2023-02-16-AC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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02/16/2023 AC Minutes 3 There is a need to do maintenance of traffic signals, as some of them are not operating properly. Some of the signal controllers are old and it is difficult to obtain replacements for parts that are not working. Replacement of, for example, a signal controller is considered to be a capital investment; the cost would be too high to be covered in the operating budget. The intersection of Pleasant and Watertown Streets will be changed to a roundabout, and the esti- mated cost may be in the FY2024 budget. The driveway to an abutting private development will enter the roundabout; this is legal and will be taken into account in the design. The bidding process for the whole Battlegreen streetscape including the roundabout near the Battlegreen is open right now. The proposed project to put a sidewalk on Cedar St. includes a roundabout at the intersection of Cedar St. with Hill St. and Paul Revere Rd. The capital budget includes a request to fund the replacement of 6 or 7 DPW vehicles with the most expensive being a street sweeper and a truck used for the collection of trash from the bins in parks, etc. The possibility of obtaining these two vehicles with electric or hybrid power was investigated but was found to not be economical at this time. The recommended budget includes the installation of electric charging facilities at the DPW building. A stormwater utility is being considered but no action on it will be requested at the upcoming an- nual town meeting. It may be on the warrant of a fall town meeting. Town meeting would be asked to create a stormwater enterprise fund, and in a separate action, to change the town bylaws to allow fees to be imposed to fund the Town’s stormwater management expenses. In regard to the admin- istration of the fee collection, if an enterprise fund is created and fees approved, the Town would add a line on water/sewer bills for the stormwater fee. This would streamline the administration so that no new staff would be needed. Mr. Pinsonneault noted that future tightening of regulations on the amounts of phosphorus that contaminate stormwater could mean that the Town will need to take expensive actions to meet the tighter regulations. If a stormwater enterprise fund is created, the Se- lect Board has indicated an intention to fund its operations from the General Fund for at least the first year to mitigate the impact of a new fee on taxpayers. The Select Board is also considering pro- posing an “underride,” which must be approved by a town-wide referendum, to make the transition from tax-based to a fee-based stormwater management operations all or partly revenue-neutral on a permanent basis. The DPW is requesting further capital improvements for public grounds irrigation systems and is advocating that there be an annual article to fund the construction of new sidewalks. The amount that will be requested for sewage pumping stations will be less than requested in recent years, since nearly all of the stations have been renovated recently or are being done now. The bids for the work on the North St. pumping station were recently opened. AC Report to Town meeting Mr. Michelson asked Ms. Kosnoff about 3-year financial projections. Ms. Kosnoff described the progress to date, and said the projections are almost complete. Ms. Kosnoff stated that the Brown Book would be released on Friday. There was discussion about the distribution of paper versus soft copies of the Brown Book and the AC report. The TMMA will survey town meeting members as to their preferences. More paper copies of the AC report may need to be printed this year than in the recent two or three years.