HomeMy WebLinkAboutCapital Improvements 12/03/2013Capital Improvements Committee Minutes
December 3, 2013
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Present: Scott Feely and Michael O'Brien, Finance Committee; Kevin fM!j j�r a Georg ,
Dentino, Board of Selectmen; Mike Trowbridge and Wayne Smith, Sch001'Crb� i ee; Michael
Feck and Rich LeBlanc, Planning Board; Bob Barry, MBC l
William Ross, Town Manager; Gary Babin, MMED; Howard Fiske, Carl Lambrecht, Rpt T (=;
Stearns and Lou Andrews, Airport Commission; Sherri Gurnon, Recreation Director and Mary
Sellner, Assistant Recreation Director; Ed Vozzella, School Department Director of Finance and
Operations and Walter Parker, School Buildings and Grounds
1:: Tliemeeting--was called to order at,6:09 p.m.
2:"Goirespondencef_
1. Minutes November 19, 2013
p. 2 — DPW Highway - "product", not "produce"
Motion: To approve as amended (Trowbridge-Feck) All in favor. PASSES
Mr. Babin explained the fiber project ($215,000), which will run from Oxford Rd to the
Plymouth Street Fire Station. He said the town leases fiber to companies in the business park,
and the department is trying to locate junction points for the fiber optic system to do a master
design for the park.
The Gilbert Street Substation Relay Project ($200,000) will simplify the complicated relay
system, making it easier to troubleshoot problems.
East Mansfield Substation manhole and conduit extension, phase 2 (on Maple Street between
Franklin Street and the Cate Springs pumping station) $550,000.
Two vehicles ($308,000). Replacing an F250 pickup and a 1999 post hole digger.
Mr. Dentino asked the year of the pickup; Mr. Babin said it is a 2003 with close to 100,000 miles
and is used for plowing. They have put about $7,000 into it recently.
Mr. Trowbridge said DPW is doing water main work and MMED is doing conduit work at the
same time; he said it is nice to see the departments working together.
Mr. Dentino asked the mileage on the hole digger; Mr. Babin said he would get that number.
Mr. Dentino said he has a problem with vehicles going out with 80-100,000 miles. Mr. Babin
said the vehicle is used every day by standby linemen who are on call for emergencies; it is also
used to tow equipment to sites. Mr. Babin said four of his vehicles plow for DPW, which is hard
on vehicles.
Mr. Babin explained the MMED five-year plan, which includes ongoing capital requirements
like cable replacements, meters and streetlights. The five-year plan includes additional work to
complement the Bird Road substation, which was completed last year, including extending the
underground conduit system, extending new overhead circuits and extending new overhead
circuits. Mr. Babin said they had planned to do the circuit work in 2013, but put it off so they
can work with DPW on a joint bid to hire one contractor for all the roadwork. This work is
expected to take place next season. About five miles of cable will be installed over five years
and will come to the corner of School Street and Spring Street, where they will meet up with
existing lines. Mr. Babin said by the end of FY 19, the department expects to be able to feed the
whole town between the two substations, with two spare circuits.
Mr. Feely said it would be good to maintain the same level of coordination with DPW
throughout the plan. Mr. Babin said he has been working with Mr. Azinheira on that.
The five-year plan also includes replacing transformers Tl and T2 at the Gilbert Street
substation, which will be evaluated when the need arises. He explained the department does
routine testing to monitor the equipment, and the cost estimate in the five-year plan is from 2010.
Mr. Feely said it might be useful to provide an escalation number with the estimate. Mr. Babin
said the expected life of the equipment is about 40 years, which is right about where the
equipment is now. He said because of the age of the equipment, annual testing is being done; a
problem with the T3 and T4 transformers was found during testing. Emergency repairs were
done and they now plan to test those transformers every six months. Mr. Babin said the
transformers do not contain PCBs.
Advanced Metering Infrastructure — the department will be completing the installation of remote
meter readers.
New Vehicles —the department plans to replace bucket trucks in FY16 and FYI 8.
Mr. Dentino asked Mr. Ross is he agrees with testing the transformers every other year. Mr.
Ross said if the Tl and T2 are being tested, it might be worthwhile to test the others at the same
time. He said if more problems are found with the transformers, MMED may have to come to
the committee for funding for an emergency replacement, which could cost $1.3-1.4 million.
Mr. Feely asked the cost of the testing; Mr. Babin said it is about $15,000. Mr. Ross said
additional testing of the units would add another few thousand dollars to the cost.
Mr. Lambrecht said the Airport Commission does a 5- and 10 -year capital plan with the FAA
and MassDOT, which fund the majority of airport projects. The commission has been working
with abutting landowners and the Mansfield and Norton Conservation Commissions to get
easements for obstruction removal. The tree cutting will begin in 2014. The budget is
approximately $750,000 for on and off airport obstruction removals, permitting and
environmental studies.
Mr. Feely asked about the "Phase II of Vernal Pool Obstruction Removal" in 2016; Mr.
Lambrecht said that does not involve the removal of a vernal pool, but rather trimming the trees
around the vernal pool at the end of one of the runways.
Mr. Feely asked if there are a lot of trees that have to be removed; Mr. Lambrecht said there are
quite a few. The obstructions came to the commission's attention when the Airport Master Plan
was done and the FAA surveyed the area to identify the key obstructions that must be removed.
Mr. Ross asked if there are restrictions on repaving the runway before removing the obstructions.
Mr. Lambrecht said the FAA is requiring the obstruction removal to be done as the priority.
Mr. Feely asked if there are issues with the abutters regarding the tree removal. Mr. Lambrecht
said it is a sensitive issue, and the airport is trying to be a good neighbor, but their main concern
is safety. He said some trees on abutting properties have already been removed. Mr. Andrews
said the commission is presently negotiating with several abutting landowners.
Mr. Ross said it is important to note the improvements are funded through the federal and state
governments and the Airport Commission's enterprise account, but he said the committee
appreciates the complete nature of the Airport Commission's capital plan.
Ms. Gurnon, Recreation Director and Mary Sellner, Assistant Recreation Director, explain
department's request for $20,000 to initiate a multi -phase playground improvement plan at
Memorial Park and Plymouth Street.
Mr. Feely said there are safety requirements for new equipment. Ms. Gurnon said the existing
equipment does not have to comply with the safety requirements, but any new equipment has to
comply with ADA requirements.
Ms. Gurnon said there is a community group interested in helping to refurbish Memorial Park.
Mr. Feely asked if the FYI request is for new equipment; Ms. Gurnon said it is, then there
would be maintenance required. She said Plymouth Street will require new surface materials.
Mr. Ross suggested developing a five-year plan to go along with the Open Space & Recreation
Plan. He said CIP wants to see a long-term plan from each department.
Mr. Trowbridge asked if the tennis courts should be in the Recreation Department's plan; Mr.
Ross said DPW is responsible for the maintenance. Mr. Trowbridge suggested things like that
should be part of the Recreation Commission's long-term planning process, regardless of which
department's capital plan it comes under.
Mr. O'Brien asked about the cost for the surface materials. Ms. Gurnon said they have started to
investigate that and are working with Mr. Cook from DPW.
Mr. Ross said he has spoken with Ms. Gumon about working with the Conservation Agent on a
trail system to try to link the town's green areas together.
Mr. Dentino said the playground area at Memorial Park is all sand and asked if that is a problem.
Ms. Sellner said that is a problem at both Memorial Park and Plymouth Street.
Mr. Dentine, asked about the skateboard park; Ms. Gurnon said there is some graffiti and a
portion of the fence has been cut. Mr. Dentino said there is some hazardous material in the
ground there; Ms. Gurnon said they have been in touch with the engineering firm. Mr.
Trowbridge said there may be a DEP plan showing where the test pits were done. Mr. Dentine,
said there was supposed to have been fabric put under the sand to prevent the hazardous material
from migrating; Ms. Gurnon said she doesn't think fabric was installed in the playground area.
Mr. Vozzella explained the School Department's requests,
Robinson Window replacement project $326,000 — Mr. Vozzella said that is a soft number
because of the possible alternates, depending on how the bids come in. He said they expect to
have the bids in February or March. He said phase one of the window replacement project has
been very successful, with improved light and temperature control. Mr. Packer said they are
definitely saving energy, and phase II will bring more significant savings because it is a larger
project.
Phase I WiFi - $130,000 each year for three years. Mr. Vozzella said the installation will depend
on where the curriculum needs are and said the project is something the town may want to get
involved with. Mr. Ross suggested having a consultant work on a plan for options on this project
and said he thinks the town may be willing to work with the School Department. Mr. Vozzella
said the schools do not need WiFi everywhere.
Roland Green Crawl Space Asbestos Removal - $25,000. Mr. Parker said he has an estimate for
the asbestos removal and the addition of new insulation. He said he thinks the current estimate is
a good solid number and includes removing four or five inches of dirt. Mr. Barry said the
consultant will develop a work plan and submit it to DEP. Mr. Ross asked if there are any
programs to assist in asbestos removal in schools; Mr. Parker said he has not found any.
Replace Lockers at High School — $130,000. Mr. Vozzella said the lockers will be replaced in
the boys' locker room and elsewhere throughout building. Mr. Parker said he thinks the estimate
is solid, but he plans to go out to bid.
Update MHS Library - $30,000. Mr. Vozzella said the priority will be replacing the carpet in the
library. Mr. Parker said this has been on the list for several years ad he is looking at modular
carpeting so pieces can be replaced. Mr. Ross said the town has been looking at replacing some
carpet as well and might work together with the School Department.
Pickup replacement — $41,000. Mr. Parker said the truck has 68,000 miles and the bed is rusted
through.
Sped Bus #18 — $60,000. Mr. Vozzella said the bus has 123,000 miles and the department is
trying to replace one bus each year.
Mr. Vozzella explained the School department's five-year plan. He said the priority will be
security cameras at QMS; replacing buildings and grounds equipment; air conditioning in the
MHS auditorium; bleacher seats on the Alumni Field wooden bleachers; and updating three
foreign language labs.
7:.Adjournmettt
Motion: To adjourn at 7:25 p.m. (Trowbridge-Feck) All in favor. PASSES
mber 10, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
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Date of App oval