Report of the Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works respectfully submits its report for the year 2007
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division had a busy and productive year in 2007 with a staff of two. Their duties were widespread. Lot grading plans were reviewed and approved in conjunction with the Department of Public Works Board for 10 residential construction projects, 17 residential additions or garages, 3 commercial construction project, one on-going multifamily project, as well as the required inspections during construction and through occupancy were performed. The Zoning Board of Appeals had 40 filings that required the office to prepare abutters lists, research, and review for required information. The department provided 44 additional abutters lists for various board hearings. Field inspections were conducted on an on-going basis for the Department of Public Works Board and this year found 14 active subdivisions that were on-going at
various stages. Conservation Commission notices of intent and determinations were reviewed when submitted for comment. Public Works projects that were worked on were varied and included assisting contractors on drainage, water, and roadway improvements, including assistance to the State for reconstruction of a portion of North Main Street. Street line surveys were performed for tree removal and maintenance, utility pole and guy wire replacement or relocation, and fence location inspections with the Town fence viewer.
Substantial time was spent with Engineers, Surveyors, Real Estate Brokers, Appraisers, Lawyers, and Contractors for plan, map, flood plain research, inspections of construction, and final completion of projects. Assistance is always given to the DPW Board’s engineering consultants, BETA Group, for continued water system rehabilitation, sewer lines and pumping stations updating, drainage and traffic improvements, as well as the Town’s Phase II Storm Water Management Plan and Roseland Developments 40B housing project. Inspections and supervision of the many driveway paving contractors for conformity to regulations and laws.
Assistance was given to the Town of Randolph Police Department on many cases with plan, map, and aerial photography copies as well as on-call expert witness representation. The department provided all Town departments with map, plan, deed, street, and utility research and analysis, as well as the annual update of the Town Assessor’s Maps and other town maps were performed as required.
Highway Division
This division is staffed with 13 full time employees. The duties of the Highway division include street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, pothole repair, pavement maintenance, traffic signal and sign maintenance, lining and striping, grounds maintenance of Town buildings and park areas (not including school property), roadside cleaning, snow and ice operations, and the maintenance of all DPW equipment. Work scheduling must be prioritized to coincide with available staffing on a day to day basis.
During 2007 the following streets were reconstructed; Alfred Terrace, Tucker Terrace, Lind Terrace, Milton Terrace, Curran Terrace, Young Terrace, and King Crest Terrace. . This roadwork followed the installation of new water mains on these streets. All of these road projects were completed using Chapter 90 State Aid funds. These funds are generated from the gasoline tax you pay when you fill up your vehicle. Without these funds the Town would be unable to do any street improvements due to the fact that we are only allocated $50,000 for road maintenance and repair from Town funds. Lining and striping of streets is currently funded at $20,000 which will no longer fund even the minimum amount of roadway lining and striping. Drainage maintenance is only funded at $15,000 which is woefully inadequate to maintain the Town’s vast drainage
system consisting of catch basins, manholes, piping, brooks and streams. If funds are not increased for these vital DPW programs we will continue to see a deterioration of our roadway infrastructure.
All of our roadway improvement projects are scheduled based on our water capitol improvement program. We also coordinate closely with Bay State Gas and other private utilities so that they may make any needed updates to their infrastructure prior to the roadway project. Roadway projects scheduled for 2008 include Highland Av. Form Woodlawn Street to Stoughton Street, Stoughton Street, Fitch Terrace from Highland Ave to Beverly Circle, Liberty Street, and Allen Street.
Roadside littering and dumping continues to be a costly and time consuming problem for the DPW and the Town. The DPW asks every one of the Town’s citizens to work together and eliminate this problem.
Sewer Division
This division is staffed with 3 full time employees. The duties of this division include the daily maintenance of nearly 100 miles of sewer mains ranging in size from 6” – 36” and 9 pumping stations. Constant increases in energy costs are depleting the DPW expense budget. With no increase in DPW expenses all energy increase have to be absorbed within other existing budget line items. More funding has to be made available or yearly energy increases will erode other line items in the budget and in turn eliminate other services.
Late in 2007 the Amelian Road infiltration and inflow repair project concluded. This project was geared towards removing and preventing ground water from entering the sanitary sewer system. Removal of this groundwater will lessen the flows in the sewer lines during major rainfall events which will in turn lessen the chances for sewer overflows on Amelian Road.
