Category Archives: DPW

MMA says state to provide pothole repair $

Posted on April 9, 2014 | Comments Off on MMA says state to provide pothole repair $

This notice from the Massachusetts Municipal Association this morning-

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE CITIES AND TOWNS WITH $30 MILLION FOR POTHOLE AND WINTER RECOVERY EFFORTS

$30 MILLION IN ONE-TIME AID TO BE AVAILABLE AND ALLOCATED THROUGH CHAPTER 90 FORMULA

In one hour, Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey will officially announce that Governor Patrick has established a $40 million “Pothole and Winter Recovery Program” that will provide cities and towns with $30 million in funding this spring to repair potholes and other damage to roads, signs, facilities and equipment caused by the punishing winter. The remaining $10 million will be used by the state Highway Division for similar repairs to state roads.

Secretary Davey will make the announcement at a press conference in Dorchester, joined by MMA President and Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas, Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan and other state and local officials.

According to MassDOT, this one-time program is funded through anticipated surpluses in the state’s fiscal 2014 capital spending plan, caused by “the delay in the passage of transportation bond bill.”

The $30 million for cities and towns will be allocated to municipalities using the Chapter 90 formula. The program will allow municipalities to implement “repairs of potholes, cracking, signage, guardrail or other damage,” as well as “repairs to municipal vehicles or transportation facilities (e.g. garages, fueling stations)” or “projects identified through written agreement between MassDOT and a municipality.”

MassDOT officials have outlined the following details: 1) the program will be implemented this month, with all qualifying work completed by September of 2014; 2) the department will issue one-time contracts with municipalities allowing them to draw down their share of the $30 million for the specific purpose of road and facility repairs; and 3) these contracts will include a “use it or lose it” clause to ensure that the funds are obligated for specific projects prior to the end of this fiscal year on June 30 and that funds are spend and projects completed by next September.

Cities and towns will be receiving official notification and information of this program within the next several days.

This year’s harsh winter has damaged local roads, generated countless potholes and placed a huge burden on local taxpayers as municipal leaders work to shore up their crumbling roadways. Communities will put these funds to immediate use rebuilding and repairing roads, equipment and facilities in every corner of Massachusetts, which will save money, help our economy and improve public safety.

This is very good news for cities and towns, and the MMA applauds Governor Patrick, Secretary Davey and MassDOT for this important program!

 

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Posted in Budgets, DPW, Massachusetts Municipal Association

Should Medfield own its streetlights?

Posted on March 25, 2014 | Comments Off on Should Medfield own its streetlights?

This detailed report is from Medfield’s own Fred Davis on his company’s recent work for the Town of Dartmouth to install LED streetlights, and is taken from Fred’s company’s e-newsletter (see it here on-line if you prefer), documenting a 22% annual return on Dartmouth’s investment in LED streetlights.

Dartmouth is also the town using a system that I have been suggesting that Medfield copy, of making money ($2 m. in Dartmouth) by issuing RFP’s to buy solar power.  This year, until two weeks ago, I thought that I had an annual town meeting (ATM) warrant article coming up to give the selectmen the authority to contract for the 20-30 years required to take the next step to make that happen, but my article slipped through the cracks in the warrant preparation process without my noticing, so it will have to await the next town meeting. –

Time for Technology Upgrade:
 
Replacing Streetlights with High-Efficiency LEDs Saves Dartmouth Almost 70% 

The south coast town of Dartmouth may date to the 1600s, but in the 2000s it has been pursuing the most modern, smart, energy-saving technology. Town Administrator David Cressman adopted photovoltaics for Dartmouth’s municipal electricity. And in 2013, he converted all of Dartmouth’s streetlights to energy-saving LED fixtures.

Cressman had heard favorable reports about LEDs from neighboring Fairhaven as it began phasing them in along their roadways. So when Dartmouth’s maintenance contractor faced changing out many of the bulbs in the old high-pressure-sodium (HPS) fixtures, Cressman knew the time was right to make the change. He was able to complete all the steps to convert to LED technology in less than a year with the aid of recent regulatory and technological developments.

To make any changes to the old fixtures, the town had to first own them. Dartmouth had taken theirs over around 2000. (Since 1997, under MGL C. 164 s.34A, Massachusetts cities and towns may purchase their streetlights from their utility companies.)*

To purchase new LED fixtures, Dartmouth utilized State Contract FAC76 Category 6, which was put into place in 2012 by Massachusetts Operational Services Division in consultation with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The contract provides a procurement path for an eligible municipal entity to purchase LED streetlight fixtures without having to go through a separate bid process.

Cressman worked with state contractor Fred Davis Corporation (FDC), a lighting products distributor with thirty years of experience in energy-efficient lighting. FDC proposed state-of-the-art Cree XSP LED roadway fixtures in five versions to replace the various fixtures that had been illuminating the streets of Dartmouth.

These fixtures bring the best in high-tech engineering to street lighting. High-quality LED streetlights offer extraordinary efficiency by using many small, latest-generation light-emitting diodes, each of which projects precisely the right amount of light in the right direction. Cree XSP fixtures exceed 100 lumens of directed light  per watt of electricity. Fixture efficiency of a representative HPS fixture is only 56 lumens per watt, and even much of that light is wasted.

FDC’s analysis projected overall electricity savings of 68% for Dartmouth’s new streetlights. The striking energy savings are even more remarkable considering that so many of the town’s old fixtures were already low-wattage types.

The proposal to adopt LED streetlights proceeded as would any project of its scale in the town, gaining requisite committee approvals from Capital Improvement, FinCom, and Selectmen. Final adoption came at Dartmouth Town Meeting in June 2013. Purchase, construction, delivery, and installation of the customized fixtures followed over the summer and fall.

The new fixtures come with a 10-year warranty and are rated to last much longer than that, whereas the old HPS fixtures had a life cycle of about six years, with even more frequent lamp and ballast replacements. Cressman was thus able to dramatically lower the cost of the town’s fixture maintenance contract.

The new LED streetlights promise major financial savings in electricity and maintenance. Add to that a substantial energy-efficiency incentive from NStar Electric, and the switchover is projected to pay for itself in under five years.

Residents are very pleased with the way the roads are illuminated. And town officials are thrilled with the cost-effectiveness of the project.

In just the last two years, the best-quality LED streetlight fixtures have dramatically increased in efficiency, and their price has come down at the same time. The Dartmouth project came in costing 30% less, and saving about 30% more energy, than the town originally anticipated.

Upgrading streetlights to LED technology has proven itself a smart opportunity for any city or town.

Number of LED streetlights
1,658
KWH annual reduction projected
418,569
Total cost
$463,483
NSTAR incentive
$104,827
Net municipal cost
$358,656
Total annual Savings projected **
$79,600
Simple payback period (years)
4.5
Annual return on initial investment
22%

** Electricity at $.14 KWH plus maintenance
© 2014 Fred Davis

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Posted in DPW, Energy Committee, Environmental, Green

MMA asks for long term bond bill for roads

Posted on October 22, 2013 | Comments Off on MMA asks for long term bond bill for roads

This Alert this afternoon from the Massachusetts Municipal Association –

October 22, 2013

PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY AND ASK THEM TO PASS A LONG-TERM CHAPTER 90 BOND BILL BY NOV. 20

Cities And Towns Need A Multi-Year Ch. 90 Bill Now; Without a Long-Term Bill in Place, Next Year’s Authorization Could be Delayed Again

Even as the MMA and local officials across the state call on the Governor to release the full $300 million in Chapter 90 funds that the Legislature has authorized for fiscal year 2014, it is important to push for swift action to approve a multi-year bond bill to guarantee that Chapter 90 funds will flow on time for fiscal year 2015 and beyond.

Local officials across the state applaud the Legislature’s action to authorize $300 million for Chapter 90 during the current fiscal year.  We are extremely disappointed in the Administration’s unwise decision to withhold $100 million from cities and towns – the Legislature voted to fund Chapter 90 by a unanimous vote, and provided a broad tax and revenue package to significantly increase transportation investments, and communities are dismayed that the Administration is unilaterally deciding to deny Chapter 90 even one penny of the additional revenues, let alone the full amount embraced by local officials and every lawmaker in the state.

The MMA and local officials will continue to call on the Governor to release the full amount of Chapter 90 funding that is due cities and towns.  The good news is that the Legislature’s authorization will remain on the books, which means that this Administration, or any future Administration, can decide to release the $100 million at any point.

In the meantime, we are also looking beyond the fiscal 2014 authorization, to the passage of a multi-year Chapter 90 bond bill to enable cities and towns to plan for the future.  The passage of a bond bill (and the companion “terms” bill) requires a long journey along a very time-consuming pathway.  This lengthy process, coupled with the debate over the transportation finance bill, resulted in the Governor delaying release of final Chapter 90 allocation letters until July 30, rather than the customary and statutory date of April 1.  Provisional and contingent letters were sent in April and May, but these did not provide cities and towns with legal authorization to enter into road construction contracts or to start work.  Missing the April 1 deadline shortens the construction season and delays important projects in every part of the state.

In order to avoid another frustrating and costly delay in the start of local road projects for fiscal 2015 and beyond, please call your Representatives and Senators today and ask them to enact a multi-year, $300 million-a-year Chapter 90 bond bill as soon as possible before the end of the 2013 session on November 20.  It is important for the Legislature to enact a new Chapter 90 authorization before the end of formal legislative sessions on November 20.  Otherwise, using history as a guide, the fiscal 2015 authorization would likely be delayed again, and miss the April 1 notification date.  Please ask your legislators to commit to passing a 5-year Chapter 90 bond bill that provides $300 million annually, indexed for inflation.

We need the Legislature to pass a long-term Chapter 90 bond bill today so that funds will flow to cities and towns without delay next spring!

 

Please click here to download a copy of the MMA’s letter to the Legislature calling for passage of a $300-million-a-year, multi-year Chapter 90 bond bill before the Legislature adjourns on November 20.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS TODAY AND ASK THEM TO PASS A MULTI-YEAR CHAPTER 90 BOND BILL BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS ON NOV. 20

Thank You Very Much.

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Posted in Budgets, DPW, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Transportation

DPW garage bonds at 3.24%

Posted on September 16, 2013 | Comments Off on DPW garage bonds at 3.24%

Medfield $9,500,000 Bonds Net 3.24%

Georgia Colivas, Town Treasurer, received competitive bids from bond underwriters on Thursday, September 12, 2013, for a $9,500,000 20-year bond issue. Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. was the winning bidder on the Bonds with an average interest rate of 3.24%. The Town received a total of 9 bids. The bond proceeds will be used to finance municipal garage construction.

Prior to the sale Moody’s Investors Service, a municipal bond credit rating agency, affirmed the Town’s Aa1 rating. The rating agency cited the Town’s healthy financial position with consistent reserve levels, stable tax base with strong wealth levels and modest debt profile with above average payout as positive credit factors.

The bids for the Bonds were accepted at the offices of the Town’s Financial Advisor, First Southwest Company, at 54 Canal Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Posted in Budgets, Buildings, DPW

3.2214% rate on bonds for DPW garage

Posted on September 13, 2013 | Comments Off on 3.2214% rate on bonds for DPW garage

Per email from Town of Medfield Treasurer/Collector, Georgia Colivas –

3.2214% is our winning lowest bid by Stifel Nicolaus, a brokerage and investment banking firm in Missouri.

The town received 9 bids, the highest being 3.5%

I will be at Selectmen’s meeting on 9/17 for signatures and votes.

The town received a fantastic interest rate, considering last week we were quoted a 4% due to the market volatility and unrest in Syria.  One week made such a difference in the interest rate.

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Posted in Budgets, DPW

We’re Aa1

Posted on September 7, 2013 | Comments Off on We’re Aa1

Moody’s Investors Service just rated Medfield one step below its top category, for our bonds for the new DPW garage.  Mike Sullivan says we cannot get the top rating because our property tax base is so residential.

New Issue: Moody’s assigns Aa1 to Medfield, MA’s $9.5M GO bonds
Global Credit Research – 05 Sep 2013
Affirms Aa1 on $31M of outstanding GO debt
MEDFIELD (TOWN OF) MA
Cities (including Towns, Villages and Townships)
MA
Moody’s Rating
ISSUE RATING
General Obligation Garage Bonds Aa1
Sale Amount $9,500,000
Expected Sale Date 09/12/13
Rating Description General Obligation
Moody’s Outlook NOO
Opinion
NEW YORK, September 05, 2013 –Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an Aa1 rating to the Town of
Medfield’s (MA) $9.5 million General Obligation Garage Bonds. Concurrently, Moody’s has affirmed the Aa1 rating
on the town’s $31 million of outstanding general obligation debt. Of the town’s total outstanding debt, approximately
$35 million, including this issue, is secured by the town’s unlimited general obligation tax pledge, as debt service
has been voted exempt from the levy limitations of Proposition 2 ½. Debt service on the remaining $5.5 million is
secured by a limited tax pledge given that it is subject to the levy limit. Bond proceeds will fund construction of a
new municipal garage which houses the town public works and other department vehicles and equipment.
SUMMARY RATING RATIONALE
The Aa1 rating reflects the town’s healthy financial position with consistent reserve levels, stable residential tax
base with strong wealth levels, and a modest debt profile with above average amortization of principal.
STRENGTHS
– Healthy financial position with consistent reserve levels
– Stable tax base with strong wealth levels
– Modest debt profile with above average payout
– Strong history of voter approvals for overrides and exclusions of Proposition 2 ½
CHALLENGES
– Limited levy capacity and budget flexibility
– Maintaining satisfactory financial reserves amidst ongoing spending pressures
DETAILED CREDIT DISCUSSION
HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION WITH CONSISTENT RESERVE LEVELS
We expect Medfield to maintain a healthy financial position given conservative budget practices and limited annual
draws on reserves. Over the last five years, the town has averaged an annual operating deficit of $1.3 million,
balancing annually operations through the use of planned draws on restricted fund balances attributed to debt
exclusions for school building projects (approximately $1.1 million) and free cash appropriations and other
available funds if needed. The fiscal 2012 operating budget remained level relative to 2011, with the only material
increase to the education expenditure of 1.7%. Due to lack of tax levy capacity, the town approved an override of
the tax levy limit by $500,000 to support the increase in town and education expenses. Voters approved previous
overrides in 2008 and 2009, indicating strong support for education funding. The audited financials reflect positive
variance in revenues attributed to additional local receipts and conservative expenditure budgeting which led to
$938,000 in departmental turn backs. The total General Fund balance declined to $19.9 million (38.6% of
revenues) due to the $1.1 million use of restricted fund balance. The $12.2 million restricted fund balance
represents the remainder of a 2007 grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) which is
pledged to cover part of the town’s outstanding school debt. The total General Fund balance is expected to
gradually decline as the draw-down of the MSBA grant continues through 2023. Despite the reduction in total fund
balance, the available fund balance increased to $7.6 million (14.8% of revenues) and the unassigned fund
balance increased to $2.6 million (5% of revenues) due to the positive variance in revenues and expenditures.
Medfield derives the majority of its revenues from property taxes (68% of 2012 revenues) and continues to benefit
from a strong collection rate of 99% within the fiscal year. Fiscal 2013 year-end projections reflect another year of
nominally balanced operations supported by planned use of restricted fund balance, $500,000 in free cash
appropriations and $400,000 in stabilization funds (sewer betterments). Revenues ended the year up $227,000
over budget due to continued increase in local receipts while positive expenditure variance of $613,000 was
attributed to greater departmental turn backs than in prior years. The fiscal 2014 budget increased by 2.1% from
the prior year and is balanced with a 1.8% tax levy increase and continued appropriations of reserves, including
$900,000 in free cash. The free cash appropriation continues to cover $400,000 in special appropriations while the
balance will be deposited into an OPEB trust fund and stabilization fund, and cover planning costs for capital
