Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017-04-24_Cemetery_CommunityPath Town Council Town of Watertown Committee on Public Works, Meeting April 24, 2017 REPORT: May 9, 2017 The Committee met at 6 pm in the third floor Conference Room. Present were Committee members Aaron Dushku (Chair), Anthony Palomba (Vice-chair) Susan Falkoff(Secretary),Town Council President Mark Sideris, Councilors Kounelis and Woodland,Asst Town Manager Stephen Magoon, Public Works Staff Gerry Mee, Dennis Sheehan and Matt Shuman,Treasurer Nancy Heffernan and members of the public who are listed on the attached sign-in sheets (Attachment A). I. RIDGELAWN CEMETERY Councilor Dushku introduced the topic of Ridgelawn Cemetery improvements by stating that above-ground crypts are off the table. Superintendent Mee said that the above-ground crypts idea had been proposed by a consultant and DPW is no longer pursuing them. Money is allocated each year for improvements to the cemetery and to date some roads have been removed to create more burial space and additional space has also been identified in underutilized areas. He provided a map that shows the removals and other potential improvements for consideration (Attachment B).The improvement account currently has $230,000.The cemetery sees around 100 burials per year. Improvements could include increased space for cremation burials. Neighbors from Highland Avenue and Longfellow Road pointed out problems with the cemetery including illegal dumping, excessive truck traffic, dead trees, crumbling headwall, a large loam pile that is not secured causing dirt in the air, and poor drainage that may contribute to basement flooding. They feel that DPW is using the area for purposes unrelated to its cemetery mission. DPW replied that most operations are related to the cemetery use but due to lack of space at other facilities, materials are also stored at the cemetery. Superintendent Mee asked the committee for approval to hire a consultant to develop a Property Management Plan. It became clear to the committee that there are also short-term issues in urgent need of correction. The committee made 3 motions: 1. Ask the PW Department to address the following issues and report back to the committee in two months: • PVC pipe storage • 24-hour dumping • trucks at all hours • unsecured loam pile • cleanup of tree and wall debris • drainage/standing water • dead and dying trees 2. Ask the Council to approve hiring a consultant to develop a Property Management Plan that will assess how to best utilize the property and specifically address: • drainage • landscaping and additional tree planting • whether a garage is needed and how it would be used • creating new burial areas • fence replacement • grading • boundary survey • repairing/rehabilitating the headwall along Highland Avenue Page 1 of 2 3. Ask the Council to make a referral to the Economic Development Committee to explore ways for DPW to get the staging area it needs for the town's ongoing infrastructure improvement and maintenance projects. II. UPDATES ON OTHER ISSUES 1. Community Path • $325,000 is in the FY18 CIP for new parking meter technology. • Demolition of the house on Winter Street needs to be approved by the Historic Commission and the committee asked Mr. Magoon to get it on that agenda ASAP so creating the path can proceed. • DPW thinks that in addition to the requisite civil engineering capabilities to design the path, a firm should be sought out that also possesses the knowledge of Parking Demand Management to plan for the optimal benefits from deployment of new parking meter technology. DPW has some such firms in mind. The Town Treasurer and Planning Director were in agreement. 2. Progress toward creating a work order tracking system. Upgrades are in process that will connect tracking to the current PeopleGIS system. As part of the town website upgrade,there will be a system where any request from a resident will get a ticket number that will help with follow up. Councilor Dushku likes including a function that allows the public to see past/pending requests from other residents as well. The committee will schedule a follow up meeting in two months to address the issues at Ridgelawn Cemetery. District Councilor Woodland will be sure that everyone who attended today's meeting will be notified of the date. Respectfully submitted by Susan Falkoff, Secretary and with edits by Aaron Dushku, Chair. Attachment A: Meeting sign-in sheets Attachment B: Map used in DPW presentation. Page 2 of 2 F—g-Z�71- ov, > avid Aker 3� Ldwrev�ce S1: Z ( cdvid • r}ak s @ (a, --- ri �M���.Q,✓ 2�f7 DH;" �.�. A-ve_ �AA kj U ,� � MAL -7 .1/A mvvif Wvi a 7/ G©, /,,j _ --- - :- 5g-pkcw,L v-`,0vl A �rA�411,Ltd Possible fence replacement Future burials Requires drainage and grading Road Removals Loam storage Proposed «, landscape improvements K Area of high - - - - groundwater Ledge removed , Road removal '; Possible additional burial area if trees removed ' ; INN- Possible entrance y, enhancement Potential cremation • T - - - ►and beautification burial area Fence replacement and ` K . , column removal (underway) _ Storage/grave fill Possible garage , • E qW location i = 26 r _ Ridgelawn Cemetery 0 50 100 200eet