In 2006 the DPW launched the Sump Pump Amnesty Program. Over 200 property owners signed up for this free program. In 2007 the initial inspections of homes that signed up were completed. These initial inspections were done to determine how many of the homes that signed up for the program were actually illegally tied into the sewer system. Over 130 homes were found to be tied into the sewer system. In 2008 plans will be developed noting the corrective measures to be taken. Hopefully construction of these corrective measures will also be completed in 2008. This program is also geared to the removal of infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system. These extra flows add to the overall sewer flow which is metered by the MWRA. The MWRA bases our annual sewer use charges on these meter readings. Our current annual charge is
$4.5 million dollars and has been projected by the MWRA to increase steadily in the upcoming years.
Removal of grease and disposable cleaning products from the sewer system continues to be a daily struggle for this division. All residents are urged to dispose of grease and cleaning products properly and not in the sewer system. The buildup of grease in sewer lines will eventually clog the line to the point where the lines will no longer flow and a backup will occur. When a backup occurs many times a sewer manhole will overflow in the street or in most cases the backup will find its way into a home or a business. Either way a costly cleanup ensues along with potential health risks. In 2008 the DPW will launch a public awareness program dealing with the proper disposal of grease and other items that do not belong in the sanitary sewer system.
Water Division
This division is staffed with 6 full time employees. The duties of this division include the daily maintenance of nearly 100 miles of water mains ranging in size from 2” to 24”, 1000 fire hydrants, and 9000 services and meters.
In 2006 the DPW was awarded a $7.55 million dollar grant to continue capitol improvements to the water distribution system. This grant was accepted by Town Meeting in the spring and the design phase began in July. Design of the improvements to be made was completed with bidding held in February 2007. Construction began in late April of 2007. The following projects completed in 2007; Oak Street new 12” main, Liberty Street new 12” main, Allen Street new 8” main, Alfred, Lind, Milton, Curran, Tucker, Young, and King Crest Terrace new 8” mains. On the following streets the existing water mains were cleaned and relined: McAuliffe Road, McDevitt Road, Devine Road, Woodlawn Street, Fairview Ave. Fairmount Street, Norfolk Road, Cole Terrace, and Gold Street. Work to be completed in 2008 is as follows: West Street
new 8” main, Memorial Parkway new 8” main, Woodlawn Road new 8” main, High Street new 8” main (from Canton Street to Stacy Street), Irving Road clean and line, and clean and line the 14” main from Pond Street (thru the woods) to North Main Street at the entrance to Temple Beth Am.
In 2007 the DPW applied for and received another grant from the DEP totaling $4.5 million dollars for the continuation of our water system rehabilitation program. Town meeting will again be asked to support the DPW and accept this grant at the. This again is a low interest (2%) grant program. You may contact DPW Supt. David Zecchini for a breakdown of the included water main improvements in the grant request.
The DPW is very grateful to the Town Meeting members who have overwhelmingly supported us in our efforts to upgrade our water distribution system.
The concept of a regional water treatment plant still remains the focus of the Randolph and Holbrook Joint water system. The Joint Water Board will be working aggressively with the new Mayor and Town Council in Braintree to bring this concept to reality. The regional plant is the most economically feasible plan to replace the aging water treatment plants in both Randolph/Holbrook, and Braintree.
As costs continue to rise and available dollars continue to shrink it is becoming more and more difficult to adequately maintain Randolph’s road and utility infrastructure. Preventative maintenance programs have been reduced to fix it when it breaks. The reduction of the preventative maintenance programs makes us more vulnerable for a major failure to our infrastructure.
The DPW is well aware that all Town departments are faced with the same dilemma.
The DPW is committed to working with all other Town departments as well as the citizens of Randolph to come up with a solution to our current financial hardships.
The DPW remains committed to providing the highest level of service attainable with the dollars available to maintain our most valuable infrastructure for the people of Randolph.
If you have any questions or comments relative to any DPW program you may contact DPW Supt. David Zecchini at 781-961-0940.
The Board of Public Works and the Superintendent would like to thank all of the other Town departments, Boards and Committees for their continued assistance and support. A special thank you is directed to the dedicated DPW employees for their continued hard work and efforts.
Respectfully submitted:
Joseph A. McElroy, P.E., FACI, FSAME, Chairman
Thomas O’Dea, P.E. Vice Chairman/Clerk
Robert Ayers, Member
Richard Brewer, Member
Henry Rota, Member
David A. Zecchini, Supt.
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