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Public Works update: winter maintenance $410,000 over budget; roads contracts, water/sewer and stormwater billing issues reviewed
Summary
At its April 8 meeting the commission heard that winter-maintenance spending exceeded budget by about $410,000, approved major roads contracts totaling roughly $8.3 million for 2026' 2027, and received updates on a contained sewer backup, groundwater treatment RFQs and stormwater-billing data errors.
The Public Works Commission received a broad operations report April 8 that included a winter-maintenance overspend of about $410,000, large roads contracts for 2026' 2027 and multiple operational updates across water, sewer, stormwater and facilities.
Aaron McClosco, ground superintendent, told the commission that staff had projected a larger overrun earlier in the season but the final overspend for winter maintenance was about $410,000. "All said and done, we're about $410,000 over budget," he said, and staff will work with the finance department to cover as much of the excess as possible from other unexpended balances.
Water and sewer staff described a grease-clog incident near Main Street and Commonwealth that threatened a sanitary overflow; crews used the recently returned vac truck to vacuum the catch basin and contain the release. "We contained it," Water & Sewer Superintendent Darren Lefalum said, noting the incident highlighted the importance of routine jetting and rapid response.
The commission also heard about longer-term capital and regulatory work: procurement of engineering support and RFQs for two groundwater PAS-treatment facilities (second-division and Hugh Cargill sites), scheduling of well cleanings and discussion of intake repairs for the NAGO source. Staff reported in-house installation of roughly 20% of the town's 5,600 water meters since last fall and said outsourcing remains an option to accelerate replacements.
Engineering reported that two paving contracts covering 2026 and 2027 total approximately $8.3 million, with additional carryover work from prior contracts; staff plan to supplement in-house inspection with third-party engineering services because of staffing losses. The Walden Street sidewalk project and other complete-streets work will proceed in coordination with TAC and available grant funding.
Stormwater staff reported teething problems with the new stormwater billing system: about 153 account-record errors were identified, roughly 39 abatement requests have been filed and staff are correcting impervious-area calculations in GIS. Plans include catch-basin cleaning (target ~1,000 basins this year) and outreach related to the MS4 annual reporting.
Facilities reported about 37 active projects including a recently completed field-house upgrade, COA entrance and stair reconstruction, TV-studio camera upgrades and planned chamber millwork to improve acoustics and seating. The meeting closed after a resident public comment urging temporary traffic-calming measures on Thorough Road while sidewalk plans proceed.
