Board approves wastewater engineering roster and authorizes negotiation for flood-mitigation study

The Board of Aldermen on Jan. 6 approved a selection of engineering firms for wastewater engineering services and authorized the Public Works commissioner to begin contract negotiations with SLR Consulting for a flood-mitigation study.

Engineer Gillen told the board the city had solicited statements of qualifications and received six submissions. The approved roster of firms is intended as a pool the city can draw from for individual wastewater projects; no contract awards or project funding were approved at the meeting.

"We issued an RFQ for wastewater engineering services. Received 6 statements of qualifications," Engineer Gillen said, adding the roster approach substitutes for repeated RFPs on single projects.

After a motion and second, the board approved the recommended selection of firms (listed in meeting materials) by voice vote.

Gillen also outlined the city’s interest in hazard mitigation funding for flood relief projects, including culvert upsizing and floodplain restoration at sites such as Strong’s Avenue and Muzzy Brook. He said the state’s hazard mitigation grant program had invited formal applications after a pre-application phase and that the application deadline is in June.

Gillen said the city lacks a watershed-level flood mitigation study that grant reviewers expect and asked permission to enter contract negotiations with SLR Consulting, a firm that has previously done related work for the city. He estimated a study might cost roughly $50,000 and said he would return with a proposed funding source if the board authorized negotiations.

A motion to authorize the Public Works commissioner to initiate contract negotiations with SLR Consulting for the flood mitigation study was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board also referred two related topics — the Moonbrook Flow Restoration Plan and the Phosphorus Control Plan engineering design services — to the Public Works Committee for further work.

Why it matters: The engineering roster creates a prequalified pool of firms the city can hire for wastewater projects without issuing a separate RFP for each job. The flood-mitigation study is intended to strengthen applications for state hazard mitigation grants and to prioritize culvert and floodplain projects that could reduce repeated flooding risks.

Next steps: The Public Works commissioner will negotiate scope and cost with SLR Consulting and return to the board with a recommended funding source; the referenced engineering design matters will proceed through the Public Works Committee.