The Public Facilities Committee met on Wednesday, July 22. See the report and meeting video.
Approved
- Eversource grant of location on Prescott Street — 6-0-1 (Councilor Kelley abstained). Approved a petition to install approximately 60 feet of underground conduit south from utility pole 69/4, plus an additional 450 feet of underground conduit and one new manhole (MH 32916) easterly from the intersection of Prescott Street and Central Avenue, terminating at 75 Prescott Street, a four-unit residential conversion. No member of the public spoke at the hearing. OpenGov application.
Held
- CPC recommendation to appropriate $232,000 for the cupolas and windows at City Hall — 7-0. The Community Preservation Committee recommended $232,000 in Community Preservation Act funding to the Planning & Development Department for a grant to the Public Buildings Department for the first phase (architecture and engineering) of restoring the two cupolas and 53 front-façade windows at City Hall. Several councilors said they lacked a clear understanding of the scope and questioned the phased, façade-by-façade approach; they voted to hold pending more information. The Phase One anticipated outcome is construction documents. Project Manager Hutchings “believes the construction project will be funded by bonds, as the Capital Improvement Plan suggests it will be a multimillion-dollar project to replace all the windows in City Hall.” The committee planned to attend the August 3 Finance Committee meeting and take the item up again on August 10.
- Two-foot rule discussion — 7-0. Councilor Leary’s request for discussion of the origin and legal basis of the “two-foot rule,” which allows National Grid to open streets for gas pipe work without a new grant of location. Commissioner of Public Works Shawna Sullivan said eliminating the rule is within the City Council’s purview and that the rule is not state law or ordinance. Several councilors wondered what the implications of removing the two-foot rule would be. A councilor asked that the item be held until a future meeting to discuss long-range planning with Eversource and National Grid.
Present: Councilors Kalis (Chair), Getz, Albright, Dahmubed, Grossman, Leary, and Kelley.
Absent: Councilor Gordon.
Also present: Councilors Malakie and Wright.
City staff: Shawna Sullivan, Commissioner of Public Works; Mollie Hutchings, CPA Program Manager; Alex Valcarce, Commissioner of Public Buildings; John Daghlian, Associate City Engineer; Josh Morse, Chief Operating Officer.