HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPW-1989-01-04BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Meeting of January 4, 1989
NOTES
Present: Commissioners Cannon, Daley, Reeves, Sprague, Stone; Council
Liaison Nichols, Supt. Dougherty, Asst. Supt. Fabbroni, City Engr. Gray.
The following were additions to the Agenda:
7. Request from RSVP for free parking in Woolworth's parking lot.
8. Election of Vice - Chairman for 1989.
9. Request for Expungement of Water /Sewer late penalty.
Commissioner Reeves chaired the meeting.
1. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN FOR 1989
Commissioner Daley proposed Commissioner Reeves to serve as
Vice - Chairman for 1989, Commissioner Sprague seconded, and the BPW
decided to prepare a resolution for the next voting meeting.
2. COLLEGETOWN CLEAN -UP
Alderperson Sean Killeen was present for discussion on the draft
letter to the merchants in Collegetown suggesting their input with
dealing with the trash and overall messy condition of this area.
Sean tried to make the letter appeal to the merchants' civic pride
and the idea of saving money. Commissioner Reeves asked about the
paragraph mentioning "trash collection pattern ". Asst. Supt.
Fabbroni noted that trash in Collegetown is picked up twice a week
since it is a commercial area. Alderperson Killeen noted that many
people in this area are renters and feel it is the owner's
responsibility. Commissioner Reeves relayed to Alderperson Killeen
how the BPW felt about trash under the benches - the City should
remove the benches. Commissioner Reeves also noted that the BPW
suggested including the City rules and regulations concerning trash
with this letter. Alderperson Killeen noted that this letter and
suggested meeting was to gather people together to find out what
they wanted and try to make them assume some responsibility for
this problem. Commissioner Daley noted that the lack of momentum
from the BPW is due to the discouraging results they have received
from the merchants so far. Commissioner Stone thought this situation
could be compared with downtown; regulations were set for the
Commons and merchants follow them, why can't rules be enforced in
Collegetown? Council Liaison Nichols noted that Collegetown is
a mess, and that the City does most of the cleaning on the Commons.
Asst. Supt. Fabbroni noted that most of the apartment dwellers in
Collegetown use private collection for trash pick -up due to the
large volume of trash they have. Asst. Fabbroni also noted that
the total clean -up would be difficult due to the recent design and
improvements of College Avenue, which also has all -night parking
which Downtown doesn't have. Commissioner Sprague suggested regular
fines for ones in Collegetown who don't clean -up. Commissioner
Reeves referred the BPW back to the letter, and asked if the mayor
had seen it, which he hasn't. Discussion followed concerning a
new meeting date - January 23rd. Commissioner Reeves asked again
about including the City rules with this letter and a schedule on
collection days. The BPW felt this was a good idea. Discussion
followed about this being a Special Assessment District. The BPW
felt the draft letter was okay, and should include the City's rules
and regulations and schedule for trash collection, and made a note
of the next meeting date with the merchants.
3. DPW STUDY
City Engineer Gray noted that the DPW will be getting a new
administrator soon, and felt the study would be difficult to do
at this time. Commissioner Daley felt that the BPW should take
advantage of the experience and knowledge from the people currently
in the department and have the study done now. Council Liaison
Nichols felt that the two major steps were deciding if the
responsibilities of the Superintendent needed revising and if they
do not, the new superintendent should do the overall study. Supt.
Dougherty told the BPW that the Department of Public Works is pretty
much defined. The job description for Superintendent has changed
very little - except in his case the licensing requirement was taken
out, but Supt. Dougherty noted it could be put back in.
Commissioner Reeves wondered if it was really necessary to spend
$10,000 to do a formal study. Commissioner Daley felt that this
study would be good noting that the sidewalk program is still very
unclear. Commissioner Sprague felt that a study would be
worthwhile. Commissioner Stone recommended input from Gerry
Schickel. Discussion followed about whether $10,000 is enough to
do this study, and everyone agreed a consultant would need to be
hired. Council Liaison Nichols agreed to do a draft request for
proposal to be discussed at the next COW meeting.