projects. Our ongoing assessment of the town’s credit quality will factor in management’s ability to maintain a
nominally balanced budget with sound fund balance levels.
STABLE RESIDENTIAL TAX BASE WITH STRONG WEALTH LEVELS
Medfield is a primarily residential community (94% of the 2013 assessed valuation) with a population of 12,024,
located approximately 20 miles southwest of Boston (rated Aaa/stable). The town’s $2.4 billion tax base is
expected to remain stable with limited growth, reflecting a slow turnaround in the regional real estate market.
Assessed value increased 0.8% in 2013, rebounding from five consecutive years of declines and bringing the five
year average annual growth to -1.2%. The town’s equalized value per capita remains strong at $197,461, reflecting
the strength of the residential sector due in part to the town’s top-ranked public and private schools. In addition, the
town has a number of residential developments underway, including new construction of single family housing and
condos which will continue to provide annual new growth revenue. Wealth levels in Medfield are also substantially
higher than state and national averages, with median family income of $126,276 (156% and 201%, respectively).
Also, the town’s unemployment rate of 6.2% (June 2013) continues to fall below the state (7.4%) and US (7.8%).
MODEST DEBT PROFILE WITH ABOVE AVERAGE AMORTIZATION
Medfield’s debt position is expected to remain manageable, given its modest direct debt burden of 1.3% of
equalized value and rapid principal amortization of 83.1% within 10 years. The town currently has no authorized
but unissued debt; although it has a number of projects planned in the coming years, including a new public safety
building with an estimated cost of $15 to $18 million. Approval of future projects would include debt exclusions from
Proposition 2 ½. The town’s portion of school debt makes up approximately 56% of the total debt outstanding, but
after factoring in the $12.2 million MSBA grant, the adjusted debt burden drops to 1.2% of equalized value. Annual
debt service has declined, with the fiscal 2012 cost down to 9.9% of expenditures. The town has no variable rate
debt outstanding and has not entered into any derivative agreements.
The town participates in the Norfolk County Contributory Retirement System, a multi-employer, defined benefit
retirement plan. The town’s annual required contribution (ARC) for the plans was $1.5 million in fiscal 2012, or
2.8% of General Fund expenditures. The city’s adjusted net pension liability, under Moody’s methodology for
adjusting reported pension data, is $26.5 million, or a below average 0.53 times General Fund revenues. Moody’s
uses the adjusted net pension liability to improve comparability of reported pension liabilities. The adjustments are
not intended to replace the town’s reported liability information, but to improve comparability with other rated
entities. The town maintains a Pension Trust Fund with a current balance of $4 million as of fiscal 2012. Also, the
town currently contributes to its OPEB liability on a pay-as-you-go basis plus annual appropriations into an OPEB
trust fund with a balance of $300,000. The town contributed 38% of its Annual OPEB cost in fiscal 2012,
representing $1.4 million. The total Unfunded Actuarially Accrued Liability (UAAL) for OPEB is $39.8 million, as of
January 1, 2011. The town’s total fixed costs for 2012, including pension, OPEB, and debt service, represented
$8.1 million or 15.5% of expenditures.
WHAT COULD MAKE THE RATING GO UP
– Increased budget capacity and flexibility
– Increase to available and unassigned fund balance
– Increase in tax base size and wealth levels
WHAT COULD MAKE THE RATING GO DOWN
– Prolonged structural imbalance
– Significant reduction in General Fund balance
– Decrease in tax base or demographic profile
– Significant increase in debt burden
KEY FACTS:
Equalized Valuation 2012: $2.4 billion
2010 Population (US Census): 12,024
Average Annual Increase in Assessed Valuation (2008-2013): -1.2%
Median Family Income: $126,276 (156% of state, 201% of US median)
Equalized Value per Capita: $197,461
Unemployment (June 2013): 6.2%
FY12 Total General Fund Balance: $19.9 million (38.6% of General Fund revenues)
FY12 Available Fund Balance: $7.6 million (14.8% of General Fund revenues)
FY12 Unassigned Fund Balance: $2.6 million (5% of General Fund revenues)
Direct Debt as % of Full Value: 1.3%
Adjusted Direct Debt as % of Full Value: 1.2%
Amortization of Principal (10 years): 83.1%
Post-sale General Obligation Debt Outstanding: $40.5 million

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Posted in Budgets, Buildings, DPW

North Street paving to 8/19

Posted on August 13, 2013 | Comments Off on North Street paving to 8/19

This from the town DPW’s consultant –

“Larusso  canceled the scheduled paving for the 12th because they got delayed on their last job by the rain on last Friday.  They wanted to go today but [we] were worried about rain so we have been put on their schedule for the 19th.”

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Posted in DPW

NSTAR’s response

Posted on August 12, 2013 | Comments Off on NSTAR’s response

This email this AM from NSTAR’s new community representative to the Town of Medfield, in response to Richard DeSorgher’s recent list of “frustrations” sent to NSTAR  –  progress to be made –

8/12/2013 10:09AM
Re: fw: Frustration with NSTAR
Lopes, Jack
Selectman Osler L. Peterson
===========================================================
Mr. Peterson,

As a follow up to your email in regards to the 8 issues as stipulated in the email below, I met with our Walpole Service Center and below is the follow up from NSTAR:

1) A Walpole supervisor stopped by the Medfield Highway Garage and spoke  with a Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy stated that they were not ready for NSTAR, they first must do some site work in order for the NSTAR truck to have access to the site, this morning we received a call from Mr. Kennedy that the site is now ready for NSTAR and we have committed a truck to be on site this Wednesday.
2) NSTAR Walpole Service Center would like to have the pole number or street address for the location of the pole that was installed through a drainage pipe on Eastmont Rd.
3) NSTAR Walpole Service Center will be on site today to remove the double pole at the Robert McCarthy Blacksmith Shop Historical Monument.
4) I will work with the Walpole Service Center regarding the double poles once I receive the priority list from the Town of Medfield.
5) I will check with our Vegetation Management Group to see what can be done regarding the tree trimming on the NSTAR’s Transmission Right of Way on Route 27, and how we can better communicate with the town in regards to future tree trimming.
6) In regards to the pole on Fairview Rd, NSTAR will bring out some
gravel, either today or tomorrow and fill the hole at the base of the pole.
7) The coils of wire on Clark Rd. and Elm St. are either Verizon or
Comcast, they do not belong to NSTAR.

8) The plastic box at Phillip St. and Fairview Rd. is a termination box
that belongs to Verizon.

Thank you, please let me know if you have any questions.

Jack Lopes, CEM
Community Relations & Economic Development Specialist
Northeast Utilities
One NSTAR Way – Walpole
Westwood, MA 02090
Telephone: 508-660-5251
Fax: 508-660-5240
http://www.nu.com

From:   “Osler L. Peterson”

To:     Jack Lopes/NUS@NU,
Cc:     Michael Sullivan, Kristine Trierweiler

Date:   08/08/2013 11:52 AM
Subject:        fw: Frustration with NSTAR

Mr. Lopes,

Thank you for meeting with the Medfield town administrators and your follow up email to their assistant.  I am one of the other Medfield selectmen, and look forward to meeting you.  However, I am writing because I wanted to assure you that it is not just one of the selectmen who has been frustrated with the issues Richard DeSorgher detailed so well, it is all of the selectmen.  So, thank you in advance for seeking to resolve these matters as soon as possible.

Also, despite our frustrations at times, please know that we are greatly appreciative of many things related to NSTAR, most especially the relationships with and past assistance from both Barry Salvucci and Penni Conner to the town.

Thank you for your courtesies and assistance with resolving these current matters.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,
Pete
Osler L. Peterson, Attorney at Law
PETERSON | Law
580 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458
66 North St, PO Box 358, Medfield, MA 02052
T – 617.969.1500
T – 617.969.1501 (direct)
M – 508-359-9190
F – 617.663.6008
osler.peterson@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/osler.peterson/
Medfield Information at: Facebook, https://medfield02052.wordpress.com/ &

—– Original Message —–

From: Jack Lopes

Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 9:49 AM
To:

Subject: Frustration with NSTAR

Good morning Mr. DeSorgher:

First I would like to apologize for the frustration that with have been
getting from NSTAR, as of Monday, August 12th, I will be the new Community Relations Specialist for the Town of Medfield, I have started to looking into the items listed below, I met with Mike Sullivan and Kristine Trierweiler yesterday afternoon and our priority is to get item 1 resolved ASAP, I will be meeting with the Manager of our Walpole Service Center later today to get a time table for this, the other item regarding the 200+ double poles I have asked Kristine to get me a priority list so that we can address those first, the other items on the list will be patrolled by an NSTAR supervisor today and tomorrow and I should have a list by Monday.

again, I apologize for the frustration that NSTAR has caused you and the Town of Medfield and look forward to work with you and the town.

