Board of Public Works Meeting - June 4, 2026

Uh, I'd like to open a jour uh open the meeting for the Dartmouth Board of Public Works uh June 4th, 2026.

This meeting is being uh recorded. Uh it's being held virtually, so I'd like to have a roll call of members present.

Mr. Gier, present.

Uh the chair Almy is present. So we have a quorum.

Rob, I think your cell phone is still on because I hear the feedback coming through.

I was going to say it might be Tim's phone on speaker phone or something.

Yeah.

Okay, now it's good.

And I just turned I just turned mine off.

Okay, got it.

Okay. Uh, first order of business on our agenda is to approve and accept warrants for the bills for bills payable April 11, 25, May 2nd, 9th, 23rd, and May 30th.

Do I make a motion?

I make a motion that we approve the warrant for bills payable for April 11th, April 25th, May the 2nd, May the 9th, May the 23rd, and May the 30th. I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chair seconds. All in favor? Mr. Gier?

Yes.

Mr. Gier votes yes. The chair votes yes.

Next item is approve and accept payrolls for weeks ending May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and May 30th.

I make a motion we approve and accept the payroll for the weeks ending May the 2nd, May the 9th, May the 16th, May the 23rd, and May the 30th.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. Uh, the chair seconds. Uh, Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Uh, Mr. Gier, votes yes. Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh, next item is approve and accept meeting minutes for January 22nd. Um, Mr. Gier, do you have any uh comments?

No, I've looked at them. Uh, good job with them. I approve and I make a motion to approve and accept the meeting minutes of January the 22nd 2026.

Um I have a couple of clarifications if I might. On the um top of the second page uh where it talks about operating budget uh I'd like to substit in that first line where it says finance committee and generally received. Um, I'd like to substitute the word was for generally.

And then, uh, on page four, two, uh, twothirds of the way down, there's a motion for licensed utility later. And I think the second uh, to avoid a double negative there, I'd like to change the wording.

um board for a roll call to approve license utility layer application and then the um action no becomes more clear if I could do that Tim.

Yes.

Mr. G, can I ask you to amend your motion? I would make a motion to amend the mo the main motion regarding the minutes of January the 26, 2026 to reflect the additions and deletions and modifications as so noted by the chairman Rob Albby.

Uh I have a a motion by Mr. Gier. Chair second the motion. Uh all in favor I chair votes I. Uh minutes are approved.

Um, next item is old business operational study.

We don't have any updates on an operational study at this time.

Tim, do they have they have they posted and have they received applications for the position of business manager for public works department?

Yeah, we posted received the applications. We've interviewed and we've offered the position uh to uh an applicant who is who has accepted the [clears throat] position and is scheduled to start later this month.

Oh, that's excellent. Great.

I think I think an opportunity one one of the things I think would be very beneficial especially for that person to come up to speed and for interaction with the board of public works is we would have that person joining our meetings. Um you learn a lot with these meetings and certainly it helps to get them acclimated. Thank you.

Absolutely.

Okay. Any other questions about item A?

Hearing none, uh [clears throat] we'll move on to storm storm debris planning.

At this time, we at this time we do not have any updates on storm debris planning, but we we'll be working uh again getting back to our meetings with with the district on on their storm debris and updating ours as well.

Tim, I understood you had a meeting with emergency services some time ago. Um we did.

Did you have a chance to uh raise this issue?

Yes, we actually we did. We had a um we did had a tabletop exercise with where this was also discussed and uh and we had a meeting uh scheduled uh with emergency services and and the district uh but the meeting was was cancelled due due the scheduling. So we're we'll be working on rescheduling that meeting.

I I think one one comment I have Mr.

chairman is as recently as this morning I read the uh youth study for the Aonigans Park and the Arthur Das landing and I was somewhat amazed uh but I know it's factually correct is that they were saying that the bathrooms in the bucket at those location uh are going to have to be raised 23 F feet to be above the projected sea level rise and um the actual uh height that's calculated on the hurricane 38. You

would ask well what's the relevance of this to this issue? I think the relevance is that certainly we're going to have to look at some multiple debris collection uh procedures and locations.

Um, you know, as time as time goes on, you're going to see not just damage where you're going to have to collect limbs and trees and things like that, you're going to be looking at uh potentially not tomorrow, maybe not in the next 10 years, but you're down the road for proper planning, you're going to be looking at some severe uh structural damage and similar to what they experienced on the the Gulf Coast of Texas.

I agree, Tim. Um, if [clears throat] you keep this on the agenda and try and keep this in the forefront of emergency planning. Um, absolutely.

I I don't mean to be a nervous Nelly, but it it seems only prudent that we uh we really think about this. Um, so thank you. Any [clears throat] other item uh questions on this item?

No, Mr. Shannon.

Okay. Uh item C, approval 38, Bliss Street disturbance amendment. Tim, so the board had previously approved road disturbance uh of Hemlock Street at a previous meeting in uh August of 2025.

Um it's the [clears throat] the plan was at that time to for this property to disturb Hemlock Street to remove curbing and install a new driveway apron and uh and and new uh sloped curving for a 26 foot wide uh driveway apron for an ADU accessory dwelling unit. Uh the applicant has revised the site plan and the location of the driveway apron from Hemlock Street to Bliss Street and has

also reduced the width uh from 26 feet to 20 foot wide driveway apron so would have a less of an impact on the uh on the roadway. Um Hemlock Street is currently on the moratorium until 2034.

Um and Bliss Street is currently under moratorum till 2031.

Um with that with the M with the we had an error here as the applicant for this budget.

Mr. Chairman, I would make the motion that we accept the amendment uh in exchange for the earlier approval we gave for the uh entrance on Buck Street.

It seems to me after looking at the engineered design and everything that it's an equal swap.

I have a motion to approve by Mr. Gier.