4. MEMO FROM ALDERPERSON BOOTH CONCERNING ROUTE 96 DEIS
A memo was received from Alderperson Booth asking the City
departments to provide comments concerning the Route 96 DEIS. It
was noted that the deadline for comments is January 15th.
Commissioner Daley felt that enough people have worked on and fine
tuned this project, therefore the BPW's comments weren't necessary.
Commissioner Reeves agreed, and felt the DEIS was very sufficient.
It was decided to leave this project and comments to the people
involved.
5. COMMITTEE AND LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS FOR 1989
COW Assignments:
Buildings & Properties; Tranist
Creeks & Bridges; Parks
Highways
Parking & Traffic
Solid Waste
Water & Sewer
AUDITS:
January- February
March -April
May -June
July- August
September - October
November- December
LIAISON Assignments:
Capital Projects
Commons Advisory Board
Conservation Advisory Council
Hydropower Commissioner
Planning Board
Special Joint Sewer Committee
Youth Bureau
Six Mile Creek Committee
Commissioner Cannon
- Commissioner Sprague
- Commissioner Daley
- Commissioner Reeves
- Commissioner Reeves
- Commissioner Daley
- Commissioner Cannon
- Commissioner Sprague
- Commissioners Daley & Reeves
- Commissioner Cannon ( ? ?)
Commisisoner Sprague
Commissioner Sprague
Commissioner Cannon
6. EXPUNGEMENT OF LATE PENALTY FEE ON WATER /SEWER BILL
Commissioner Reeves relayed the complaint she had just received
this afternoon from Mary Markovitch of 125 East Falls Street. Ms.
Markovitch said that she had left the bill in the night deposit
box at City Hall on December 15th (the date due) but found her check
sent back to her on December 19th for being late. After checking
with the Chamberlain's office, it was determined that the personnel
check the night deposit box daily and it was highly unlikely that
the payment was there on the 15th. The BPW decided to deny this
request for expungement of the late fee of $3.42 from Ms.
Markovitch's water /sewer bill.
7. RSVP REQUEST FOR PARKING SPACES IN WOOLWORTH LOT
Supt. Dougherty received a request from RSVP asking for 10 to 15
free parking spaces in the Woolworth lot from January 17th tc
Possibly the 25th for their tax counselors who will hold workshops
in City Hall. Since this would be free parking onl
not guarenteeing a space, the BPW agreed to this. y - the BPW is
1989
Committee of the Whole
ASSIGNMENTS
Buildings & Properties; Transit -
Creeks & Bridges; Parks _
Highways
Parking & Traffic _
Solid Waste
Water & Sewer
AUDITS
January- February _
March -April _
May -June
July- August
September - October
November- December
7
A
1989
Committee of the Whole
LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS
Capital Projects _
Commons Advisory Board _
Conservation Advisory Council -
Hydropower Commission _
Planning Board _
Special Joint Sewer Committee
Youth Bureau
Six Mile Creek Committee _
8. DRYDEN ROAD PARKING GARAGE
The BPW reviewed the permit sales at the garage for the past six
months. Discussion followed about eliminating the first hour free.
Commissioner Reeves wants to leave the first hour free.
Commissioner Stone noted that mall parking areas are free.
Commissioner Daley felt this would be a good way to generate
revenue. It was noted that a downtown parking study will be done.
Discussion followed. Commissioner Cannon suggested waiting until
the parking study was done and then review this garage again. The
BPW agreed, deciding to prepare a resolution to continue with the
current parking rates and to restudy the Dryden Road Parking Garage
when the parking study is done.
9. PARKING ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
This will be discussed when Mike Malison is present to give his
input.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Notes by
Lisa Cornell
Administrative Secretary