State/Utility Project Work

• Continuing to coordinate with Eversource on a number of outstanding issues in Town including double poles, poles guyed into trees, leaning poles and pole guyed with rope (Merriam Street), Hazard trees at/near power lines, etc.;
• Mass Central Rail Trail: trail open, DCR performing Cherry Brook culvert repair on Oct. 21
• National Grid gas relay projects construction during the 2019 Construction Season:
  • Church Street (at/about Pigeon Hill Road) - work completed with the exception of the crossing over the MBTA/rail trail; 
  • Newton Street - work is ongoing
  • Wellesley Street (669-654) - work is ongoing;
  • Sherburn Circle and Concord Road (1-81) - schedule is unknown 
  • Kings Grant Road - work is ongoing;
  • Arrowhead Road - work is ongoing
• National Grid has submitted several permits for repairing long-standing gas leak locations.

Consultant Work Managed by DPW

• Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 30 Roadway Reconstruction TIP Project - roadway, sidewalk, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, etc. A brief summary of the progress to date was provided to the Board of Selectmen on July 30.  Anticipate being before the Board again, possibly pushed to December, to solicit comments prior to the formal 25% Submission to MassDOT in the Winter of 2019. Another Traffic & Sidewalk Committee meeting will be held. Project info at weston.org;
• Overseeing consultant work on Proposed Route 20 Intersection Improvement TIP Project - (signal at Boston Post Road/Wellesley Street/Boston Post Road By-Pass) - Presented to the Board of Selectmen September 10 meeting to solicit comments prior to the formal 25% Submission to MassDOT in the Winter of 2019. Town Engineer trying to set up a neighborhood meeting October 18^th with Winsor Way residents.  Town Engineer and consultant currently working with neighborhood to potentially modify the Town’s previous preferred alternative. Project info at weston.org;
• Overseeing several sidewalk design projects -  (Merriam Street and Warren Avenue) – Funding secured for the work; culvert replacement and drainage work on Merriam needs to take place; sidewalk project needs to be coordinated with roadway work. Warren Ave on hold;  
• Overseeing consultant design and permitting for Concord Road Culvert replacement which has impacts on the Warren Avenue and Merriam Street culverts - decision matrix tabling being evaluated.  Engineering presented findings to Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission;
• Overseeing consultant design and permitting for Ash Street Sidewalk Project - Design ongoing.  Consultant to presented progress prints to Traffic and Sidewalk Committee, but drainage, length of crosswalk and curbing issues/comments from DPW Director need to be resolved.  Town Engineer has outreached to MWRA about secure rights / easements to address previously mentioned concerns;
• Overseeing consultant design and permitting for Water Distribution Master Plan.  Presented at the Board of Selectmen on July 30 to discuss recommendations of the report.  Action item is to prepare Article for December 2019 Special Town Meeting;
• Overseeing consultant design and preparation of specification for Cemetery Tomb Restoration.  Draft plans provided and comments provided back to consultant

Engineering

• Currently reviewing 8 Stormwater Permits;
• Currently issued 58 Stormwater permits which also requires construction inspection; 
• Attempting to convince MassDOT to reconsider its decision to not lower the special speed zone on School Street between Brook School Apartments and Wellesley Street, which requires a temporary regulation. Board of Selectmen to approve temporary regulation at October 23 meeting.  Next action item is perform speed study; 
• Traffic Engineering Consultant Services - two assignments issued; 
• Working with the Town’s Traffic and Sidewalk Committee on several items:  Love Lane, Chestnut Street, Sunset Road, Wellesley Street at Route 30 signal, mirrors, stop sign requests, sidewalk requests, crosswalk requests, etc.;
• Ongoing Engineering Drainage Designs:
  • Hallet Hill at Merriam Street – created hydrologic model and investigated existing drainage system;
  • Pinecroft at Conant Road – preliminary layout of proposed drainage in the roadway has been completed;
  • Merriam Street - southerly end drainage (just north of Fox Chase Road) – finalize layout for 2 catch basins and water quality unit

Stormwater Education

Stormwater pollution is the fastest growing type of water pollution in Massachusetts. It fouls our lakes, rivers, and streams, which is bad for our water supplies and outdoor activities -- and also for the fish and wildlife that live there.

We need resident to do their part for clean and healthy waterways. The following tips will help prevent stormwater pollution from your home.

Yard Waste - Rake 'em, Bag 'em, or Compost 'em. Just Don't Dump 'em

A lot of people think that because grass clippings, brush, and other yard waste are ‘natural’ it is okay to dump piles of them in the woods or wetlands. Dumped yard waste actually destroys the underlying vegetation and wildlife habitat. Leaf dumping near water bodies often results in flooding problems upstream and when too many decomposing leaves get in our streams, unnaturally high levels of nutrients can harm aquatic wildlife. 

In the fall, bag your leaves and bring them to the Transfer Station or the Brush Dump on Merriam Street. Don't dump them in a brook, ditch or storm drain, and don't leave them on the sidewalk or a storm drain. The Merriam Street Brush Dump opens for six consecutive Saturdays starting Oct. 19th and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The leaves are left to compost, which  creates very healthy loam. You can do this, too, at your home for your garden and landscaping.

Save your back altogether and swap the rake for a lawnmower. Mulch the leaves with the blade of your lawnmower set to the highest height. The minced leaves feed your grass and soil over the winter and helps to discourage weeds. By far the easiest and cheapest method to a greener lawn with no need for chemicals that leach into our waterways.

Park and Cemetery Division

• 2 cremation interments;
• 1 grave dug with casket interment;
• Cut and trimmed grass at Linwood Cemetery and other Park and Cemetery locations;
• Trimmed some branches along the tree line perimeter of the cemetery.
• Cleaned and serviced equipment;
• Continued updating the cemetery spreadsheets for interments and lot owners

Highway/Stormwater Divisions

• Respond to Misc. calls for service:  64;
• Fallen tree / branch removal from roadway and/or culverts: Pembroke Rd and 55 storm-related calls;
• Oversee Tree Contractor (Bucket Crew):  Pinecroft, South, Lexington, Pigeon Hill;
• Pickup Deer Removals: North Avenue;
• Trash/Litter pickup:  Ridgeway at Pike Bridge;
• Traffic signage and maintenance repairs:  Clearing, 2 hr parking limit signs for PD, Hobbs Brook, Concord; 
• Set up and program message board for PD on Route 20 and Reprogram for numerous functions;
• Set up Detour for: Old Road, Pigeon Hill Road, Hilltop Road, Gail, Pembroke, Alphabet, South Ave traffic signal outage, and traffic controls for downed trees during the storm;
• Inspect miscellaneous tree locations for possible action: Chiltern, Old, Pinecroft, Buckskin, October, Pembroke, Legion;
• Tree Canopy Raising and Trimming:  October, Montvale, Fairview, Pinecroft, Church;
• Respond to Flooding calls: 13 storm-related locations;
• Check and Clear waterways:  Division Priority List;
• Mowing and trimming including flail mowing:  Prep. for Rail Trail grand opening, Concord, Montvale, Fairview, Pinecroft;
• Clean and service equipment:  Cleaning and Painting;
• Cooks Pond Pump Station:  Pumping normally;
• Assist Paving Contractor:  Old Road, Hilltop Road, Pigeon Hill Road, Gail, and Pembroke;
• Assist Structure Contractor:  Old Road, Hilltop Road, Pigeon Hill Road, Gail, and Pembroke;
• Street Sweeping:  Conant, Rail Trail Parking Areas, Church; 
• Assist Woodland School with Traffic Control for Food Truck Festival