Chair moves approval. Um before we vote, Tim, I've got a a question. Um what sort of traffic is on Bliss Street as compared to Hemlock? I'm just wondering if the hemlock um entrance would be safer.

I think they're pretty similar.

Okay, that you know I don't live in that part of town so I don't have a sense of um whether this makes a difference from a safety standpoint. Um right. So, so Hemlock, you know, runs, you know, kind of east to west and and I mean north to south and and Bliss runs east to west. Um, Bliss runs off of Dot Street uh which, you know, pro probably has a bit more traffic uh between D

Street and Cove Road where uh where Hemlock runs, you know, from List Street u norally, you know, till it's Rosdale out. Um, so they might it might have a bit more uh traffic as a cut route, but I think in that area, you know, Cole Road is is the higher traveled area road to get to get to Cole. Okay. Towards Rockdale.

All right. With that, I have no other questions. I see uh the applicant's agent is here.

Do you have a question for us?

No.

Good morning, Leazier. Uh, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Uh, I was just going to point out the bigger the big difference is also the uh, hemlock street is raised.

So, they would have to actually raise the structure about 3 and 1 half to 4 ft and the parking would just be the small area in front of the garage. That would be only off streetet parking. That's why and on the Bliss Street side, they're able to put a narrower driveway and and provide some off- streetet parking uh so that they can get the cars off the road during storms and the structure will be

a lot less uh intrusive to the neighborhood. Plus, they have um a row of arrivites on the hemlock side that's probably 16 ft tall that they're going to have to cut about um probably 30 ft.

And this way they'll be able to leave the that green uh line of of mature arborvades in place. So to make to make the whole thing less intrusive to the neighbors and and yeah traffic wise uh I'm actually helping a friend out on this and the times I've been there there's always it seems to be always very limited traffic on u on Bliss Street.

Okay. Thank you very much for that. I think that that helps me a lot. Um, we have a motion and a second. Um, Mr.

Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Mr. Gier votes yes. Uh, the chair votes yes. Uh, the item is approved. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the next item, could I ask that we take out of order uh the discussion of the flow and loading study before take up agenda item D? um because I think there's some issues in that particular study that are applicable to uh some of the issues we're going to look at in item D.

Uh with that um Mr. Barber uh we'll take up item E discussion flow and loading study.

So this the study report in your packet was submitted on Tuesday uh and immediately placed in your packet uh for review for this meeting. Uh it's noted that there is some sufficient data uh significant data from this report that is missing uh for the the Sherbrook and the Hawthon uh 40B projects for their flows. So, you know, I I spoke with Mike about this as well, and I I uh commented on this report to

Stan uh for revision of the report to include those flows. But not only those flows, but there are two additional projects on state road uh which is a non40B project, one 55 15 unit and a 56 unit market rate project that I also would like included. And we we had just recently um approved uh one of those uh contracts with Stantech to evaluate and the the other project is on the agenda

for today's uh board meeting to uh approve the uh agreement uh to move forward with that evaluation as well.

Mr. Gier, any comments?

Yes, I'm glad that Tim made that clarification. Um I I I would say the methodology and the means and the evaluation procedures that Stantech used I thought were very good. Um I thought it provided a lot of valuable information and I think somewhat the ironic thing is with the items that Tim has identified as missing. Um there are some red flags that are coming up even in that what I would consider their

preliminary draft report. And I very interested to see when the uh other units as Tim has identified are added in. I think one of the things we have to do because of the timing on some of these items that are in uh old business item D that we got to ask Fantech to put an ultra expedited procedure on this because I again I think what we have been trying to do is get this technical

data in front of um the zoning board of appeals. So it's a factor in the decision. So, um I am stressing that uh but by all means if we can get Stantech to add these uh locations and the number of units in and get this information in a timely manner to the zoning board of appeals, I think it's absolutely critical. I would not want to see the zoning board of appeals making decisions

without this information factored in.

I would add I would add that um I have heard and I believe our DPW has heard uh from various sources that the Delano Apartments are going to add a second building in demolishing that Dollar General or whatever the name of that store is and uh putting in a second unit there. Uh again, I think if we have that information, we should get it clarified from Claremont Corporation as to how

many units they plan and we should have that factored in. Um if you listen or participated at town meeting, you heard the comments that were made by Fred Dabney. Um, and I thought he made a very good point that he felt that it was critical that both the uh town's master plan and the sewer capacity plan be in consideration for um increase in residential units and I think we have a

responsibility on our end um to uh in fact make sure that the data to the decision makers gets to them in a timely manner. I know I've gone a bit on with this thing, but I think it's one of those things that is uh potentially a gamecher and I'm really concerned and we're going to hopefully put this on the agenda at a later date is my opinion is we have to look at with our consultants

who are doing the CWMP what should be the rate for commercial residential development versus single family home or two family home residential units. As far as water and sewer rates, um I don't have the exact number, but I think we're looking at a dramatic percentage increase in the number of sewer users. And I I categorize commercial residential units as very similar to industrial and

commercial use. It's different than residential.

Thank you, Tim. I agree. And I um [clears throat] as I went through the the meeting minutes for a prior meeting, I noticed that the uh uh town administrator and collector were thinking about coming in and talking about rates with us. Um I think we should have that discussion at our next meeting and seriously consider adjusting our rate structure uh as Mr.

Gier has suggested. Um I also think uh when you do the upgrade updated flow and loading study uh I think there's enough data that's being collected to project when or yeah when uh from a volutric or loading perspective we need to consider seriously uh a moratorum.

Uh we're there now and with as many projects as were not included in that draft study, uh I think it's pretty clear that we would have the basis for declaring a moratorum.

um whether we do that ahead and it's um it's one of those things we we tell the community what's going on and give them a heads up or whether the state comes in and tells us um probably doesn't matter a whole lot, but I I'm very very much in favor of of telling the community what's going on and try and give them a sense of what we're doing and what the

community is facing in in terms of constraints of these public services.

Okay.

