Committee Report - PUPW - 12-20-11 — File 192376

December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 1 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 REPORT OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Sean T. O’Donovan Chair Present John M Connolly Vice Chair Present Robert C. Trane Ward Seven Alderman Absent Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Present Stan Koty DPW Commissioner Present Annemarie Walsh Community Relations Specialist Present 189587 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Review the Policy of Utility Companies Repaving Public Roadways Upon Completion of Utility Work and Make Recommendations for Improving the Policy or Ordinance.: Mr. Koty told the members that there has been some trouble with NSTAR Gas and he stated that the city will be coming back with a program, called SPOT, that will assess utility companies for these types of problems. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189692 - That the Commissioner of Public Works (City Engineer) and the Director of SPCD Inspect Properties on Albion Place for Flooding Since the New Park Reconstruction.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 189988 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Appear Before the Subcommittee on Public Utilities and Public Works to Report on the Progress of the Magoun Sqaure Reconstruction Project and to Discuss Its Completion.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Committee Meeting December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 2 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 190062 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Direct the Appropriate Utility to Remove the Double Pole at 29 Delaware Street and Check the Utility Lines for Safety as They Appear to be Touching the House.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190067 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Replace the City Gas Lamps at College Avenue and Winter Street and in Statue Park.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190068 - That the Commissioner of Public Works Notify the Appropriate Utility to Repair the Streetlamps at at Morrison and Newberne Aves., 256 Morrison Ave., 22 Winslow Ave., Ciampa Manor, and College and Park Aves.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190124 - That the Commissioner of Public Works and the City Solicitor appear before the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works to report on the cracks on Rogers Avenue caused by the prior street contractor.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190133 - That the Public Utilities and Public Works Committee discuss the damage done to the roof of 140 Willow Avenue by the utility companies working there.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190308 - That the Director of Traffic and Parking replace or secure the traffic signs at 204 Cedar Street that face traffic exiting from Clyde Street as they pose a potential safety hazard to pedestrians.: The committee has finished work on this item and recommends that it be referred to the Public Health and Public Safety Committee for further discussion. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED

Committee Meeting December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 3 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 190372 - That the Commissioner of Public Works appear before this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works regarding the lack of handicap ramps at the intersection of Highland Road and Kidder Avenue.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 190373 - That the Commissioner of Public Works appear before this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works regarding proper signage at the intersection of Hinckley Street and Broadway.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190374 - That the Commissioner of Public Works appear before this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works regarding Parker Place and Conwell Street.: Bow Street added to the item at PUPW Committee meeting on 4-12-11 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190541 - That the Director of SPCD provide the Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works with all drafts and responses between SPCD and Mr. Zuker that were used in producing the report of the Inspectional Services Dept.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 190860 - That the Commissioner of Public Works have city personnel inspect the pipe at all emergency street openings for gas leaks, and report on the condition to this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Public Works.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 191056 - That the Commissioner of Public Works contact the appropriate utilities to address the overloaded and low hanging wires at Somerville Avenue at Kent Street, Somerville Avenue at Linden Street, and along Tyler Street.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Committee Meeting December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 4 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 191060 - That the Commissioner of Public Works consider establishing or increasing the bond or insurance guarantees for utility companies that open sidewalks or streets for utility work and then replace the sidewalk or street with substandard work.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 191365 - That the ADA Compliance Officer conduct an assessment of ADA accessibility at the corner of Somerville Avenue and Kent Street and provide the findings to the Ward 2 Alderman.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 191674 - That the City Clerk request that representatives of NStar Gas and Electric appear before this Board’s Committee on Public Works and Public Utilities regarding the recent power outage in Magoun Square (June 14-15), ongoing repairs in West Somerville, and ongoing repairs and improvements citywide.: Chairman O'Donovan stated that not all of the businesses affected by this planned outage were notified by NSTAR. Ms. Walsh told the members that NSTAR will follow up with a response to this item. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 191809 - That the Commissioner of Public Works install a raised crosswalk across Albion Street at the Albion Park Playground.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 191810 - That the Commissioner of Public Works report to this Board’s Committee on Public Utilities and Works on the repaving of Conwell and Francis Streets.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 191815 - That the Director of SPCD place several additional seating options at Albion Park, especially near the water source, as the present seating is insufficient.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Committee Meeting December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 5 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 191944 - That the Commissioner of Public Works report back to this Board on the completion of the Somerville Avenue MA Highway project and the timeframe for accepting the street from the State.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 191946 - That the Commissioner of Public Works direct Verizon to remove empty or abandoned telephone booths throughout the city, in particular, the booth in Davis Square on Elm Street.: RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 191981 - That the City Clerk contact NStar Electric to request that a representative appear before this Board to explain the process for requesting commercial service.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192242 - That this Board requests that the Administration coordinate efforts with NStar to inventory the non-operating lights in West Somerville and make them operational as quickly as possible.: Ms. Walsh told the members that NSTAR has repaired 125 lights in the past three weeks, leaving and additional 75 to be repaired. Those remaining lights are expected to be fixed by January. The committee approved Alderman Connolly's motion that NSTAR provide the committee with a list of the addresses of the lights repaired and awaiting repair, along with a definition of what NSTAR considers "repair" to mean. Additionally, the motion calls for the listing to indicate whether a ballast problem is indicated for each light. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192279 - That this Board requests that NStar and National Grid create a policy to notify the Mayor’s Office, Communications Dept., Constituent Services Dept. and all affected Aldermen of scheduled outages, ensuring that a repeat of the November 16 incident, where only residents were notified, is not repeated.: RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192309 - That the Commissioner of Public Works arrange for all utilities with equipment on double poles to meet with the Committee on Public Utilities and Works early in 2012.:

Committee Meeting December 20, 2011 Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Page 6 of 6 Printed 12/22/2011 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE