Common Council Code and Infrastructure Committee

1. 0:12ready. >> Okay, you're done. >> Excellent. Um, it is the 8th of June and this is the DPW meeting. I am stepping in for Councilman Foster who is out of town tonight. So I will be chairing. We do not have an extensive agenda. Uh but I do have one update for him. In attendance is Rob Perry, superintendent um of DPW and Dwan Stewart Seawir and myself Henry Hadad. And on the line I believe we have >> Ronnie. Hello. >> Hey. Yeah. Um so, uh Rob, please take it away. >> All right. Thank you. The April Septage, uh was $54,573. Uh that's what we like to see to help us meet our uh our annual quota. The um phase one most of this month, uh
2. 1:17we've been dealing with the the large capital project, the CSO separation project. We're probably about 95% complete with our design plans uh which will be going off they have to be reviewed independently by DEEC as well as EFC which is environmental facilities corporation that's the bank for DEEC and um you know so that's going to take a couple of months but while we submit most of the sewer related stuff there's a number of like local issues that we're delving into now that DEC doesn't really need to see uh one of them is the the traffic plan, MPT, management of protection of traffic. You know, we're going to need to come up with uh meet with our stakeholders to figure out uh where detours will happen when various blocks are closed during the day and um you know what kind of signage and uh what kind of access to their property that may be necessary when the Columbia Street is basically closed or impassible because uh there'll be sometimes when
3. 2:19there there won't be a street. there'll just be massive holes uh that get filled in at the end of the day. Uh one of, you know, obviously our sidewalk and roadway restoration plans, we're going through the details. Uh one of the bigger issues that, you know, we're trying to forget is whether or not to do a winter shutdown or not. When Bowen was in town putting these gas in for um National Grid, we we had these two week look ahead meetings and we allowed them to continue work during the winter. It's not something that we we really allowed because during the winter there's no asphalt to do restoration. In this instance, they agreed to use concrete to so that way the roads should we get a blizzard, the roads had something that was plowable. Um, you know, we'd like to keep construction moving at a good pace, but obviously if if there's no way that we can rebuild the road and then we get a blizzard, um, a cold patch, our plows are just going to rip through. It's just going to
4. 3:22damage our equipment. So we're coming up with conditions and whether or not but most of the time because of the scale of this project at least in the early stage um probably be closed for a couple month shut down for a couple months during the the heart of the winter. Um you know locations for private drains and water manes. So there will be some actual city water manes that are in conflict that'll have to get moved. Uh but because it's considered a a conflict with this project, we'll be able to move them, you know, as part of the the project total. Um you know, also we've got a lot of intersection conflicts because the structures are going to be placed, especially early on, you know, in order for a a manhole or structure to receive a 48 in diameter pipe, it's going to have to be like a 8 foot diameter, 9 foot diameter structure. So, you know, you're talking about a manhole that's easily, you know, the width of these tables, the diameter of these tables. Uh, you know, typically they're about 5
5. 4:23ft in diameter, but we want to make sure that we have, you know, everything in place so that way when we have these intersections opened up that, you know, there's enough room to fit everything, you know, all the existing utilities as well as accommodate the, uh, the new sewer and storm. Uh, as part of the water department, next week we'll be flushing hydrants. Uh this is do this a couple times a year. Um we do it in the middle of the night so that way it's less disturbing to you know the normal daily activities. Most people are asleep so you know when there's a high volume of water getting flushed through it can stir up some of the schmutz and that's a technical term you know uh we don't like uh you know if it happens during the day when people are cooking and cleaning it and can get into their washing machines and whatever. So that's why we do it at night. the um in the event that somebody gets discolored morning water in the morning, they should just open the bathtub spigot or some fixture without a screen, let the cold water only run for a couple of minutes. It should clear up. Um also we're doing a number of
