HomeMy WebLinkAboutCapital Improvements 03/23/2004Capital h . provements Committee
( Minn es of March 23, 2004 ,
Present: Bernie Dolan, Chair, and Ic n Torman, Planning Board; Ken Gay, MBC; David
McCarter, Board of Selectmen; Mik Trowbridge and Jean Miller, School Committee;
Frank DelVecchio, Finance Con e
John D'Agostino, Town Manager; S un P. Burke, Director of Planning and
Development; John Sullivan, Town ) ngineer; Bob Bellavance, Acting Fire Chief; Arthur
O'Neill, Police Chief
Mr. Dolan asked for an update on the Route 106 underpass pumps. Mr. D'Agostino said
DPW has gotten an estimate of $30,QOO for the repair of the existing pumps; DPW staff
will remove the pumps, bring them tb the manufacturer in New Hampshire, and replace
the pumps. The money will come out of Chapter 90 funds.
Mr. DelVecchio asked about Mr. Azinheira's memo on pavement management. Mr.
D'Agostino explained that all but $62,000 out of $1.1 million is committed; there are
other projects totaling $7.6 million. Mr. DelVecchio asked if the $11 million is included
in the $7.6 million. Mr. D'Agostino said it is. Mr'. D'Agostino explained the funding is
not just for pavement, but also for sidewalks and handicapped ramps. Mr. Dolan asked if
the cost includes man hours. DPW will be invited back for presentation on April 6.
Mr. Sullivan explained his request for Inflow and Infiltration fundingis normally a 50160
split between the Wastewater Depreciation Trust Fund and Raise & Appropriate, but last
year everything came out of the W WDTF with the understanding that one hundred
percent of this year's I&I funding would come out of R&A. Mr. D'Agostino said there is
a limited amount available in the trust fund.
Mr. Sullivan said this would be his last capital request for I&I. After this year it will be a
question of annual maintenance, which he said would be put into the DPW operating
budget. He said they have found approximately 60 illegal tie-ins, leaking manholes, etc,
and have saved 300,000 gallons from going into the plant.
Mr. Trowbridge suggested permits for new subdivisions should include I&I removal.
Mr. Sullivan said he is looking into creating an enterprise account for the FY 06 budget.'
He said the plant has a 3.1 million gallons per day design capacity and is currently at 2.8
million gallons per day. DEP's policy is that steps must be taken to plan for expansion
when the plant is at 80 percent capacity.
Mr. Dolan asked what would happen if it wasn't funded this year. Mr. Sullivan said it
would have to be rolled over to next year, but was concerned about DEP policy.
F
[Mr. Trowbridge and Ms. Miller left the meeting at this time.]
Mr. D'AI ostino suggested taking $150,000 from the W WDTF ai d the balance from
R&A use there may not be money for it in the fall. He said orton and Foxboro
must p icipate in the I&I program
Mr. Sulli�an said he is requesting $10,00 for small bridge repair He said bridge
inspectio has been cut from his department's budget over the pit two years, so bridges
have not 6cen inspected.
Mr. Sullivansaid his request for funding for dam registrationlinspection is not a priority
because the state regulations have not been promulgated.
Mr. Sullivan said he is requesting $30,000 for Hope Street drainage; Mr. D'Agostino
suggested looking at this in the fall.
Acting Fire Chief Bob Bellavance explained his request for Scott Air Packs. He said the
bottles were replaced last year, and this request is for $25,000 for eight packs. He said
they need 26 packs total, and will be asking for the balance over the next two years.
Mr. DelVecchio asked if the new bottles would be used in new packs; Acting Chief
Bellavance said they would be. Mr. Dolan said this safety issue should be a priority.
Mr. D'Agostiao said these items could be bonded, but they would have to look at the
amount already bonded. He said the committee could consider a bond authorization for
the capital plan, but noted that was not supported last year. Mr. Dolan suggested
discussing that after hearing all the requests, noting low interest rates and the town's'
ability to bond. Mr. DelVecchio said the larger the number, the less likely the Finance
Committee would be to support bonding. Mr. McCarter asked for a definition of"short
term" bonding; Mr. D'Agostino said that would be less than five years.
Acting Chief Bellavance explained his request for $32,000 for a four-wheel drive vehicle
for the Deputy Chief. He said when police cars are turned over to the Fire Department,
they are past their emergency response lifetime. Mr. Dolan said personnel would have to
be taken off other equipment for the four-wheel drive emergency response vehicle.
Acting Chief Bellavance said his request for $60,000 per year for five years, for a total of
$300,000 for Engine #1, will not be enough to replace the engine in five years.
[Mr. McCarter left the meeting at this point.]
Mr. D'Agostino said CIP could make a recommendation to establish a stabilization
account to plan for the acquisition of heavy equipment.
Police Chief Arthur O'Neill explained he normally has a four -car replacement rotation,
but replaced two cars this past year. He said he has an excellent car maintenance
program, but budget cuts have effected replacements. He said the police cars are used all
day, every day and he is concerned aboutte
e Department vehicles being replaced when
he cannot replace his cars. He said there 18vehicles in the Police Department fleet,
seven of which are cruisers.
Mr. Gay asked whether the Police Departent could deliver EMT personnel if the Police
Department got a four-wheel drive vehicle Chief O'Neill said that would not be
practical. Mr. D'Agostino said the Police tnd Fire Departments are first-line responders,
so could not wait for one another.
Chief O'Neill said there are other ways to pay for cruisers; the statute allows Police
Department fees to come back to the department. He said he does not support doing that.
Chief O'Neill explained he will be sendW out an RFP for new communication
equipment. He has a $70,000 grant, out of_✓hich a consultant will be paid. He said the
cost of the new equipment is unknown at tis time. Chief O'Neill said the existing radio
system, installed in 1986-87, is failing. He said he is looking at a low -band system with a
translator, which would allow different radios to talk to one another.
Mr, Gay asked if the technology is available today. Chief O'Neill said it is. Mr. Dolan
asked if the Police and Fire Departments can talk now. Chief O'Neill said they cannot.
Chief O'Neill said he would like to rebuild from the ground up with a new system. He
said he is not planning to go to Annual Town Meeting with this request, but wanted to
make the committee aware of what he is considering. He said he wouldn't know the cost
until after the second RFP.
The committee discussed the Police Department's HVAC system. Mr. D'Agostino said
$384,000 had been set aside for HVAC replacement last year, and the Library/COA
system cost $304,000. He said with the remaining $80,000 and another $150,000
appropriation, there should be enough to replace the Police Station HVAC system.
Mr. Dolan asked if this system could he bonded and suggested having a discussion later
about that possibility. Chief O'Neill said the units should have been replaced, not
repaired, when the Police Station was redone.
Mr. D'Agostino said a depreciation schedule and funding mechanism for equipment in
excess of $100,000 should be considered. Mr. Dolan suggested that level should be
$50,00 instead. Mr. D'Agostino suggested establishing a threshold for CIP to be funded
every year.
Motion: To adjourn at 8:20 p.m. (Torman-Gay) All in favor. PASSES
Date of next meeting: March 30, 2004
C2 �� Q-t-�. 3 a, L pUy
ignature of Chair T Date of Approval