Again, I think I realize that the uh the numbers as you if you look at them, they seem to be all over the place, but you can uh use certain statistical techniques to project um using some kind of a moving average or other techniques to give us an idea of when we would hit 80%. Or more. And it's the or more that I'm really worried about. So, okay, with

that, I'll be quiet. Um, I just have one one other comment. I think one of the factors, and I know it's hard to determine, but we do have some data on is the number of homes in Dartmouth that have municipal sewer that goes by them that are not hooked in. I uh saw a data sheet from the Buzzers Bay Coalition. As you know, they're doing a very intensive project in the Buttonwood Brook Whed for

uh elimination of septic systems that potentially are interacting with wetlands or the Burke itself. And that list alone just in that section over on the south and southeast side of Dartmouth, there's 140 units in that area that are not hooked in. And um I I think this issue as Rob is identifying is coming up a lot faster and a lot quicker. And I'd be very concerned we get to a point where um and I've said

this in the past is that people that have paid better for 20 years on their tax bill on their tax bill uh each year get to the point where we're at capacity. We haven't done an improvement to the plant and they can't tie in.

That's going to be a very interesting chapter when that happens. Thank you.

Okay. Uh Tim, what do you want us to do with this flow and loading study? Uh you'll bring it back to us.

I will. Uh we will we'll have it'll be revised. We'll work with Stantech to expedite it and bring it back to our next meeting. If we if we get a revised version, uh once I review it, I I may also put it up on on the uh portal for the 40 project so the zoning board can review it as well.

Yeah, I noticed the uh zoning board's got a uh decision final hearing on Sherbrook coming up.

Yes, that's scheduled for June 8th. So, yeah, which is Monday.

Monday. Yep. Is there any chance that you can get them revised data uh in a in any kind of timely manner so they can take a look at it so that it's on the record?

I will work.

Okay. Um with tech to see if we can get that is that meeting a um to close public comment or is it uh to adopt conditions?

It's to close public comment.

Okay. You might ask the uh town's legal council um what what how the a how this report can be used.

Um okay. Anything else on this? Yeah, I I believe there'll also be uh conditions discussed at the meeting as well.

Okay.

I I think on we're sort of going to item A under B. Um but I think in reading in our packets the Stantech peerreview report uh specifically on the wastewater um has some very significant unanswered questions because of the lack of data that the applicant has submitted on their contribution to the system and how they plan on dealing with it. you're dealing with uh two lift stations that

are small gorm type stations. They're not full wet well stations. One on Dwayne Avenue and one on um Junior Street off of Lucy Little and Alden Avenue. Those systems there are what they call LPS systems. Um, and that's a force line that goes from the three two that I mentioned and from the Cedars uh up on Westport Road. And you can see in the Stantech report that they raise the spectre just on the information they

have that there's going to be some issues and problems there. Um, to me, the hearing shouldn't be closed. The hearing should be kept open to provide the applicant adequate time to answer and provide the data that Stantech needs to analyze on behalf of the town so we know what in fact we're allowing. Um I I think a request should be made for the hearing to be kept open. Uh I don't see

that things are complete enough to close the hearing. That's my opinion.

I agree.

And Tim, uh, to the extent that the applicant's trying to pitch a fast ball here, um, at some point, I I don't know the right answer here, but in a in a more rational world, these projects would not be allowed to move forward uh to a decision until the applicant had provided complete information and uh, the town had had a chance to look at it.

And for some reason, these projects feel like they're being pushed through without um without concern to a full and fair evaluation of what the project implications are. And that's wrong. So, I I'll leave it at that.

I I could say a few other words, but I I won't. We've we've expressed our concerns to the zoning board, the special counsel, and to the applicants.

Um, and you know, it seems like most of these applicants uh state that and you know, the 40B regulations don't require them to design uh full full plan for for site plans and utilities and until post approval. I'm not sure that's 100% correct, but you know, it's probably up for interpretation.

So, we have requested additional design and um if if not submitted, special counsel will take that in in place that into the conditions to be required and as well as additional peerreview funding. Uh so if if the project is approved by the zoning board of appeals, um it's not approved for for sewer and water connect until we have until we have a full review and evaluation and can can uh can confirm

that there's available capacity.

Jim, I think I think the comments that you, Rob, and I have made, if they could be summarized, I always believe in putting things in writing [clears throat] and I I know it's uh you've got plenty to do with some of the grants you're working on, but maybe if you could have Sandy or somebody put a letter together. Um I I certainly would like to sign the letter. Um, and Rob,

I'm sure you wouldn't want to sign it, but I think getting it on the record, uh, I think is extremely important and show it as an attachment. The, uh, peerreview comments from Stantech for this particular project that in case they close the issue on Monday, we have those on the record. Um, and it shows the concerns we have and um, I just don't think it would hurt to have that in there.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Yes, we'll work on that. We'll get that uploaded.

Tim, I would offer to uh attend Monday's meeting except um I have a long planned uh family get together that week and so Monday I Monday through the following Monday. Um we will be busy with family.

So okay, anything else on uh Sherbrook?

[snorts] Uh Tim, uh you want to finish the uh 40B projects item? Sure. At the zoning board hearing, uh May 21st, the zoning board voted to approve the 40B project with uh multiple pages of conditions. Um so, uh if the board doesn't have those conditions, I can I can forward them to the board. uh and they include they include you know sewer and water uh conditions and comments as well as many other conditions

for the site.

Tim, did the uh the zoning board include um a requirement to have a geote technical engineer or engineering geologist look at uh some of the things like slope stability and uh the integrity of pipelines that go downhill.

So that was in my comments. Um I don't not sure if they put it in as a condition of a requirement.

Okay. Well, we if if you'd forward those conditions, I can look at it myself.

Absolutely.

Okay.

There was concerns with with requiring that because it is not required.

Um but but it was it was definitely reported as a concern multiple times in in public session as well as to special counsel any applicants.