6. 5:26maintenance projects out at Churchtown. You know, it's just this seasonal stuff. And um we are working on a CVG grant which is a community development block grant for um a planning activity for the water supply. And the reality is these these are the types of grants that we use uh to come up with studies and data that are used to actually apply for capital grants uh in the future. you know, we do have a 125 140 year old transmission main that feeds the city. Uh, a lot of the infrastructure that's the reservoir and all the purposes to get everything to Hudson are original to our water system. Uh, you know, we've upgraded a lot of, you know, the tank obviously in the PL here in the city. Um, but now we want to make sure that we can, you know, maintain the flows and and utility going in, you know, in the long run. Um, GRRI. So, sorry. Um, last year, I think everybody
7. 6:29remember when they put the plantings in for the GRRI project in a sweet state, you know, a lot of the trees lost their leaves rather quickly. You know, there was questions whether or not anything had died or whether it was distress or the summer heat. And so, you know, picture one just shows, you know, the trees in fact have leaves on them. uh you know we'll be doing some supplemental water but apparently they did survive not only uh the high heat of last summer but the extreme freeze of this past winter so that's what we're going >> those the same trees that were along Harry Howard along retirement zone were those different that's a different planting correct >> that's a different planting that was a CAC project and I believe they had like eight or 10 of the trees out of the 50 on Harry Howard that had issues 11 >> 11 and I believe they got >> Yeah, they did. I know them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. There was a warranty claim on that, but they, you know, they're seriously really going to chase them down for it. >> Um,
8. 7:32also the questions, you know, for those who didn't notice, you know, I guess there's questions as to why, you know, the subcontractor in Louisiana is coming back doing the work. and you know was raised as an issue you know workmanship issue last summer. So in picture two you can see you've got like a two or 3in gap and mortar between the two granite sets on one and then on the opposite side they're buting right up next to each other and they're supposed to be cut evenly spaced or to some extent spaced. Um you can see that they're tipped you know they're they're not flush. Uh obviously water would pull on this. You're creating trip hazard. This is a closeup. This one may not be a trip hazard, but there were a number of them that are involved with it. So, you know, you're doing an ADA project of making trip hazards is is not a good idea. >> Um, so that's that's where they are. That's why they're in town. >> Um, >> are we on the hook for any of that that paying for all that? >> No, we're not they're not getting it done. What we've done is um you know they they have the pay requests request
9. 8:36from last July when they did the work, >> but we withheld $200,000 worth of their payment. So do do does the city owe them money? Yes, but the we owe them for the work from last year. They're not getting paid for anything that they're doing today uh or for this project. This is all, you know, warranty claim. And you know, so you can see >> Yeah. Yeah, there's a a level there. You know, they're making sure that everything now is level, pitched, you know, forward, you know, for drainage and runoff. Um, you know, they're spacing them, you know, more evenly. And, um, you know, it's there was a a question about, you know, diff, you know, there we do have these differing gaps in between. And, you know, part of the issue is that these granite sets are actually unfinished on all sides. they're not. So that as that that material is uneven on the sides and so you know we have this kind of this little um fluctuations between you know sometimes a quarter inch sometimes it's
10. 9:39an inch or more. The idea is to keep them somewhat even and consistent you know so that way you know it looks cleaner. um you know last part of the Fagari project. Oh, there was I guess there was something uh online about one of the shacks coming down out in the bay. >> So, you know, I this came from somebody on Facebook. This picture, not sure who it was. Somebody sent it to me. Anyway, that's uh cabin number seven, which is circled up here in the demolition plan. This is what we use as part of the documents. When we put this project out to bid, the entire project was about $115,000 and demolishing building 7, which is this one here, was $50,000 by itself. That exceeded what our grant was. And so we spoke to the Department of State. They weren't willing to give us more money. Uh so we would have been out of pocket at the city. And so we said, well, it's going to come down sooner or later. we just assumed remove it from
11. 10:43the scope. Uh they were ex they were fine with that and so we pulled that off and then removed that from the scope and then issued um the contract for the remaining buildings. So that's uh that's why that was still there. It was scheduled to be destroyed demolished during the project and now it's demolished uh during nature the um little park stuff. So, you know, the splash pad, which, you know, it's just been subjected to some really brutal conditions, most of them human, where, you know, kids are literally just beating on this actuator. So the silver thing on picture six is actually the uh the push button and that's within the housing and you know so you know they're banging it with with rocks and and hard stuff but when they do that it puts pressure down and meanwhile the pressure from the system is trying to go forward and they're sending a wave backwards and that
