Board of Public Works Meeting - October 15, 2026

The Dartmouth Board of Public Works met on October 15, 2026, with Michael Gagne serving as acting chair in place of Rob Almy. The board handled standard business, including approving bill warrants and payrolls, and received updates from Director of Public Works Timothy J. Barber regarding the department's operational study, storm debris management planning, and the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) contract with Tighe & Bond. Members emphasized the urgency of assembling historic sewer betterment data from the Assessors' Office, Engineering, and billing records to identify properties that have paid betterments but remain unconnected to the public sewer system.

The board approved several contracts, including a $9,000 agreement with BETA Group for FY 2027 pavement management support services and a $29,900 contract with BETA Group for GIS routing of solid waste, recycling, and snow and ice removal. The board awarded the FY 2027 tree work bid to low bidder Northeastern Tree Service of Cranston, Rhode Island. It also awarded a sludge cake transportation and disposal contract to Casella Resource Solutions (operating as New England Waste Services of ME) at $220.31 per wet ton, representing an estimated annual cost of approximately $1.2 million. In response to regional biosolids disposal closures and surging costs, the board voted unanimously to send a formal letter to State Senator Mark Montigny requesting a meeting with the MassDEP Commissioner.

Additional items included approving utility letters for proposed multi-unit housing developments at 810 and 813 State Road to construct on-site sewer infrastructure without connection permits until downstream capacity becomes available. Director Barber also updated the board on ongoing water billing interest glitches in the Munis system, recent MassDEP drinking water compliance notices, load rating mitigation options and temporary repairs for the Russell Mills Road bridge, paving and drainage projects on Flag Swamp Road and Hicksville Road, traffic planning for the Hawthorn Street and Slocum Road intersection, and department vacancies.

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