PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2006

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 7:00 p.m.

Adjourned: 9:45 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairperson Councilor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

                             Councilor Philip P. Palmieri

                             Councilor Joffrey A. Smith

                             Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey @ 7:40 p.m.

 

Also:                    DPWP Commissioner Robert L. Moylan, Jr.

                             DPWP Staff Matthew Labovites

                             DPWP Staff Paul Moosey

                             DPWP Staff David Martin

                             City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

HEARING - TO MAKE A STREET PUBLIC

 

FIRST HEARING        FAVORED       OPPOSED       ABUTTERS

 

1. Lake View Street         2                           5                           10

Recommend Hold for a 2nd Hearing

 

HEARING - DISCONTINUANCE OF A PUBLIC STREET

 

2.       Report of the Planning Board Upon the Petition of P. Kevin Condron request to discontinue as a public way and remove from the Official Map East Worcester Street from the intersection of the westerly line of the South Hill Street with the northerly line of East Worcester Street to Shrewsbury Street.

          #117a CC June 20, 2006

Recommend Approval

Attorney Todd Rodman appeared and spoke in behalf of petitioner, who was also in attendance.

 

3.       Communication of the City Manager recommending City Council to approve the discontinuance of the abandoned portion of East Worcester Street.

          #6A CM June 20, 2006

Recommend File

 

STREET MISCELLANEOUS 

 

4.       Petition of Gina Greenleaf et al request the City of Worcester relocate/alter the terminus of Russell Calvin Dr. so that Russell Calvin Dr. and Taj Dr. become a dead end and that traffic does not pass between these two streets.

          #59 CC November 1, 2005          

In Committee November 29, 2005 – Held

In Committee March 1, 2006 – Held

In Committee May 17, 2006 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

Proposed Chairman’s Order request Taj Drive be made a one-way street from Russell Calvin Drive to Oriental Street.

Recommend Hold until legal opinion of City Solicitor is received

 

(@ 5:30 p.m., the Committee took a VIEW of the area of Russell Calvin Drive and Taj Drive.)

 

Speakers:

Several residents and property owners questioned the Committee concerning the process that will be followed in considering other options to control either the speed and/or volume of traffic entering and exiting the Winter Heights subdivision and Russell Calvin Drive.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to request the City Solicitor to provide the City Council with a legal opinion whether or not Taj Drive may be converted to a one-way street, taking into consideration any and all conditions connected with the sub-division approval and/or Registry of Deed filings.

 

EASEMENT

 

4a.     Petition of Attorney Robert Longden on behalf of Antanavica Construction Company, Inc. request to accept an easement for a turn-around for fire & emergency vehicles on Willvail St.

          #15 CC March 1, 2005

Recommend Approval

 

ITEMS RELATIVE TO OCTOBER 2005 FLOODING

 

5.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting a report providing the status of relief/assistance efforts for the residents of the city in the aftermath of the recent rainstorms.

          #34B CM October 25, 2005

          In Committee December 12, 2005 – Held

          In Committee February 1, 2006 – Held

Recommend File

 

6.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Dunkirk Avenue Pump Station.

          #12G CM November 15, 2005

          In Committee December 12, 2005 – Held

          In Committee February 1, 2006 - Held

Recommend File

 

7.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the effort to provide the City Council and the residents of the City of Worcester with some insight into the city’s request for disaster assistance – and from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

          #34D CM November 15, 2005

          In Committee December 12, 2005 – Held

          In Committee February 1, 2006 - Held

Recommend File

 

8.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency declaration of a Major Disaster for Worcester County.

          #34E CM November 15, 2005

          In Committee December 12, 2005 – Held

          In Committee February 1, 2006 - Held

Recommend File

 

9.       Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication relative to a Backflow Prevention Grant Program, in which the City will fund the full costs of installing backflow prevention devices in properties in areas prone to sewer system surcharges.

          #37 CC January 24, 2006

In Committee February 1, 2006 – Held
Recommend File

 

10.     Communication of the City Manager relative to the scope of services for sewer system evaluation in the Dunkirk Avenue neighborhood.

