II. Sponsor agrees to participate in the Adopt an Island Program by adopting the traffic island
located at for one (1)year, beginning this
day of Sponsor agrees to provide an annual contribution of
$25 to participate in this Program.
III. In consideration of this service by Sponsor,the Town agrees to provide a sign bearing
Sponsor's name.
IV. Sponsor shall be responsible for maintaining the island by regular landscaping, mowing,
trash removal, and all other maintenance as needed.
V. The Town reserves the right to terminate the Adoption Agreement at will and without
notice or cause at the sole discretion of the Superintendent of Public Works. Sponsor may
terminate this agreement for any reason, with thirty days notice.
VI. Sponsor will be given first option to re-adopt this island and shall be billed annually for
participation. Should Sponsor decide not to continue participation, it will forfeit its interest
in the island and the Town will remove the sign bearing Sponsor's name.
VI I. The Superintendent of Public Works will decide any questions or disputes that may arise
under this agreement and its final decision shall be conclusive upon the parties to this
agreement. The agreement is not transferrable or assignable in whole, or in part,without
the written consent of the Superintendent of Public Works.
VIII. in consideration of the opportunity to participate in the "Adopt-an-Island" program, and for
other good an valuable consideration hereby acknowledged, Sponsor agrees to forever
RELEASE the Town and the Department of Public Works, its employees, agents, and officials
(the "Releasees"), from any and all claims, actions, rights of action and causes of action,
damages, costs, expenses, compensation and attorneys'fees that may have arisen in the
past, or may arise in the future, directly or indirectly, from known and unknown personal
injuries to Sponsor or property damage resulting from Sponsor's participation in the "Adopt-
an-Island" program,which Sponsor or its heirs, successors, or assigns may have as the result
of Sponsor's participation in the program. Sponsor hereby further covenants for itself, its
heirs, successors and assigns not to sue said Releasees on account of any such claim,
demand or liability
IX. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the parties hereto submit to the jurisdiction of
any of its appropriate courts for the adjudication of disputes arising out of this Agreement.
X. The representative with their signature affixed below asserts the authority to execute this
agreement on behalf of the Sponsor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the day and year first
above written.
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City Known As the Town Of Watertown
SPONSOR:
Signature:
Company/Organization
The City Known As the Town Of Watertown
Adopt An Island Program Application Form
Date:
Name:
Organization:
Phone Number:
Address:
Email:
Please review the list of available islands and fees and use the spaces below to identify which island you
would like to adopt. Applicant may rank three locations if desired.
What enhancements do you propose to make to this island?
Please provide the name, address and phone number of the proposed landscapers that will fulfill the
requirements of the program. If approved,the proposed landscaped will need to submit the required
insurance and bonding documents to the Department of Public Works located at 124 Orchard Street,
Watertown, MA 02472.
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What would you like written on the Adopt-an-Island sign (must be limited to name or business
organization)?
Please also fill out the agreement and attach it with your check, payable to the Town of Watertown, and
this form delivered to:
Watertown Department of Public Works
Attn:Adopt an Island Program
124 Orchard Street,
Watertown MA 02472
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