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Needham DPW summarizes a busy construction year, lead-service removals and equipment sales
Summary
DPW director reported about $20 million in construction activity this year, progress removing 23 lead water services (4 remain), staffing and contractor constraints, several completed and ongoing projects, and $200,000+ revenue from selling decommissioned vehicles.
Carys Lastik, director of public works, told the Select Board on Nov. 12 that Needham continues an elevated construction pace established since COVID, with roughly $20 million in projects in a typical recent year. She said the department is actively hiring, providing in-house CDL training and balancing in-house work with contractor support amid supply‑chain and contractor availability pressures.
Lastik highlighted several projects and operational items:
- Lead services: "This year, we removed and replaced 23 lead services, and we only have 4 known lead services remaining in town," Lastik said, adding that state requirements are expanding to require removal of galvanized components when crews replace lead lines.
- Major projects and operations: DPW is overseeing MWRA tunnel-related work, a fleet addition to the Cogswell facility (bids came in under budget), design work for the Mark Tree renovation, intersection work at Great Plain and Central, and work supporting Envision Needham Center. The department also finished water-main work on South Street and is advancing a water master plan to guide future targeting of infrastructure investments.
- Fields, parks and ADA: DPW completed Claxton Field renovations (with some grading/timing issues due to drought), finalized ADA viewing upgrades at the high‑school tennis courts, and has ongoing park resurfacing and fencing projects.
- Fleet and revenue: The department sold 24 surplus vehicles through an online auction, generating more than $200,000 for the town, and has taken delivery on 13 vehicles ordered during supply-chain delays.
Why it matters: The elevated capital-and-maintenance workload affects scheduling, contractor availability and town capacity; board members raised concerns about the town's ability to absorb many simultaneous projects and the need to prioritize critical infrastructure while planning for the large Pollard project and other capital demands.
Follow-up: DPW will return with design or funding recommendations as projects move from feasibility to implementation. Staff also signaled forthcoming RTS delivery-study results and possible longer-term solutions for on-site facilities.
Provenance: DPW presentation and Q&A recorded from SEG 1898 through SEG 2290.