Right. Um Mr. Gier, any other questions on Hawthorne?

No, Mr. Chairman.

Uh next item, Tim is Hathaway. Uh at a at the same hearing on May 21st, the zoning board [clears throat] uh discussed the halfway project did briefly discuss sewer and water peer review uh and offer impact analysis. Um I've been working with the developer to move this forward to and we requested the funding for the peer review which they haven't um funded yet or the impact analysis. So, we're working with them

and special counsel to get that moving.

Stantech is ready to go on that as well.

Oh. Um, I want to go back to make a general comment on both Sherbrook and Hathaway. Um, I haven't looked closely at the site plans and [clears throat] guessed how much uh landscaping there might be, but in the Sherbrook analysis, I didn't see any consideration of irrigation or outside water use, and I think that needs to be added to any of these uh evaluations.

Correct. And I believe the uh the engineer from Sherbrook stated that they were planning on installing an irrigation well.

Well, that should be a condition then.

Absolutely. Absolutely. And my comments so I do have comments regarding uh flow for irrigation as well.

Yeah. and and Tim, somebody if they uh wave their hands at at outside water use by saying they're going to install a well, somebody ought to look at first whether a well with necessary capacity is likely on that site.

Yeah. And secondly, it what kinds of impacts a well might have on the uh adjacent wetlands and aqua.

Yeah. And our wells. Well, yeah, exactly. Okay.

Mr. Ge, anything else on on Hathaway?

Um, who's doing a peer review on the traffic uh impact analysis?

That is that was not Nick.

Yeah, Tim, it's really not not important who the who the firm is, but I only bring the issue up based upon the number of units and the entrance and exit from uh Hathway Road and intersection of Hathway Road and Sloum Road and then Hathway Road and State Road. um at certain times of the day, Pathway Road and State Road are currently at um you know, full full capacity with significant delay.

The left turn onto Sulkum Road doesn't have a right lane on the side for vehicles to pass and it becomes very dangerous because a vehicle stopped to make a left turn with the traffic coming eastbound on Hathaway Road um has to wait there for quite a period of time.

And the other issue is that traffic coming out of this development and turning onto uh pathway road to go towards the city based upon the speed.

There's some significant issues there and I hope in fact the police department is working on that so that the town doesn't acquire a problem created by a private development. I have a feeling, I'm not exactly sure, but I would imagine this project may trigger an ENF and a full MEEP review, which would be very beneficial because MEEPer is an excellent reviewing entity, especially for traffic issues. Um,

absolutely. If it doesn't and it goes by us, uh, don't want to be sitting here listening for us to have to put on a transportation improvement plan prioritization of remedying the items I just mentioned.

It's a cost again to the town and it takes away from other projects in the town that source of funding. Um I know one of the projects I worked on in New Bedford that was on Hathaway Road, there was strong discussion that in fact that project was going to impact Hathaway Road and State Road. So u I get the sense this is going to be an issue and somehow this should be incorporated

into having those uh items addressed and remedied as part of the final permit for Hathaway Road.

Yes. And uh the firm is How Hudson and they they did do a pretty thorough review and they had a lot of comments at our last meeting.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

That's all I have on item D of the agenda.

Okay. If there are no other comments um on the old business portion of the agenda, we'll go to new business. Uh approval engineering services cross connection Weston and Samson.

This is uh it's our annual cross connection agreement with Weston Samson uh to here for 1,378 total annual tests.

Um this is funded from our operating budget. Uh this includes uh no western Samson uh visiting uh all sites with cross connections um in town um and testing and and sending reports uh for whether they need to be replaced or repaired.

It's it's an ongoing uh service from from West G. Any questions?

Tim, um I believe Weston and Samson has been doing this uh work for us for a number of years. I think if we were able to get from them a very very summarized report on how many cross connections they have found and whether or not those cross connections have been remedied. Um I think this again is very important information to share with the people so that they understand that wastewater is

also treating storm water and basement water from a number of houses and this as we know in the CWMP is going to become a very critical issue in a final grant of a new permit from the uh folks at APA. So, I just think say, you know, how many did they check, how many were found, and whether or not they have been remedied. I think it would be very

helpful to post up on your on your page on the town website to to show people that this sort of thing is happening.

Yeah. And and you know, these are, you know, cross connections particularly for for water. Um, so this is like backflow prevention and in restaurants and and other sites, commercial sites that that have that require um check valves uh to prevent contamination of the water.

Sure.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Are there any further questions?

No.

Well, I will entertain a motion on this item.

I would make the motion that we approve the engineering services contract for Weston and Samson in the amount of 99,120.

I have a motion for approval by Mr.

Gier. The chair seconds. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Um item B, engineering services construction administration for the Ellswick pump station. Tim.

So yes, so we had previously uh awarded approved to award the contract for the upgrades for the Ellsworth pump station pump station um to Bisco construction.

Uh we have also signed the agreement and issued the notice to proceed on this project to begin construction. Uh this agreement is with Stantech for the engineering services for construction administration.

um throughout the project for 280,000.

Mr. G, any questions?

Tim, source of funds.

Uh the source uh will be we have a grant for this project um from from Mass Works. Um we did include construction administration in that grant. So So it'll be funded through that grant. We also have uh participation funding from the developer uh and a total of 125,000 and uh as well as from the from the town 160,000.

So the town put in 160,000 from where?

From the sewer enterprise.

Uh how much is the total project?

Total project is

So project from this.

So, it is 1,867,645,000 and the developer put in 100,000.

Uh, the developer put in um 250,000 total. Uh, so 125,000 towards uh the Ellswick and then there'll be 125,000 towards the other publication once we move forward with that one.

So, they put in Yeah, they put in 125,000. We put in 160 total uh for upgrades. that would have been uh you know typical maintenance for for sewer enterprise.

So we're very we're very fortunate we got a a grant from Mass Works and I understand they're applying for another grant from either Mass Development or Mass Works.

