HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-22-2011 Public Works reportTown Council
Town of Watertown
Committee on Public Works, Meeting February 15, 2011
Report: February 22, 2011
The Committee met February 15th at 4 pm in the 3rd Floor Conference Room. Present were: Susan
Falkoff, Chair; Steve Corbett, Vice -chair; Vincent Piccirilli, Secretary; DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee;
DPW Clerk Mary Haley; Steven Magoon, Director of Community Development & Planning; Police Chief
Edward Deveau; Bicycle -Pedestrian Committee Chair Steve Engler; Councilor Cecilia Lenk and several
concerned citizens.
1. Snow Removal
Mr. Mee provided a general review of the Town's snow removal efforts in what has been a very difficult
winter so far. Since the first major storm on December 26th, we have had several additional major
storms and extremely frigid cold with no significant warming to melt snow between storms. Since the
rain on February 2nd the temperature has been mostly below freezing, turning the snow banks to ice
and making them immovable to snow plows. As a result, Watertown, like all communities in metro
Boston, has narrowed streets with high snow banks, and no place left for plows to push the snow. Mr.
Mee said the DPW is continuing to use loaders and dump trucks to haul snow away in dangerous areas
at intersections, schools, and heavy traffic areas. Mr. Mee noted that this is a very expensive process
and he expects the Town to incur a major snow removal deficit this year.
Councilor Falkoff asked what went well with the proposed changes to snow removal procedures this
year. Mr. Mee mentioned the pre-treatment of roads, holding off deploying contractors, not plowing to
black pavement everywhere, and better compliance with not piling snow at intersections in crosswalks.
In response to questions of what he would do differently, Mr. Mee said he would plow to the curb in the
December 26th storm, to allow additional space for future storms. But he warned that even doing so,
the roads would be narrowed with such a large volume of snow. This is because once the first snow
bank is frozen into place, plowing from additional storms pushes snow against it, not on top of it.
Councilor Falkoff questioned whether plowing to the curb would deposit too much snow on sidewalks
and make it too hard for residents to shovel, noting that forcing pedestrians to walk in the street is a
safety issue. Mr. Mee said it is a question of balance and judgment, and that he needs to use his
professional experience to make the decision what is in the community's best interest, based on how
the current storm is progressing, and also based on what is forecast for future weather.
Councilor Falkoff stated she was pleased with the level of cooperation between the Police, Fire, and
DPW. She asked about enforcement of un-shoveled business sidewalks, private operators plowing
snow onto streets and sidewalks, and cars parked blocking sidewalks. Councilor Corbett asked if the
police could walk the business districts to enforce blocked sidewalks. Chief Deveau said he does not
have enough manpower to deploy officers to look for problems, but the police normally respond to
complaints and people should notify the department if they see blocked sidewalks in commercial areas.
There was some discussion of residential sidewalk clearing and how this is handled in other
communities. Councilor Falkoff wondered if we should consider amending the sidewalk shoveling
ordinance to require owners of buildings with 4 or more residential units to shovel. Councilor Piccirilli
asked if we could require this as a condition of the special permit which is required for new
developments of more than four units.
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Committee on Public Works Report — February 22, 2011
2. Review of the role and procedures of the Traffic Commission
Councilor Falkoff questioned of the role of the Traffic Commission in reviewing new road projects,
particularly with regards to pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. She wondered if it would be
helpful to have a member of the Bicycle -Pedestrian Committee sit as a member of the Traffic
Commission.
Mr. Engler felt that the Bicycle -Pedestrian Committee was left out of the loop on all the road
construction projects occurring around town, especially now that the DPW liaison to their Committee
has retired and not been replaced.
Mr. Mee said that the current projects were designed a long time ago. For any newly designed road
projects, the DPW is seeking involvement of the Community Development & Planning Department and
the Bicycle -Pedestrian Committee. In addition, all new road projects will go to the Traffic Commission
so they can review and amend any traffic regulations as necessary.
Chief Deveau felt that seven members of the Traffic Commission was enough, and asked where to
draw the line, as other constituencies, such as the Commission on Disability may also request a
member at the table.
Councilor Piccirilli felt that the Bicycle -Pedestrian Committee can better fulfill its mandate by identifying
changes to improve pedestrian or bicycle safety in Town and bring proposals to the Traffic Commission
and advocate for the changes.
Several members of the audience requested that pedestrian issues and "Neighborhood Traffic
Management" be given a higher priority on the Traffic Commission. Mr. Mee said these issues need to
be incorporated into the design phase of projects, not brought up after the fact to the Traffic
Commission. Councilor Falkoff wondered if perhaps a member of the planning staff should be added to
the Traffic Commission instead.
Councilor Falkoff would like to amend section 6 of the ordinance 0-2001-15 to revise the Duties &
Responsibilities of the Traffic Commission to be more specific. She will suggest some draft language
and will seek a referral to the Rules and Ordinances Committee.
***
The next meeting will be February 22 at 4 PM to discuss Summer Street parking and have further
discussion on the Traffic Commission. The Mount Auburn Street study will be discussed at an
additional meeting, on March 7 at 7:30 PM.
The meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm.
Report prepared by: Vincent Piccirilli
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