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MEETING: BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE:
November 24, 2008 - 06:30 PM |
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Agenda |
Minutes
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MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF NOVEMBER 12, 2008: The Board reviewed the minutes of the meeting. Mr. Burack made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Mr. Perkins seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
LETTER FROM GEORGE TRACY: Mr. Gromaski passed out to each boardmember a copy of a letter sent to Town Counsel, James Donahue from Sue Tracy-Cluett regarding her father, George Tracy’s property at 100 Mill Road in East Longmeadow. Mr. Tracy has been contesting his sewer betterment assessment on his property
and had talked to the Board on several occasions with the Board being unable to
assist him in his not being responsible for the betterment. Ms. Cluett cited a case
which she believes was similar to her father’s and asked Mr. Donahue to review it.
The Board agreed to allow Town Counsel to handle the matter from this point forward.
DETENTION BASINS: Mr. Gromaski reviewed a plan on display and a spreadsheet showing the Town-wide detention basins. He stated it was not all inclusive and there might be one or two not shown on the list.
Mr. Gromaski indicated this was in response to Mr. Burack’s request,as he has been working with Robyn MacDonald, Director of the Planning Board to put a plan into action to ensure that old and new basins are maintained. It is an issue that has been on-going for several years and Mr. Burack wanted to get it moving again
as it appeared to have stalled. The lack of maintenance ultimately affects the Town and the DPW as the department will be called on to maintain the basins.
Mr. Gromaski reviewed an e-mail from Robyn Macdonald to Mr. Burack whereby she asked several questions all relating to who would bear the expense should we attempt to get easements for these detention basis
which are on private property. She also advised she was waiting for an answer from the Town Accountant as to the Town’s ability to set up a revolving fund for monies from homeowners and/or homeowners associations to pay contractors if and when detention basins require maintenance.
It was agreed to invite Town Counsel, Jim Donahue, George Kingston, Chairman of the
Conservation Committee, Thomas Morrissette, Chairman of the Planning Board and Robyn MacDonald, Director of the Planning Board to a meeting to discuss these issues and how to proceed. An invitation will be issued.
6:35 P.M. – FIBER DISCUSSION; RYAN QUIMBY & MIKE EBNER: Mr. Perkins welcomed Mr. Quimby and Mr. Ebner to the meeting. Mr. Ebner of Concept Telecom introduced himself. He is a telecommunication consultant who is on the Town payroll. e explained that he had met with Sean Kelley and they had discussed the Town’s fiber optic project, where it is currently and where the Town would like to take it.
Mr. Ebner stated there were questions he could not answer. He therefore, asked Bryan Hopkins of Comm-Track Corporation to attend the meeting, as his company is a company who designs, installs and service fiber optic systems.
Mr. Hopkins introduced himself and gave the group a brief overview of who and what
his company does. He stated they have many sites throughout the state. He said that
many of the Towns throughout the state are dealing with the same issues, i.e. where
do we go from here and what are the next steps. All are looking to establish a plan
so they can reap a benefit and generate revenue from their fiber project.
Mr. Kelley briefly reviewed a plan on display for Mr. Hopkins showing where the fiber has been installed and those areas that are being finished. Mr. Hopkins asked various questions relating to location of the hub, operating systems, switching boxes, fiber size, etc. He explained he wanted to get an idea of how and where the fiber is located.
Mr. Maybury explained that the Town is looking to offer services using the fiber to the various businesses in Town to generate revenue.
Mr. Hopkins stated that in order to move forward, the Town would need to understand
the regulatory requirements relating to fiber optic telecommunications and determine who the Town would sell to (who are the customers and what is the business plan).
He explained there are several possibilities. The Town could become a carrier, a service provider or sell ban width. The Town would need to decide who would be it’s customers, what services they want and how to support those services. Mr. Hopkins said for his company’s standpoint, the most successful venue has been selling band width.
He briefly explained each possibility, what some of the major requirements and the problems and issues with each. He again stated that many of the Towns in Massachusetts are in the same position as the Town of East Longmeadow. They have installed the fiber and now wish to try and recoup their investment.
He asked who were the major companies here in East Longmeadow. Mr. Maybury stated Hasbro and Lennox as two of the larger companies. Mr. Hopkins explained that larger companies would probably be most interested in purchasing band width.
Mr. Hopkins said this is the first Town he has seen that has built a communications system that works. He suggested that the major corporations in Town be approached first to determine what they need.
Mr. Maybury reviewed how the project was performed and how we no longer pay a provider for communications access between our Town building. This has already given us a return on our investment. Mr. Maybury wanted to know where do we go from here and how Comm-Track Corporation would fit in with us? Mr. Hopkins restated that his company designs, installs and services fiber system. They can tell us what we need to do and assist us moving forward.
It was agreed that a committee be created with Ryan Quimby, Sean Kelley and John Maybury as members. They will collect the necessary data and will set a meeting with Mr. Hopkins to discuss how to move forward and setup a business model.
SCHOOL FACILITIES MAINTENANCE: Mr. Fenney passed out to the Board Members a copy of an e-mail he received from Dr. Costa regarding a maintenance issue. He was concern with how Dr. Costa had responded. It was agreed that
Mr. Maybury would setup a meeting with Mr. Fenney and Dr. Costa to discuss what had occurred and attempt to resolve the issue.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Shaker Road Water Main – Mr. Gromaski stated that the project has been completed.
Watchaug Pump Station - Mr. Gromaski stated that the fiber optic to the station is being installed and the station will be on line shortly.
Meadowbrook Field Project - Mr. Gromaski advised that Mr. Kelley and Mr. Collins
met with representatives from the School and Recreation Department regarding the Meadowbrook Field Project.
Pineknoll Parking Lot – Mr. Gromaski stated that the project will start shortly weather permitting.
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