But to me, this epitomizes exactly what we were just talking about in uh the issue of you put in $160,000 from the sewer enterprise fund. Sewer enterprise fund is money that's certified as retained earnings um at the end of the year and um they use for capital projects. Um, again, I I only point out if you hadn't gotten the grant and we had to deal with this issue totally, it would have been a

significant burden. And now these other projects, if those improvements have to be made and we don't get grants, we're going to be faced with a an issue of having to upgrade our pump stations because of these developments.

Um the amount of money that was put in by the developer in comparison to the what the total project cost just shows me that we're going we're heading into a significant financial uh issue that's going to be down the road with all of these projects. Um uh I I hate to take time on this. I can't hate to keep dwelling upon it, but I think it's so critical that in consideration and you know you mentioned

to me yesterday that these uh developers are going to have to come before us even if these 40 beads are granted. I would only ask that at that time the in-depth scrutiny of the total system cost of the implication of developing these is born by the developer. I think it's great when we get grants, but we're not going to always get grants. Grants are competitive. They only give so many out

so to certain towns. I just I I feel that whatever we need to do, we should not have the regular residential home shouldering development cost associated with these commercial residential units.

Uh and that's my motion. I know you're going to get this done and Mr. Chairman, I would make the motion that we approve engineering services construction administration for the Ellsworth pump station to be awarded to Stantech for $280,000.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chairs the motion. Um, my comment is a little bit stated a little differently and I simply ask the question, why should the rateayers subsidize developers?

And I'll leave it at that. Uh, Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Reluctantly, I vote yes because we need to have this work done. But I hope the next time we are faced with this particular situation, we are able to uh pass these costs on to the developer and not take $160,000 from sewer.

Uh chair votes yes uh emphasizing the same comments.

Uh next item is engineering services for SCADA phase 2.

Tim, this this agreement is for SCADA upgrade to 579 Westport Road water treatment facility. These upgrades are needed as we uh complete the treatment [clears throat] and backwash upgrades at the facility and this is funded through an existing data improvement uh upgrade particle from from a previous time.

Mr. Gier, any questions?

No.

Tim, uh do these up Do the upgrades have to happen in order to keep the um water source functioning or can they happen while the uh system is being operated?

No, they they can happen while the system's being operated. Uh it's all the communication controls so and data acquisition.

Okay. Because we're coming up on uh peak peak use period. So correct.

Okay. I'll entertain a motion. Mr. Gier, I would move the motion that we provide and approve a contract wooden car for SCADA phase 2 uh water uh related uh improvements and engineering services in the amount of $139,263.

I have a motion to approve by Mr. Gier.

Chair votes uh I'm sorry, chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes. Uh chair votes yes item is approved. Uh next item is a water and sewer evaluation for 80810 state road.

So this is um an engineering agreement with Stantech to complete the water and sewer u uh impact evaluation or analysis from the demand and flow from a 56 unit multi- residential multi-unit residential uh development that's been proposed and approved by zoning board.

Um this project is this agreement is funded solely by the developer. Um so they funded this project. now would come for the approval. The funds will are are placed into a 53G account where we can use that to fund um their time and materials basically as they go through the analysis.

Mr. Gier, any question?

No, I I have none. Uh I'll entertain a motion. I would make the motion that we approve a water and sewer evaluation study for 8082810 State Road for the development as described by uh Mr. Barber and award the contract to Stantech for $16,000 and note for the record that the developer is paying the 16,000.

I have a motion to approve by Mr. Gier.

Chair votes uh chair seconds the motion.

Um Mr. Gany, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

The chair votes yes. Item is approved.

Uh item E, approval, proposed approval utility layer license. Tim, yes, this the application uh from Danella line services. Uh it's complete with uh you know certificate of insurance uh workers comp and bond. Um the contractor has been in business for 25 years and we received uh or they submitted reference letters from the city of Boston public works um but that letter is from 2021 uh from Welssley

Welssley uh department of public works from 2022 and the third one was from Claremont Florida for fiber optics u installation from 2020. Uh in in response to their application, we've requested updated referencees, including additional local reference.

Uh Tim, is there any reason that this couldn't be continued?

Not that I know of.

Uh we have requested uh this additional information a couple weeks ago and we have not received it.

Okay. Mr. Gier, I'll entertain a motion.

Mr. uh chairman, I would make a motion that we uh hold on this item, put it on our agenda for the next meeting and hopefully receive the information that Mr. Barbara has just mentioned.

Uh I have a motion to continue to our next meeting. Um chair seconds. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote to continue it till the next meeting. A chair votes yes to continue the items continue to our next meeting.

Uh item F.

Um so based on the previous uh year's uh presentation uh from the Abraham's group in Western Samson, we had proposed uh no increase in the smart uh program rates for FY27.

Um I can bring that presentation up if you'd like. Um it but it did uh propose a $40 increase in FY28.

I know we we had increased the rates by $30 for FY26.

So I'm proposing to have a uh split the $40 increase from FY28, approve that for FY27 so we don't have a $40 increase next year. And we have a 20 a $20 uh increase this year instead. And uh and we'll look at next year's uh budget and most likely propose a similar $20 increase then.

Mr. G, any questions?

Mr. chairman. Um I I I'm really not prepared to to take a vote on this and the reason is that I would like to see what we have expended from the retained earnings from the solid waste uh program for equipment over the years. and uh take a look also as to what the budgetary increases have been um for the operational budget for that department. Um that's a you know I think Tim's rationale for splitting

what would be a 30% almost a 30% increase in fiscal 28.

It makes sense. But I I'm and I know they're going to need to start issuing these stickers at the end of uh the month of June. Uh maybe we can have a quick work session on this item and the next item because I think I've got some input on the next item and I'm not ready to vote on that until I hear from Cody and the finance director and I I'll

bring up some subjects that I think should be considered in item G also.

