CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Works Committee Meeting | Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:30 P.M. | Adjourned: 6:54 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson George J Russell | | Vice Chairperson Candy Mero-Carlson | | Councilor Jenny Pacillo |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor George J Russell
Vice Chairperson Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson
Councilor Jenny Pacillo | | | | | Also: | Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks Richard Saltrick
Eversource Gas Manager of Construction Justin Giaquinto
Eversource Gas Manager of Distribution Carlos Rosende
Eversource Gas Restoration Supervisor Dave DiFrancesco
Eversource Gas Community Relations Specialist Mike Kane
Verizon Contract Work Inspector Paul Murphy
Verizon Contract Work Inspector James Perla
National Grid Lead Community Manager Adrian Berthiaume
National Grid Civil Contracting Construction Manager Victoria Mett | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Works Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88011061856
Public Works Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Works Committee Zoom Access Code: 880 1106 1856 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee on Public Works hereby approves the minutes of the Public Works Committee meeting on April 10, 2024. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to adopt the item. Order adopted. | |
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| | | 3a. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works conduct a meeting with representatives from the utility companies servicing the city and the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks regarding damages done to city streets that are not repaired in a way to hold up over time.
# 12h CC June 7, 2022
In Committee September 7, 2022 - Held
In Committee September 13, 2023 - Held
In Committee December 6, 2023 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Russell read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with items #3a and #4a.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed policy revisions regarding the guarantee period of completion and patch standards.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Eversource Gas Manager of Construction, who discussed proper cutbacks, utilizing Digital Cone Penetrometer (DCP) technology, holding contractors to a higher standard, inspections, and restoration.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Eversource Gas Restoration Supervisor, who discussed the audit process concerning the work done by contractors.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed proactively addressing resident complaints and routine inspections of the item, as well as the need for utility companies to regularly reevaluate the work they’ve completed on a five-year cycle.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Verizon Contract Work Inspector, Grid Civil Contracting Construction Manager, and the Assistant Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who discussed the current process the company uses to repave roads after conduit work.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who spoke concerning the item.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Eversource Gas Community Relations Specialist, who discussed the procedure of filing DTE 98-22.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Pacillo, who spoke on the importance of the item and the challenges impacting the community.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Eversource Gas Manager of Construction, who discussed developing a bilingual communication sent to residents one to two months prior to a project.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Eversource Gas Community Relations Specialist and Verizon Contract Work Inspector, who spoke regarding communication with residents who and who are not customers of the utility company.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson who discussed the potential for utility companies utilizing the Reverse 9-1-1 text function for communication with residents.
Chairperson Councilor Russell brought forth the following three (3) Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks work with the city’s utility companies to send notice to residents through the ALERT Worcester notification system when construction work occurs in their neighborhood; 2) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report estimating the amount of funding required to resurface the city streets that have been impacted by utility work; and 3) Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility attend follow up meetings with the city’s utility companies in person.
Chairperson Councilor Russell recognized the Deputy City Clerk, who discussed actions relative to the items being discussed.
Chairperson Councilor Russell moved to recommend the items be held.
Recommend Hold
| | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks work with the city’s utility companies to send notice to residents through the ALERT Worcester notification system when construction work occurs in their neighborhood. | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks provide City Council with a report estimating the amount of funding required to resurface the city streets that have been impacted by utility work. | | | | Request City Manager request Commissioner of Public Works and Parks and Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility attend follow up meetings with the city’s utility companies in person. | |
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| | | 3b. | Order of Councilor George J. Russell - Request Standing Committee on Public Works conduct a meeting with the Commissioner of Public Works and Parks to discuss what policy, if any, exists in writing, which mandates any construction work completed by utility companies on city streets does not deteriorate.
# 12g CC June 7, 2022
In Committee September 7, 2022 - Held
In Committee December 6, 2023 - Held
| Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #3a) | |
| 4. | Communication of the City Manager | |
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| | | 4a. | Transmitting informational communication relative to a report on the utility company pavement guarantees.
# 11.7A CM March 12, 2024 | Attachments | | | | | | | Recommend Hold (See Item #3a) | |
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