Infrastructure:
Highway Division –
During the construction season this year, many more roadways received new surface treatments. Heather Lane, Gantley Rd., Cypress Rd., and Mary Webb Rd., received a wide variety of treatments including new catch basins, manhole covers, and upgrades to drainage and sewer systems. Landscaping of the project areas and driveway issues, will be completed in early spring 2008.
The remaining areas from the “Downtown Reconstruction Project”, (Church and a portion of Chestnut Street)are slated for 2008.
Public Works crews treated the 1800 Town owned catch basins with a larvacide to help eliminate the threat of breeding mosquitoes. This program entails treating each basin, three or four times a season. These same basins are scheduled accordingly for their annual cleaning as part of the Phase II Stormwater Program. Please remember that these catch basins ultimately drain into the Connecticut River and therefore absolutely nothing should ever be dumped into these structures.
Upgrades were added to the culvert at 50 Chestnut Street to help prevent debris from entering and causing blockages.
Equipment Upgrades –
The purchase of a new VAC-ALL truck was finalized and delivered in Spring 2007. The VAC-ALL is used for annual cleaning of the town catch-basins as mandated by the DEP.
A new six-wheel dump truck and plow package were purchased. The vehicle is sized for easier maneuverability in tight areas.
A heavy duty vehicle lift was added to themaintenance garage to accommodate repairs to larger vehicles and SeniorCenterbuses.
Parks and Grounds Division-
A collaborative effort between the DPW and the AmericanLegion Baseball Legion resulted in the completed renovation of the lightedbaseball field at Southwest Vets park. This renovation has greatly improved the drainage and playing surfaces. The dugouts were sandblasted and repainted as well.
The Southwest Vets pavilion is being readied for the installation of a portable skating rink which will be available for use in early 2008.
Permanent benches were installed at SouthwestFamilyPark. New See Saws were installed at Family, Pesci and Vets parks as well.
Upgrades to the PesciPark concession stand were completed to comply with State Health Department standards.
The Pesci pool cover was re-designed this year which will help to prevent vandalism and provide better winter weather protection.
Facility Maintenance –
The Town Hall roof project was completed early last winter. The HVAC project is nearing completion. The new heating and cooling system will ensure a constant temperature between rooms and hallways, while providing fresh air exchange to the occupants of the building. Part of the project includes a building management system which allows the system to be programmed to do things such as running at lower temperatures while the building is not occupied which results in energy savings. The window replacement project at the Town Hall is in full swing. Many of the old windows have been replaced at this point. The new windows are double insulated with argon gas filled panes. They also have a maintenance free exterior finish as well as tilt-in capability for easy cleaning. We anticipate completion somewhere around the first of the New Year.
Part of the Town Hall renovation included the upgrading of the two bathrooms in the East wing. Throughout the winter of 06/07, Public Works crews worked diligently to demolish and literally rebuild from the ground up, these two bathrooms. Their efforts on this project can now be enjoyed by all.
Additional renovations at Town Hall include the upgrading of the two main bathrooms in the front lobby. They have been expanded so that we can modify them to meet the ADA accessibility requirements. Again, it is our intention to utilize Town workforces where possible to help reduce the overall cost of this portion of the project.
The Town Hall has received its new 125kw generator and automatic transfer switch. This was funded through CRCOG as part of the Homeland Security program.
The animal control facility is in motion. A site for the shelter has been located in the rear of Stanton Road where it will not have any impact on any future expansion of the Water Pollution Control Facility. The preliminary plans have been approved by the State of Connecticut, Department of Agriculture. Upon approval from Planning and Zoning and the Inland Wetlands Commission, we will move forward with the final plans.
The two structures located at 56 North Main Street have been removed and the foundation holes have been filled in. Some of the wooden beams were salvaged by the Contractor and are slated for re-use in another project. The future use of this site is currently being discussed by the Board of Selectmen.
Painting of the exterior surfaces of the Town Garage and salt shed were completed. New signage was added at these locations as well.
The Director of Public Works would like to thank all members of the Public Works Department, including the WPCA, and Facility Maintenance Crews for all of their efforts tackling these projects while continuing to perform their regularly scheduled tasks.