12. 11:44creates a hammer and in this instance it splits the actuator itself. So, this part has been replaced. This br this brass part here. Um, there's a solenoid that was also damaged. We replaced and upgraded that. And we also lowered the pressure. So, the pressure is down to about 37 PSI. So, you know, this spray used to go up a lot higher. There used to be a lot more of a mistiness on it. You know, we're we're trying to do what we can do to protect the infrastructure so that way it's there for all the kids to, you know, to enjoy. Uh, so it is working. Uh, as of the other day, uh, it was repaired on Wednesday. We actually had a vendor come up from New Jersey. So, it was a couple thousand fix and >> just for that >> just just for the two parts for that bronze brass one and then for a solenoid which is >> Yeah. >> in a in a pit somewhere else. So, >> so hopefully uh it just, you know, doesn't get beat up and everybody can use it. Uh, TPW. So, the New York State
13. 12:49budget is approved. So, these are new chips numbers. Um, you'll see the chips balance itself says 755,000. Of that, 370,000 is committed to the new street sweeper and 150,000 is the cost to reconstruct Harry Howard Avenue. So, the balance is really more like 235 once we, you know, submit the reimbursements. Uh, another thing to kind of focus on is that you'll see this $4 million on state touring route. Obviously, a large portion of that is committed to the Ferris Street Bridge as our local share. Uh but you know, once we finally get that closed out and paid off, then whatever the net is, it'll be ready for future projects. >> So, I'm hoping we get that all tightened up soon. >> Yep. >> Soon. The bridge has been open for a year. >> Uh let's see. Uh also just, you know, seasoning the loader blade uh to the um the boat float. So, there was vandalism that was, you know, they I told you about last month. They knocked the
14. 13:51dolphins off. They broke the part of the mask. You know, they carved their names into it. Um, they didn't do anything to the when we went to pull the float out of the gun warehouse to bring it to the garage to repair that, we noticed that the boat itself was wasisting, right? Because it's it was it was a leaner. Uh, it was going to one side. It was it was kind of shaky and we realized that you know there was some damage to the frame. Nobody's suggesting that the van vandals did that. I'll just remind everybody that this boat was constructed in 1975 for the bsentennial. That's 50 years ago. And when it was constructed it was somebody donated an old hay wagon. So it's you know this hay wagon that's probably 75 years of you know metal fatigues. Um, I I I'm pretty sure it it'll be resurrected in one shape or another. Uh, the challenging part is that the boat was actually built on the frame and to the frame. So, I'm sure
15. 14:56there'll be some kind of something will need to take place. Uh, it's just, you know, it's not going to take place. It won't happen quickly, but it'll it'll be back. Unfortunately, not our semi >> semiquincentennial, if I said that right. Are we is stout coming out this for fly day? No, >> I don't. That was on a a different trail. The whale. >> Yeah. Is anyone using it? >> I don't think so. That was the city wasn't using it. Um Lucy Cunningham and a couple of her her friends, they were the ones that were pulling it and using it. And actually, they purchased the trailer for it. >> I think the last couple years ago it was the Tanzan. >> Yeah, that's they were part of that group. Yeah. I'll reach out to them, see if they want to use it even. >> Yeah, I um it's it's down there. So, >> um I had a question into German Town to see if we could maybe use their hayide float >> for the in lie of of the half moon being
16. 16:01broken. Yeah. >> Is if we wanted to use the B if the basketball team wanted to stand and give them the honor as well. But I'm waiting to hear back if that's okay with them. I was we're going to reach out to you and say if that's all right with you if insurance drives from their end if I can get it here. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, if we can get it or something that we can tell it, of course. I don't know if they want to tell her or whatever. >> Yeah. It's not >> as a backup. Maybe we get a backup. >> It's not an issue uh for us. I know we don't we don't have anything else in stock because there we do have a couple of equipment trailers but they get used to for all the barricades and all the supplies that get put out. And then the only other trailer that's a little bigger that could accommodate people >> has been um commonandeered by the flag day committee because they used to have a tractor trailer bed at the bottom of >> Yeah. for their grand stand >> for their reviewing stand. Right. And now with the DRRi bumpouts, it's can't fit there.
