Council presses city staff on RG&E work that could break newly resurfaced streets

Council members questioned city staff about Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation (RG&E) work that would cut into recently rebuilt sections of North Goodman Street and other city pavements.

Council member Patterson asked, “What is the plan to ensure that RG&E will not throw [the pavement] back together poorly” after cutting into newly resurfaced streets, and requested a written response. Staff explained the city’s intended practice: when a utility comes in after the city completes a project, the city sets “very strict parameters around their right of way permitting,” and for large projects the utility is required to provide RPR (resident project representative) services to assure the work meets city standards, with city inspectors enforcing compliance.

Patterson and others pressed for stronger accountability, noting that post-cut repairs sometimes produce poor patchwork that shortens the life of the city’s investments. Council member Patterson said that if the city contracts for RPR services on behalf of the utility, the city should back-bill the utility to ensure the work meets specifications. Council member Lupien asked staff to provide the fee schedule and the triggers for imposing fees related to cutting into city streets; staff agreed to supply the fee schedule and to explain when fees are applied.

The committee approved the related item amending the budget for funds from Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation tied to the South Avenue and Elmwood Avenue reconstruction project; council members recorded their concerns and asked for written follow-up on coordination, timelines and accountability.