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Council approves additional utility spending for parts and VFD replacements at treatment plants
Summary
Council approved two budgeted resolutions to authorize additional funds for utility parts and to contract services for variable-frequency-drive (VFD) work; staff said material inflation and aging VFDs prompted the purchases.
Worcester City Council approved two budgeted measures to cover additional spending for utility infrastructure parts and for services related to variable-frequency drives (VFDs) used in the wastewater treatment process.
Councilor Malta introduced a resolution authorizing expenditure of additional funds to buy parts and supplies for the water and wastewater treatment plants; staff said inflation on materials and several nonstandard 16-inch fittings and valves pushed purchases above the city's $75,000 threshold.
A second resolution authorized additional funds for services from Galco Industrial Electronics to supply and program replacement VFDs. Staff said several drives installed in 2014 had reached end-of-life and that failing VFDs on blower motors posed an operational risk during summer; the administration selected Galco (supplying ABB drives) based on availability, technical support and cost. Council members questioned whether replacements could be staggered; staff said staggered replacement would leave unreliable drives in service and risk operational failures.
Council adopted both resolutions by roll-call votes; staff noted the purchases aim to avoid service interruptions and odor complaints.
Ending: City staff will coordinate installation and commissioning of new drives and finalize parts procurement; council approved appropriations to allow immediate enactment.
