HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-28-2011 Public Works reportTown Council
Town of Watertown
Committee on Public Works, Meeting June 8, 2011
Report: June 28, 2011
The Committee met June 8th at 11:00 am in the Council Chambers. Present were: Susan Falkoff,
Chair; Steve Corbett, Vice -chair; Vincent Piccirilli, Secretary; DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee; DPW
Clerk Mary Haley; James Fitzpatrick from WorldTech Engineering; Steven Magoon, Director of
Community Development & Planning; Phyllis Marshall, Treasurer/Collector; and Sgt. Joseph Deignan,
Traffic Division. Also present were business owners Nick Timperio and Mike Manzelli.
1. Summer St Parking
As a follow-up to the meeting on February 22nd, Mr. Mee and Mr. Fitzpatrick presented conceptual
designs to restore parking on Summer St between Spring St and Church St. They presented two
options that would each add four parking spaces. The first option did not seem practical but the second
option would provide four parking spaces in an indented area along the south side of Summer St
between Church St and the bank driveway by removing and resetting the curb and eliminating a
segment of grass strip. This project will cost approximately $10,000 and can be funded through existing
DPW capital funds.
In addition to these four spaces, Mr. Mee plans to create three additional spaces as part of an
agreement with MassDOT. The MassDOT contractor installed asphalt on Summer St that does not
meet the compressive strength required and therefore will be replacing the top asphalt layer his
expense. Mr. Mee negotiated with MassDOT to shift the centerline north in the area of Dana Terrace
to allow for three additional parking spaces east of the bank driveway when this work is done.
Mr. Mee, Mr. Magoon and Sgt. Deignan all agreed that this plan to create seven parking spaces makes
sense. The Committee, after further discussion, voted unanimously to endorse this plan.
There was further discussion about adding parking meters for these seven new spaces as well as the
three existing parking spaces on the north side between Mt. Auburn St and Spring St. This area falls
within the central business district, and there are meters just around the corner on Mt. Auburn St. Sgt.
Deignan thinks that installing meters will make enforcement of two hour parking easier. The Committee
voted unanimously to recommend to the Traffic Commission that two-hour parking meters be installed
at all legal parking spaces on Summer St between Church St and Mt. Auburn St.
Mr. Mee stated that Mr. Fitzpatrick's analysis pointed out that the intersection of Summer St & Church
St has an insufficient turning radius and is not in compliance with highway safety standards. He will add
reconstruction of this intersection to a priority list for the Capital Improvement Program.
2. Other Road Project Updates
Waverley Av between Main St and Orchard St will undergo full -depth reconstruction this summer after
work is done to replace water mains and reline the sewer pipe. Non -conforming driveway openings will
be identified to be resolved by the zoning enforcement officer. A Traffic Commission hearing will be
held to present traffic control changes prior to construction.
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Committee on Public Works Report — June 28, 2011
The Orchard/Waverley intersection reconstruction, which will extend down Waverley to Bradshaw St,
will also include a conduit for new school zone signals to the Marion Rd intersection. Carroll St will be
the second street undergoing full depth reconstruction this summer after the water main and gas main
replacement. Next year, Lexington St, Hillcrest Rd, and Irma Ave, which are currently having water
mains replaced and/or sewer work performed, will undergo the same process for full -depth
reconstruction.
2. Single Stream Recycling Update
The request for proposal for the new trash and recycling collection contract is out to bid. Mr. Mee
explained that the successful bidder will be required to provide each household a wheeled 64 gallon
toter for trash and another one for single -stream recycling.
Mr. Corbett said that he supports single -stream recycling but is concerned there are policy issues that
should have public discussion and guidance from the Town Council before implementation. Ms.
Marshall said it is unlikely that that Town will have a new contract in place before the existing contract
expires on June 30, 2011, and said the Town needs to seek an extension to the existing contract for
perhaps 3 months.
Mr. Piccirilli would like the Town Council to provide guidance to the DPW on how the Town will handle
excess trash which will not fit into the toter and the location and management of the recycling center.
The next meeting will be June 29th at 11:00 am to discuss the trash contract and road projects.
The meeting adjourned at 12:35 pm.
Report prepared by: Vincent Piccirilli
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