HomeMy Public PortalAbout20090204 - Department of Public Works - Meeting MinutesTown of Hopkinton
Department of Public Works
Public Works Board Meeting
February 4, 2009
Approved
The meeting was held in Room 211 at the town hall at 2:00 PM. Present were DPW
Board members Dan McIntyre, Jim Pyne and Kevin Kohrt, DPW Director J.T. Gaucher,
DPW Administrative Manager Bruce Prentiss, Water/Sewer Manager Eric Carty,
Highway Manager Mike Mansir, Ed Wirtanen (Board of Health), and town residents
Mary Pratt, Nancy Peters, and Ken Weismantel.
TOWN MEETING ARTICLES
Mr. Gaucher reviewed the proposed town meeting articles for the annual town meeting
scheduled for May 2009. The first few articles were standard operating articles for the
water and sewer divisions.
There was discussion regarding the articles for vehicle replacement. The two vehicles
that the highway division is looking to replace were both rejected at last year’s town
meeting. Mr. McIntyre questioned whether or not any money could be saved if the town
bid the vehicles instead of using the state bid. Mr. Kohrt asked how the ten year vehicle
replacement plan would be impacted if the vehicle articles are rejected again this year.
Mr. Gaucher stated that as other vehicles become due for replacement and the prior
year’s vehicles are still needing replacement there will come a time when multiple
vehicles will have to be replaced the same year. This has happened in the past and the ten
year replacement plan was developed to keep it from happening again.
Articles related to the purchase of the Quitt Property on Wood Street will be addressed in
more detail next week after the board receives a response from the Quitt family regarding
the board’s offer to purchase.
There was discussion regarding the article for the board to have sole control over the
department of public works and the appointing of a director. Mr. Kohrt stated he feels the
director should report to the town manager, but the other board members disagree. Mr.
McIntyre said the town manager should coordinate all town department heads to work
together but should not be the public works director’s day to day supervisor. Instead the
public works department should operate similar to the way the Planning Board, Board of
Health and School Department operate. The intent of the town meeting article is to
incorporate the public works board into the charter, the same as the other boards are
included.
MILFORD SEWER CONNECTION
Mr. Gaucher advised the board that Beals & Thomas has submitted an estimate of
$48,500 for preparation of the interbasin transfer application to be submitted to the state
department of conservation and recreation. Mr. McIntyre said that the town will be
receiving a gift of money from Lonza Corp and the owner of the Lonza property that will
be used to pay a portion of the application fee. The board directed Mr. Gaucher to move
forward with Beals & Thomas.
QUITT PROPERTY
Mr. Gaucher advised the board that town counsel reviewed the offer to purchase and
returned it with some wording changes. Mr. Pyne said the offer has been given to the real
estate agent and will be forwarded to the Quitt family this week. The deadline for a
response from the Quitt family is February 10th. Mr. McIntyre said that town counsel
advised the board that if the offer is accepted the town should follow the eminent domain
guidelines to complete the purchase for the agreed price.
DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
Mr. Gaucher advised the board that there is a meeting Monday evening with Capital
Improvement Committee to discuss the projects that have been submitted as part of the
federal stimulus package.
The new traffic signal at the intersection of Route 135 and Route 85 is close to going out
to bid. There was a meeting this week with Boulder Capital and the engineering
companies to narrow down the specifications.
Mr. Gaucher advised the board that the town is looking for the sewer division to pay back
a portion of the loan from the general fund in fiscal 2010. Mr. Carty said that the
Abrahams Group is working on the financial status of paying back the money in fiscal
2010 and the results are not known yet.
PLANNING BOARD REQUESTS
Mr. Weismantel advised the board that the Planning Board would like to meet with the
board to get some guidance as to whether or not water mains should be a requirement of
future sub-division projects. He said that if the two boards could have a joint meeting to
review or establish a policy it would be helpful to the Planning Board.
Mr. Weismantel also mentioned that he has suggested to the Planning Board that the
sewer treatment plant proposed by Boulder Capital for their development should be
interconnected to the town’s sewer system to afford flexibility for both Boulder and the
town, looking to the future.
Mr. McIntyre suggested that the board should ask Boulder to attend a workshop meeting
to discuss the idea prior to the planning board taking up the issue. The board asked Mr.
Weismantel if he would coordinate setting up a meeting with the necessary parties.
The board asked Mr. Gaucher to speak to the planning director to set up a water main
policy meeting.
This meeting was adjourned at 3:24 PM.