Report of the Department of Public Works 2008

PROJECTS
 

The DPW, in conjunction with the Conservation Commission and Lake Management Committee applied for and received a grant for $257,700 from the DEP towards a 319 stormwater project with a total value of $505,100. The project will address numerous non-point source stormwater discharges, erosion and silt build-up issues in three sub-watersheds along the northwestern shore of North Pond and one in Middle Pond. Also, funding was received from a Community Development Block Grant to install new drainage, water lines and pavement on Lakemont Street.
 

The DPW’s contracted engineering firm is working with MassHighway on finalizing the 25% design drawings for the Phase 2 reconstruction of Congamond Road. The Phase 2 plan currently includes the installation of a dry sanitary sewer line from Miller Road to College Highway. The dry line would be used for future sewer expansion along Congamond Road and College Highway near Gillette Corner.
 

Chapter 90 funds were used to improve drainage and pave Reservoir Road, remove trees and prepare for drainage and surface improvements on Honey Pot Road, pave Sunnyside Road (1.1 mi) and Vining Hill Road (2/3 mi). In addition, several roads were crack-sealed.
 

The DPW contracted with Tighe & Bond to design and permit necessary repairs following the December 1 collapse of a Great Brook retaining wall, stone arch and a section of South Longyard Road. Reconstruction work is currently anticipated to begin in April 2009.     

  

HIGHWAY DIVISION
 

The Highway Division currently consists of 4 employees who service the 85+ miles of town roadways. Services include plowing and sanding for winter storms, replacing, rebuilding, clearing & cleaning catch basins to help prevent flooding, patching potholes, grading dirt roads, removing trees, roadside mowing, cleaning up roadside litter and illegally dumped materials, assisting in street sweeping and replacing damaged or vandalized signs. The DPW replaced about 80 signs this past year due to vandalism, theft and winter conditions damage. The DPW asks that any vandalism of street signs be reported to the Southwick Police or Highway Department. Sign vandalism and theft represents an unnecessary annual expense of at least $10,000. The highway division also provides services to many other town departments, like answering emergency calls for vehicle accidents, oil spills, downed trees, washouts and flooding.
 

Amberleaf, Ferrin Heights and Jered subdivisions were accepted by the Town this year and the DPW continues to work with the Planning Board towards acceptance of numerous developments in town, including the Lexington Circle and Pine Knoll subdivisions.
 

WATER DIVISION
 

The Water Division consists of 3 employees who service and maintain 51 miles of water lines, three pumping stations and 2649 customers. They also perform daily inspections of the Town well and pump stations, install new water services and meters, repair water breaks and assist with winter snow plowing.
 

The goal of the Water Division is to provide our users with excellent service and an ample quantity of clean, pure, safe drinking water. The water is tested monthly in 8 locations in town, and the Water Quality Report is published annually in the Southwoods Magazine. Southwick purchases water from the Springfield Water System to supplement water from the town well, during periods of high usage or when repairs are being made to the pump. Monies collected from water revenue are also used to fund system maintenance and improvements. The new redundant well construction is nearly complete and should be on-line by mid-2009.  Design work is underway for a second 1 million gallon water storage tank and construction is expected to begin this year. The DPW and Water Commissioners are currently working on plans to replace and increase the size of the water main on College Highway from Tannery Road to the Westfield line. This is in anticipation of MHD’s plans to rebuild, widen and pave College Highway. Mid- and long-range plans include upgrading of many older water mains within the town. The DPW is also working towards establishing a computerized control system to provide continuous water system information.
 

SOLID WASTE DIVISION
 

Southwick Solid Waste Division continues to promote recycling in order to reduce costs, and achieve the Massachusetts DEP goal of recycling at least 46% of our total waste stream. Those communities not meeting the DEP guidelines of 46% being recycled could ultimately be penalized to the extent that the DEP feels appropriate when trying to qualify for grants. To that end, the DPW has continued a program of education and increased enforcement of mandatory recycling in 2008, resulting in another ~1% increase in recycling, while the total trash to ECO decreased by 11 tons. The DPW made some improvements to the facility to improve accessibility to recycling containers. The DPW also has a preliminary design from the engineering company that will reconfigure the transfer station to improve traffic flow and accessibility to various drop-off stations and organic recycling areas. A used motor oil and antifreeze collection shed has been added and should be in operation in the Spring of 2009.

 

 

Trash to ECO/Springfield	2597
Electronics/Lamps/Batteries	19
Bottles Cans to MRF	153
Paper to MRF	352
DPW Waste Oil (250 gal)	1
Metals & White Goods	114
Finished Compost	1000
Wood Chips	400
Total Tonnage	4636

Recyclable Tonnage: 2039
% Recyclables to total waste stream = (4635 - 2597)/4636 x 100 = 43.98%