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Public works updates: paving schedule, RFP for outside engineering, scale and bulky-waste pricing under review
Summary
Staff reported the summer paving season is wrapping up, Spencer Drive will require mill-and-pave after a failed hot-in-place treatment, an RFP for outside engineering is being prepared ahead of the city engineer’s retirement, and sanctions to scale bulky-waste pickup and transfer-station pricing were discussed.
Acting Director Bobby Nolf Peterson told the commission that the city is wrapping up summer paving and preparing for fall work, with several projects highlighted.
Spencer Drive had an unsuccessful hot-in-place treatment and will receive a mill-and-pave repair once vendor purchase orders are in place. Saybrook Road will receive the second lane treatment in coming weeks and other concrete work will be staged before fall paving resumes.
Peterson said the city is preparing an RFP for outside engineering services because the city engineer, Tom Negasanti, plans to retire Sept. 19. The RFP is intended to engage outside civil engineering firms to manage the road program while the city recruits a permanent engineer; staff plan to form a review panel that may include commission members.
On solid-waste operations, staff proposed modifying bulky-waste pickup pricing to scale by weight rather than charging a flat $75 fee for all jobs; the goal is to avoid scenarios where very large loads pay the same as small pickups. Peterson said the transfer-station scale price will also be reviewed so Middletown’s rates better reflect actual disposal costs and reduce incentives for out-of-town dumping.
Peterson noted ongoing staffing challenges in public works: a budget analyst recently left and a building records technician is on maternity leave; the vacant building position had one internal candidate and an offer was pending. She said the department is relying on temporary staff in many roles and plans to interview qualified internal and external candidates as vacancies are posted.
No formal votes were taken on RFPs, pricing adjustments or hiring at the meeting; staff said they will return with proposed procurement documents, cost estimates and timeline recommendations.