Maybe we should just have a work session on those two items and have uh Ron uh participate in them. So, I'm I'm not going to make a motion at this time.

M M Mr. Barber, do you uh both of these items are for the next fiscal year that starts on July 1. Uh correct.

Today's the 4th of June. Uh can we arrange a meeting say week after next to consider this?

Yeah. So, so our our plan is so in in addition to uh the smart program rates, we also have uh water and sewer rates. Uh and in working with the town administrator and the finance director, they had also proposed a later meeting uh they weren't ready for this one as well. And we also have our annual uh our annual uh vendors that have been advertised and we're working on those approvals

uh for our next meeting as well. We'd like to we're looking at instead of a Thursday, we're looking at Tuesday, June 23rd if the board's available.

Okay, that's good.

See what Ron's availability is. And Rob, if you're Yeah. 23rd uh I'm available.

Great.

Okay. So, you'll [clears throat] notice that as and it will include the u it will include three enterprise budgets and their rates.

That is correct. And it sounds to me like uh the board will have interest in um past expenditures, particularly capital expenditures.

Yeah.

And and what future project I know you have a project in a fiveyear I think capital plan. If you could send that to us a week or so in advance, we could take a look at it and seeing what the rationale is. I unfortunately I haven't uh wasn't here I don't believe when Weston Samson made that report but um if you could provide the report that would be helpful so we make an informed decision.

I can send that and we actually have a 10-year capital plan so it goes out a little further but yeah definitely I can schedule that for the 23rd and we'll get you that information as soon as possible. Um, okay.

Since we've sort of intermingled item G, um, I would ask that in preparation for that meeting on the 23rd that we go and we collect the data on what the water and sewer rates are for commercial residential units in the towns of Weimoth Brainree Quinsey Stonem Boston, and Melrose. I would like to have that information before that time so we can review it and I would ask that you would provide that

information also to the finance director and the town administrator so that we can incorporate that discussion on the 23rd. We are at that point and I think we need to deal with this um as we're going to make a decision on FY27 rates.

Mike, can I ask you to repeat those again? I got Wayimoth, Quincy, Wayimoth, Brainree, Quincsey, Stonem, Boston, and Melrose.

They all have very similar units as we're dealing with in those 1,400 units that we have under our review. And I would like to see what commercial residential rates are versus the res strict residential one and two families.

Jim, uh, I think it would be prudent to get an opinion from county, uh, county, uh, town council as to exactly what we would have to do to establish a new rate for uh, commercial residential. so that if the board chooses to establish that rate, uh it's done uh in a legal manner because we may very well get some questions about it.

Y okay, Mr. Gier, any other uh questions on items F and G?

No, that I've covered them. Thank you for the Yeah, Tim, I hate we hate to make work for you, but what I'm here for.

Um, all right, moving along. Uh, committee updates. Um, Mr. Gier, do you have any updates?

Um, I believe I've been added to the capital improvement planning committee.

Um, haven't heard of any meetings. I know Tim got my information over there.

uh looking forward to uh participating in that committee.

Okay. Uh I'm a member of the water quality committee I think and I haven't heard anything going on with that committee as well.

Uh Tim, do you have any committee updates for us?

Uh we I did uh we did meet with Ser Ped and South Coast Bikeway Alliance. Uh they're looking at the Norway Greenway flight path route. Um we worked with Surp to to Fall River to evaluate proposals from consultants to basically uh do on the ground survey, feasibility study and conceptual plans for that.

for that work and uh we're working uh towards approving a a consultant to move that study forward.

And do you have a a proposed timeline for that, Tim?

Uh I don't currently Yeah, I know that certain members of the uh community have a a fairly intense interest in this. Correct.

[clears throat] But also my experience with uh multi-use paths in other communities is they uh they tend to take a long time. So Okay.

Uh any other committee reports?

No, this not at this time.

All right. Uh next item is uh director updates.

Good. So uh some project updates. Um so jumping back at the 579 Westport Road.

Uh so we know we got the uh the for log is up and running. Um and the penal penelli wells are back up and running but not without issue. Of course they've been down for six years. Um we had a couple BFD issues. um and we're looking at we did we we just replaced one of the VFPs yesterday and there was uh there was another another issue with uh with P2 as uh

communications. So, so they're looking at up upgrading the SCADA at that at that VFD anyway uh next week uh when when it current is is available. So, that's scheduled for next week. Um the 299, we have a couple wells that are down at 299 as well from the storm, from the blizzard. Um so far, we've we've run into over $8,000 worth of damages. Um, we have a a transformer on order. We're waiting for that to be

uh delivered and installed to get those walls back online. And uh and we're also going to be, you know, submitting a claim to insurance for that for the damages.

Tim, on the the winter storm, uh that was declared an emergency. Is there any opportunity to get some funding? um rather than than insurance but from some other source.

Uh we did we did submit uh in our uh MIMA and FEMA uh packages uh the damages that were assessed at that time. So at that time we had a broken pole and uh and and some above ground damages and and then they found some additional damages and I think those damages were about about 30,000 and then uh we we both you know some of that work has already been completed and repaired and

opened up new can of worms with the transformer issue.

I would I'm not sure if we could amend that package.

Tim, the um the issue certainly with storms and uh the potential of electric electric spikes and you know destruction of transformers in uh motors that that issue you might want to talk to your engineering consultants there. I remember having this situation and what we did is they and I can't think of the name of the piece of equipment, but it's probably like a big big mega surge

protector um that we put on some of our public buildings that were susceptible to uh electrical spikes that where lightning had hit telephone poles.

Yeah.

And sent a surge down the line. Um, you know, I I can't remember it was that long ago, but there is equipment out there that could help with that. You might want to just ask them what that kind of equipment cost and installation if you don't already have.

