ANNUAL TOWN REPORT 2004
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
To
the Residents of East Longmeadow:
The past year has once again been very busy and productive
for the Department. Outlined below are
some of the more significant accomplishments/occurrences that took place during
the year.
Sanitary & Stormwater Sewer Systems
On
Michel Street, 1,040 feet of 12-inch sanitary sewer main was installed prior to
resurfacing the road. This was done as
part of a plan to replace the entire sanitary sewer main from the Watchaug
Pumping Station to Somers Road. This
main is in poor condition and warrants replacement. Funding will be requested in fiscal year
2006.
Due
to poor drainage on Alvin Street, the department made stormwater collection
modifications.
The
department responded to 51 plugged sewer calls in addition to the regular
cleaning and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system.
Effluent
flow meters were installed at the Allen Street and Watchaug Pumping
Stations. This will enable the
department to accurately monitor the flow within the wastewater collection
system.
Bids
were received for the construction of a new sanitary sewer main from Chestnut
Street to Maple Street. This line will
be located on the former railroad right-of-way.
Its purpose is to satisfy the wastewater collection requirements due
primarily to the expansion of the industrial park and Great Woods Development.
Construction
was completed on the new Vineland Avenue Sanitary Sewer Pumping Station and is
in full operation. This facility is
responsible for the transfer of the majority of the town’s wastewater to the
Bondi Island Treatment Plant.
Water System
The
department continues to make improvements to the drinking water distribution
system. The water mains were replaced on
Pease Road (Prospect Street to Old Farm Road), Calkins Avenue, Murray Court,
Newbury Avenue, Alpine Avenue, Veranda Avenue, Greenacre Lane, Merriam Street,
Maple Court and Parker Street (Porter Road to Hampden Road). These improvements will greatly increase the
amount of water flow available to fight a fire and also improve water quality
and system reliability. There were 15
major water main breaks throughout the year, which were repaired by this
department.
The installation of our SCADA (Supervisory Control And
Data Acquisition) system has been completed.
Our personnel have the ability to monitor and control all of the town’s
water and sanitary pumping stations from remote locations via computer tie-in.
The main purpose of installing this system is to help insure the safety and
public health of all residents. The
SCADA system reports any “alarm” condition to stand-by personnel who respond to
correct any malfunction.
In May, department
employees Roy Esposito and Tom Anderson attended an awards ceremony held by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Our town received a Public Water System Award
For Outstanding Performance and Achievement in 2003.
Also in May, a
routine audit of the town’s public water system by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to determine the effectiveness of
our Cross-connection Control Program. We
received a very favorable report from DEP.
Highways & Parks/Grounds
Resurfacing
occurred on the following streets: Lee Street, Orchard Road, Maple Court,
Crescent Hill, Dorset Street, Robin Road, Sanford Street, Millbrook Circle,
Michel Street, Maplehurst Avenue, Pease Road, Lombard Avenue, Mereline Avenue,
Roderick Avenue, Gerrard Avenue, Parker Street and Bartlett Avenue.
An
investigation of the traffic signal lights on North Main Street from Harkness
Avenue to Mapleshade Avenue was completed.
Various signal lights and control systems will be replaced and a more
effective synchronization scheme will be implemented at the intersections.
The
department implemented a new “web-based” work order system. The new system allows for immediate on-line
access to issue, review, check status, edit and close out work orders. All work order requests are now handled in a
more efficient manner by the department for increased internal/external
customer satisfaction.
At
Center Field, the softball field and the ninety-foot baseball field were
completely rebuilt. The fields were
re-graded to comply with athletic field specifications, irrigation systems
installed, and covered with turf. All work was done by department
personnel.
Through a Capital appropriation, the department replaced
two of our large turf mowers.
