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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 Page 2 of 2 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. 1 • 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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 5