Yeah, I'll definitely look into that because, you know, this seems to be a really susceptible site for these issues, whether it's an electrical storm, wind storms, blizzards. So definitely seems to happen in pump stations and water treatment facilities. I actually use that system in two public buildings um where we were regularly getting uh destruction especially if you got electronic equipment in there.

Absolutely.

Um and u phone systems. I mean it can raise havoc. The Dartmouth the Dartmouth police station had problems with this back uh 20 years ago and it was very costly to replace equipment that had been basically uh killed by mega search charge.

It's extremely expensive and and not only expensive uh the lead times on all this equipment has has increased exponentially now.

Yep.

So the downtime is also you know an expense to us. Well, thank you. Um, next moving on, uh, some about our projects. Uh, the you know, the highway department and our engineering division and highway department worked well, uh, with the school department electricians to, uh, install the the light post spaces for the, uh, Memorial Stadium overflow parking lot behind town hall and and the

football stadium. uh that uh we graded, fine, graded, and recently put down the binder uh last Monday for that for that.

Um so that that's at a point where now we can they're going to paint the light bases, they can install the stairs, they'll complete the storm water, and uh then we can schedule this fall for the for the final course of paving.

Great.

Um, we also uh worked with the park department uh in conservation to work on patching and and and paving a portion of Ray Peek Road down to Round Hill Beach that was in in really poor shape. So, uh, you know, our crew, our engineering division went down. They they took shots. They did soil evaluation. They they u they designed some or looked at potential for design for long-term uh upgrades and

then came up with a short-term upgrade.

Uh we worked uh with PJ Keating also went down and paved after a highway department went past a number of number of failures over there.

So that'll be good for a few years uh while we work with uh the park department and town administration longterm long-term upgrades over there.

There there's a lot of environmental impacts as you know in that area.

There'll be there'll be uh additional permitting required both for uh national heritage endangered species and and DP for well Tim I actually had the opportunity to to go down and look at the work. Um [clears throat] it looks a lot better.

Um, one of those places was the sort of place um, you would drive through and you wondered how deep the potholes really were because there was almost always water in them. And if you walked and you walked to the side, you wondered if you were going to come out with all your shoes. So, I think it's a uh, it's a job well done. So, thank the guys for us.

Absolutely.

And and as a historic note, um the complete rebuild of that road was part of a wetlands restoration project.

Um that was fully funded and for some reason the town voted against it. Um, and I hope in the future somebody picks that project backs up back up, realizes its value and uh the wetlands restoration and the road upgrade can be done, but that's a future project.

Anyway, yes, we're definitely looking at that.

We were actually proposing uh additional upgrades uh this year um with this project but uh they required more more permitting uh through D. So we chose to do the the quick mandates for now and uh and move forward with longerterm planning in the future.

Dave, moving on, we have our road maintenance.

We currently have about $2 million programs uh for road maintenance uh for for late spring early summer. Uh so you know the looking to stock that towards the end of the month. Uh school I believe school last day of school has been pushed out to the I think 22nd or 23rd of June uh due to the snow days.

So, so we have a little delay this year and trying to get a lot of our road maintenance out, but we're working on scheduling uh the milling crews uh company to come in and then uh stop paying.

Jim, yes.

Uh remember I sent you an email that we're actually going to stop milling Tuesday.

Tuesday the 16th or 9th.

tonight.

9th.

Yeah. So, we're going to start getting that ready because it's going to take uh you know, once they start milling, I get to get behind him and touch everything up. Um Ke's been notified. They're trying to work the schedule out. I might be able to get some crews in here the following week and start closing those roads up.

Okay.

So, I think we're going to be in good shape getting into the end end of the fiscal year because we're going to lose we're going to re be re bidding our milling contract. And remember, we discussed we're concerned about some of these cost increases. So, yeah, please get that scheduled to me as soon as possible so I can send it to uh I'm actually going to send the general list out because I'm still waiting for

Rob for the exact thing. He's if machines move too quick, he's not going to be able I know he said he's going to start the neighborhoods first and work out for SC. Then the last phase will be Chase Road.

All right. Okay.

Thank uh let's see. Still working on the Hawthon street uh improvements with Mass DOT and and our consultant. Um they had they had proposed uh the mascot had proposed a roundabout at that location at Hawthon Street and Sulkum Road as we were looking at uh either you know a fourway stop or a signalized intersection. So, we're working through the motions uh through the intersection control evaluation uh

through Mass DOT and uh we'll work through comments and uh see what see [clears throat] what Mass has to say about that uh roundabout versus signalized control at that location.

Like uh the school department had some comments. Uh it it is a quite a impact at that location.

So we will move forward as we have additional information on that. Um moving on as Rob said the uh talking about the water quality committee. Uh we have we had approved an agreement with Tai and Bond to move forward with the water quality evaluation. Uh so they have been uh moving forward with that.

Uh that's that's approved and funded through ABA. uh they've been working with our staff as well on that. So, we'll continue on with that work. And uh they've all also been working on the asset management uh plan uh which was a grant from the state for both uh sewer and wastewater collection uh asset management as well as uh storm water cover asset management. So, they as well they've been working Kimbond's been

working on this this program as well uh with our engineering staff as well.

Um Tim, if you have a [clears throat] excuse me, if you have a scope of services for that work, could you send that out to us?

Absolutely.

Um couple more updates. The town administrator had proposed uh revised operating hours uh for town personnel.

Um, I believe the select board approved this for town hall and uh, their new hours uh, will be from Monday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and then Friday from 8:30 a.m.

to 12:00 p.m. Um, they they're scheduled to begin their new hours on June 22nd.

um they they were asking for all town uh operations to follow uh this schedule but after speaking with DPW staff um it it it doesn't really appear to be feasible at this time uh especially with our operations uh for you know water waste water solid waste and recycling um highway um you know we do a lot on on Fridays so it makes it difficult uh to shorten our hours um and then ask staff

to work uh you know additional long hours on on other days. So we'll we'll continue to work on any logistics um see if this is possible in the future.