During the fall
of 2004, the Board of Public Works teamed up with the Town’s I.T. Department
(Information Technologies) with the intent of connecting all Town buildings by
fiber optic cable. The new fiber optic
system will allow for almost instant communication between sites and allow for ultra-high
speed internet access. Throughout the
months of October, November and December, the D.P.W. forces installed over
15,000 feet of buried fiber optic conduit, running from Denslow Road cross
country to North Main Street at Heritage Plaza.
Through comprehensive negotiations with Fiber-Tech, all materials used
in the project were provided to the Town at no cost. By completing installation in-house, it is
anticipated that well over $500,000 will be saved during the next ten years.
Continuing
work that started in the fall of 2003, the Board of Public Works is in the
process of implementing a town-wide Stormwater Management Plan to mitigate the
impacts of urban runoff to receiving waters and wetlands as mandated by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
In addition to public education and the development of new storm water
by-laws, the Department is in the process of developing Geographic Information
System (GIS) mapping of the storm and sanitary sewer systems. As part of the process, an aerial flyover
that was completed in April 2004 is being used to compile accurate planimetric
and topographic mapping of the entire town.
Probably the most exciting aspect of the project will be the color
digital orthophotography that will give the Town an up-to-date aerial
photograph of the Town and its many features.
During 2004, planning for the “Redstone Bikepath”
continued and will soon be complete. The
1.4-mile trail will run over the former Boston & Maine railroad bed between
Denslow Road and Maple Street. A public
hearing was held by the Massachusetts Highway Department at the Library on
October 12, 2004 and was well attended by the public. The meetings purpose was to provide the
public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed bike
path project and allow citizens to express their views and concerns. The plans are now in the final stages with
landscaping and signage being designed.
Depending upon availability of state funds, the project could be placed
out to bid during the summer of 2005, with construction beginning soon
thereafter.
Personnel/Miscellaneous
In an ongoing
effort to keep the Department of Public Works staff trained in environmental
issues, all workers attended one of two Asbestos Awareness Training sessions
that were held in October 2004. Workers
learned about the history of asbestos and its many applications that were
favored in construction prior to 1980.
They also learned about asbestos health effects and were taught proper
housekeeping techniques in dealing with asbestos.
This
department has been charged with the additional responsibilities associated
with the maintenance of all town buildings.
A new division has been created within the department and in August,
Richard Gale was hired as the Town’s first Building Facilities Manager. Mr. Gale’s duties include the supervision of
the day-to-day maintenance operations of all facilities (except School
Department) and to develop and administer maintenance capital projects for all
buildings.
Three
retirements occurred during the year. We
extend our thanks and congratulations to these longtime and dedicated
individuals.
·
Robert Adams - 42 years of service
·
George Laro - 36 years of service
·
Howard Martin - 35 years of service
One
employee resigned during the year:
There
were five new hires to fill vacancies:
- Michael Ciepiela –
Skilled Worker
- Scott LaFond – Skilled
Worker
- Darrell Keane –
Mechanic
- Mark Dawson – Skilled
Worker
- Brett Hawley – Skilled
Worker
Promotions:
- John Collins to Operations
Manager
- Alton Livingstone to Foreman
I
- Mark Langone to Cross
Connection Control Inspector
- Gary Turnberg to Equipment
Operator
In the spring of
2004, the Board of Public Works voted to implement a new payment policy at the
Knowlton Transfer Station. Residents who
wish to use the Transfer Station now purchase a sticker for their vehicle at a
cost of $40.00 per year. The new
stickers allow residents to dispose of their yard waste, motor oil and small
amounts of bulk debris at no further cost.
The first year of the system saw over $30,000 being collected and
returned to the General Fund of the Town.
These monies will offset the cost of running the Transfer Station,
including the fees the Town pays for disposal of collected material.
In
closing, the Board of Public Works would like to thank its staff as well as the
other Town boards, departments and committees, and clubs and organizations for
there continued cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully
submitted,
Daniel
S. Burack, Chairman
Michael
A. Perkins
John
F. Maybury