          #11A CM February 14, 2006

Recommend File

 

11.     Communication of the City Manager relative to special legislation authorizing payment by the City to property owners whose homes or businesses were flooded with sewage during the rain event of October15, 2005.

          #26B CM April 25, 2006

Recommend File

 

12.     Communication of the City Manager transmitting informational communication and the final report prepared by the independent consultants, Stearns and Wheeler, with the results of their evaluation of the Dunkirk Avenue pumping station.

          #5A CM June 20, 2006

Recommend Hold

 

13.     Petition of Michael Troiano request upgrade of Dunkirk Ave. pumping station and removal of grid at the end of the pipe at Broad Meadow Brook and placed 150 yards from mouth of the pipe. This is causing a back flow of water pressure to the pumping station.

          #9 CC January 24, 2006

Recommend File

 

William R. Hall Jr. and Sarah Swidler of the Stearns & Wheler, LLC, consultants, of Hyannis, MA, appeared and spoke concerning their June, 2006 investigation and findings concerning the October, 2005 rain event.

 

Speakers:

1.     Walter Wyse, 31 Greenfield Street, Worcester

2.     Cathy Arcure, 55 Greenfield Street, Worcester

3.     Michael Gremo, 34 Greenfield Street, Worcester

4.     David Everett, formerly 65 Dunkirk Avenue, Worcester

5.     Dennis Kelly, 47 Greenfield Street, Worcester

6.     John Raskett, 20 Brightwood Avenue, Worcester

7.     State Representative John Fresolo, 25 Dolly Drive, Worcester

8.     Richard Ferraro, 5 Brightwood Avenue, Worcester

 

Chairman’s Orders:

1.     Request the City Manager to cause a review of the Department of Public Works and Parks back flow valve program with an eye towards having the City of Worcester assume a higher percentage of the cost of the installations.

2.     Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report stating whether the City of Worcester has received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a result of the October, 2005 rain event, and, if so, in what amounts, and further, report towards what type of corrective action have these funds been applied.

3.     Request the City Manager provide the City Council with a report detailing what cities and towns across the Commonwealth have paid damages as a result of sewage back-up into private properties.

4.     Request the City Manager provide the City Council with responses to the questions that remain unanswered from the attached December 12, 2005 listing.

5.     Request the City Manager request the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to report to the City Council concerning flow metering, the sealing of clay pipes and the investigating of the system as a part of his review of the inflow and infiltration program.

6.      Request the City Manager provide the City Council with the total of the number of claims filed and the dollar amount these claims represent as a result of the October, 2005 rain event.

7.     Request the City Manager provide the City Council with the total number of FEMA claims filed and the number of approved claims and respective dollar amounts paid to Worcester property owners as a result of the October, 2005 rain event.

8.     Request the City Manager to request the members of the Worcester delegation to the Great and General Court request a legal opinion be issued by State House legal department concerning the issue whether it is appropriate for a municipality to file Special Legislation to allow the municipality to pay for damages to private property owners as a result of a rain event such as occurred in Worcester in October, 2005. (Please provide State Representative John Fresolo with an attested copy of this Chairman’s Order, once voted in City Council, and attached thereto a copy of the opinion of the City Solicitor transmitted by the City Manager to City Council as item # 26B CM of April 25, 2006.)

 

Chairman’s Resolution that the City Council of the City of Worcester goes on record in favor of efforts to provide relief via special state legislation to the property owners in Worcester who were adversely impacted by the rain event of October, 2005 and further, that the City Council goes on record in favor of providing a financial match to said state funding resolution, if approved. (Please provide State Representative John Fresolo with an attested copy of this Chairman’s Resolution, once approved in City Council.)

 

DISCUSSION ITEM

 

14. Concerning the funding of unpaved sidewalk areas in main thoroughfares.

Recommend Hold

Chairman’s Order that the City Manager request the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and Parks to identify and then survey the major arteries across the City with an eye towards identifying those areas where sidewalks do not exist and might be installed for the general public convenience and safety.