Tim, what's the rationale for these changes?

I think to provide uh a late night for for residents. Um so you know some residents can't get the town hall for you know before they close at 4:30. So allowing for a late night uh to 6:30 on some nights and they chose uh they chose the night Monday because select board meetings are typical Monday. So staff are usually there and the building's usually open. So,

and I have and also there are a number of of communities that follow a similar schedule uh having a late night on the night of their board meeting and an early on for early release on Friday, half day on Friday. And some some communities don't work Friday. they work 4 day week but you know when we look at public works you know I think a lot of these communities don't have all the services

that we have so they may not have uh you know water treatment and supply waste water collection and solid waste recycling pickup so if if it's all privatized or regional then it's basically admin admin staff and maintenance Any

comments on that question?

No, I think if if [clears throat] the if it's adopted formally by the select board, there ought to be some public information put out about the other services that uh public works provides that they remain on the existing schedule.

Correct.

So people don't get confused.

Yeah. And then, you know, when we do have holiday weeks, we uh we pick we we do pick solid waste and recycling on on Friday, you know.

So, uh moving on, town meeting, um uh it was ended by 100 p.m. on Tuesday. It was it moved along pretty quickly. I think um the town had also held a preliminary uh informational uh meeting the the week prior for town meeting members and in the general resident um to to ask questions and and get information on on the agenda um on the warrant which which I think expedited the meeting. Um, all

of our F FY27 budgets were approved along with $600,000 in road maintenance funding. Um, $90,000 for SCADA upgrades at North and South Sewer pump stations and 4 $400,000 for a new rear load of packer for solid weight pickup. Um those are the capital uh articles that were that were funded and and uh as well as all the budgets in town. There was there was a little uh up I guess uproar regarding uh some

community preservation uh projects um early on. uh extended the meeting early on but that was handled early and move forward with Tommy.

Yeah, I want to Tim I I listen to that fairly closely.

The um for a lot of projects there's a substantive set of issues around the project and then there's the process by which the project moves and is considered for approval.

That to me looked like uh a project that was substantively approvable.

Generally people agreed but the agency responsible had not done a good job with the process in particular letting people know. Um I think that's a quite a lesson for us to take seriously. Um, and in particular, if you're going to affect a particular lot, uh, a parcel, the neighbors ought to be notified whether it's required by law or not. Let them know what's going to what's proposed. Let them know how they

can have input. Uh, and just deal with the public process. I think that's really important. So, that's my only comment on that.

I agree.

And uh that that's about it. Your uh FY27 budget books are here too. So with comments to sign documents, uh don't forget to pick those up.

Okay. Uh if there are no are there any uh comments from the public?

Uh hearing none, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Uh just just before we adjourn, Mr. Chairman, um one item, um observation in the uh leave and grass and um you know, wood product, uh facility at the wastewater plant. I'm wondering if the staff could put together some cost information on what it would cost to cover on Wednesdays in the month of October in the full month of November uh

for leaves. Um I'm quite amazed at seeing you know how much uh leaf material comes into that facility.

uh quite some I mean quite different than the landscapers who are bringing in grass pretty much now. Uh that seems to you know flow you know pretty well but I'm wondering if we were able to add Wednesdays in October and November um if it might uh be beneficial to have those six days a week available for leaf drop off. But again it's a factor we need to consider as to what the cost is.

So I would ask maybe for our future agenda if we could put on a summary of what that cost is. Thank you.

Uh so just a little info on that. I know years ago that was uh that was chosen to be a day that the the brush was being processed. So out of safety for the residents, they chose to close that day to keep the residents out of that area while they were processing the brush.

Yeah. because I know to remember Mike uh honor was a uh uh superintendent dead and we that machine we find pieces of metal because people don't clean their brush all over the parking lot. So that's why it was chosen and secondly scapers are not permitted to dump grass there only brush.

Yeah.

So yeah you monitor we got to continue monitoring that.

But that's why it was thick.

Let's take a look at that. because you you're off the mark with that one.

They are they are um allowed to to drop brush. So So landscape are permitted to drop brush. Uh there's a separate sticker for that. Um but if there are landscapers leaves and grass that needs to be monitored, wouldn't wouldn't hurt wouldn't hurt to consider putting a camera on that location where grass dropped off.

We do. we have it then I I suggest that somebody do a review because um that that's uh I think quite contrary to what's happening and I'm not you know that area where the brush is put you know has a gate and I'm only speaking to the issue of what it would be for leaves and grass in in that location and I would like to see the number for that. I don't have an

issue with isolating off for Wednesdays.

Yeah.

You know, the stumps and the excuse me, the the limbs and the brush that go over there, but uh certainly I think from uh those two months, we ought to at least uh know what the cost is and it would give your staff some time to sort of evaluate what are the implications.

That's all I'm asking for.

It wasn't about the cost. If it's the safety hazards, not only at the brush location, we've Mike found chunks of metal out in a parking lot behind the administration building. As far as landscapers, a lot of times landscapers leave their shovel or rebar whenever they dump or or even resident, they leave their rake or anything in the truck when they dump it and they leave it all in the brush. So when the brush

goes into the tub grinder some sometimes that those are projectile you know but that's an issue that happens there for five other days other than Wednesday.

I I I would like to see the issue addressed strictly for the leaves and the grass on Wednesday. I'm not talking about the area with the brush. I want to make that very clear.

Yeah. Yeah. We'll definitely I'll discuss it with the superintendent. It's not a It's not a cost issue. Um it was more of a safety issue because the the facility is open here. So, you know, they you know and uh like I said, the staff is the staff is working.

We'll we'll discuss it with the superintendent. I'll come back with them.

Thank you.

Mr. Gier, any other issues?

No, Mr. Chairman, I would make a motion that we adjourn.

Uh, Mr. Gier moves that the meeting be adjourned. Uh, chair seconds the motion.

Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Uh, chair votes yes. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for your time.