Thank you.

Jack Lopes, CEM
Account Executive
Northeast Utilities
One NSTAR Way – SUMSW340
Westwood, MA 02090-9230
Telephone: 781-441-8236
Fax: 781-441-3194
http://www.nu.com
Frustration with NSTAR

At last nights Selectman’s meeting, I expressed frustration with the lack of cooperation Medfield has been receiving from NSTAR. It took place during a hearing we held concerning the request by NSTAR to place an additional electrical pole in the North Street sidewalk to service Statbucks. While the NSTAR representative at the meeting was not the culprit of my frustration, I felt I had to begin somewhere in trying to get through to NSTAR, as the normal means of communications have fallen on deaf ears to date. The following were my points of frustration:
1. NSTAR is holding up a $10 million dollar public works project, the new Medfield Highway Garage, with their refusal to remove one live electric pole—Two months have now gone by since the town ’s first request and constant requests via telephone calls and e-mails since then. The Town has already had to spend extra money by having an engineer redesign a new route for the water and sewer lines, as originally they were to go near the existing pole.  The drainage, however, can’t be moved and is currently being held up. All the drainage, manholes, etc on the north side of the complex can not be connected to the retention pond close to Route 27 because the pole is in the way. The highway department is afraid to run the drainage next to the live pole as it is in sandy soil and they fear the pole will collapse when they dig next to it. They asked, as a
compromise, since NSTAR won’t schedule the removal of the pole, will they at least send a truck for one hour to hold the pole upright so the DPW can dig the drainage past the pole to connect it to the retention pond. Still no action from NSTAR. We have been lucky to date that it has been dry.
Rain will cause flooding and disruption on the north site of the site as
the water will have no where to go—The existing gasoline/diesel tank on site that holds all the fuel for all our town vehicles needs to be moved.
It can’t become operational until the NSTAR pole is moved. This is costing the taxpayer of Medfield extra money as all our highway vehicles now have to go to Randy’s Irving Station and pay a higher gas and diesel price —I think Medfield deserves a rebate off our town electric bills for the extra costs NSTAR is causing us to spend.
2. There is an NSTAR pole on Eastmont Road that they put through the town drainage pipe, causing flooding and water in the street during heavy rains. The road and drainage is on a hill, resulting in rain water rushing down the drainage system and hitting the pole that is blocking the pipe.
For three years our highway department has been after NSTAR to remove the pole from of the drainage pipe— Said one town highway official “they just wear you down, you keep after them, they don’t respond, you get tired of getting after them, they wear you out and they win, as nothing gets done and the problem remains.”
3. The Robert McCarthy Blacksmith Shop Historical Monument on Janes Avenue was dedicated in 2011 on the site of Robert McCarthy’s old blacksmith shop. It commemorates not only Mr. McCarthy but memorializes the history of blacksmithing in Medfield. Smack in the middle of the site are ugly double telephone poles owned by NSTAR. NSTAR was asked to remove the unused pole that is strapped to the one in use. This request was put in well before the dedication.- Selectman Pete Peterson personally called NSTAR letting them know the importance of the memorial site. To date,
despite additional requests, nothing has been done. I asked the NSTAR official when that double pole will be removed from the memorial site?
4. I have now counted almost 200 double poles along Medfield streets—(and have not completed every street yet) My question to NSTAR was how do you justify breaking the law, as that is exactly what NSTAR is doing, breaking the law:  State law, Chapter 164, Section 34B requires double poles to be removed within 90 days because they are unsightly and pose a safety hazard. The law, however, applies no penalty, so NSTAR flaunts the law and the double poles add up in the communities. Bills to place a $1,000 fine
per pole have been defeated in the state legislature to date.  My question to NSTAR was when will you comply with the law and remove all the double poles from Medfield?
5. High tension wires run through Medfield and cross Rt. 27 just past the Gary Dive area of town. Without the common decency of notifying the town, large swaths of trees were cut down in and along an expanded area of the existing high tension lines. I fully understand the reasons why you don’t want high growing trees to get near high tension lines. My question was why was Medfield not notified about the cutting? Brush and low growing trees used to shield the view of the hi-tension lines from Rt. 27. That brush and tree growth that was along RT 27 was also cut down, leaving the now unsightly view of a barren wasteland.  The brush and trees were not that tall but at least they shielded the unsightly view. My question was when will the brush/tree growth that was cut down along RT 27 be replaced with planting new low growing brush/trees. It was interesting that the brush and trees were kept along Hartford Street in Dover. For some reason the brush shield was kept for Dover but cut it down in Medfield.
6. The pole on Fairview Road(pole #101-2) has a hole in the ground next to a double pole that now goes under the street. I fear it is about to cause a sink hole as rain water continues to travel into the now expanding hole. My question was when will that be fixed?
7. There are coils of wires hanging from NSTAR poles and laying on the sidewalks and ground. While not live wires, I still fear this is a danger to kids. I have numerous examples including poles on Clark Road and Elm Street. My question was when will they be removed or raised to a higher level on the pole?
8. There is a plastic transformer of some sort lying on the ground that has been there since Tropical Storm Sandy on Philip Street @ Fairview Road. I am not sure what that is, but it should not be lying on the ground for kids to get into. My question was when will that be removed or returned to its original location high up on the pole?
I believe our only recourse, as we are getting no respect or cooperation from NSTAR, is to ask the commissioners of public utilities to come to a selectmen’s meeting so we can voice Medfield’s concerns to the only agency that has control over the utilities. The Department of Public Utilities are made up of: Ann G. Berwick, chair, Jolette A, Westbrook and David W. Cash.

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Posted in DPW, Utilities

North Street paving Monday

Posted on August 8, 2013 | Comments Off on North Street paving Monday

The weather permitting, North Street paving will begin on Monday at 6AM.

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Posted in DPW

Pavement magangement plan

Posted on August 1, 2013 | Comments Off on Pavement magangement plan

The Massachusetts Municipal Association is a wonderful source of information on both what other towns are doing and what are the best practices.  This summer’s issue of the MMA’s Municipal Advocate ran an article by an engineer from Faye, Spofford & Thorndike, on best practices for maintaining road surfaces, and stating that having a “pavement management plan” for the roads ensures, long term, both the best planning and the cheapest road costs.  See the article via the link below for all the details.

Basically a pavement management plan involves

  • doing an initial  survey to get the data on all your road surfaces conditions,
  • rating all road surfaces.
  • projecting expected repair cost, and
  • using that data to make policy decisions about annual needs/repairs, and spending levels.

Since we do not have a pavement management plan, I will be asking that we implement one.  This is the sort of discipline that we need to undertake if we are to get a good understanding of what we should be doing each year. Without that catalog of data of the existing conditions, our annual road maintenance decisions are at best, educated guesses.

The Water and Sewer Commission recently implemented a sophisticated business planning model developed for them by board member Willis Peligian, that analyzes the data and based upon the variables.  It is an impressive business planning tool that accounts for all the variables, and can then aid the W&S Department in its planning by showing expected outcomes of different choices.  The model clearly showed the W&S Department (and all of us who saw it demonstrated) that a 25% rate hike was needed this year to maintain the required reserves. Interestingly, the recent Globe article had our water rates listed as second lowest out of about the 15-20 towns in their article.

Our road maintenance needs a similar disciplined approach to plan future work, both to properly prioritize that work, but more importantly, to save the town money.  It is clear from the experts that incremental spending on road maintenance decreases road repair costs long term, and we need to be planning for the long term.

Click here to see the MMA article

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Posted in DPW, Planning