17. 17:02>> They can't fit there. So the so one of our equipment trailers has actually been hijacked to to function as the reviewing stand. So anyway, that's uh but yeah, there's another trailer available. >> Huh? >> What's >> downtown revitalization improvement? That was the $10 million award from Mario Cuomo in 201617ish. Uh let's see. We you'll basically the B blacktop program uh you know this picture here you see them breaking with some loops. Uh we put them in the depressions and the roller comes by and presses it down. You know we we got started in May on this stuff. the, you know, doing the blacktop is the single greatest crew member requirement. You know, there's a lot of projects that two guys can do, some three, some four, but we really need like six or seven at least because, you know, we have to have some flaggers out
18. 18:05there. There's a guy driving the truck, there's a guy roller, there's a couple guys breaking the plattop. So, um, you know, it's important that we have as much crew. Obviously, you know, I remind everybody that I had two positions that were eliminated in the 2026 budget. So, it makes it that more difficult to get, you know, the appropriate staff to safely conduct this business. But, we have started doing some of the the patchworks, seasonal patchwork. Um, just a couple CAC coordinated events. 13 is down at the dog park. These little saplings are there. Apparently, they're going to put some mulch down around it and we'll mow the grassy area around the plantings. Uh, but we did, you know, they had some material donated from the homesteads, I believe, and then we went out and collected it and delivered it. Uh, and then 14 is there was a memorial tree that they wanted to place somewhere in the cemetery. So, Jean Schetsky, you know, kind of worked with them to get a little spot next to the pond and uh, Billy Fish dug a hole for him. And so,
19. 19:09the memorial tree is planted. Um the crew will be at safety training this week. So that's two days. So that'll shut down. You won't see a whole lot of uh work done on Tuesday and Wednesday because half the crew will be in uh Chadam for one day while the other half does the essentials like garbage and whatever and flip-flops the next day. Cemetery. This just shows you how high the grass is in 15. And when they get in there and start bushwhacking it from Memorial Day, same thing in the upper page. Uh 16 just kind of gives you an idea of the finished product. Everything gets all cleaned up for the holiday. And uh just the last bit is that fence on Tanbrook and someone crashed into it again yesterday. right where we would have uh rebuilt the I mean that intersections been hit about five times in the last couple of years. I don't I don't know what it is but
20. 20:13so that's what I have. >> Thank you. >> Um last week at safety we had list of four signs for you and it's I if I'm not mistaken they were all done the next day. Maybe there is one left, but thanks. That was quick. >> Sure. >> The no the one way and the no right. >> Yeah. You know, Frankie's on. I mean, if we've got them in inventory and it's just mounting to an existing sign, that's pretty straightforward. You know, if it needs hardware and whatever else, then, you know, looks a little different. >> So, we're going to try to make a couple more additions for that. Uh, see how it goes. >> Yeah, that's fine. I mean, you know, like I said, it's it it's helpful um if you know, if you guys come up with a plan like before, have a discussion with Manda and Kaiser and whatever. So that way it gets it gets vetted through because if it's a traffic control device requires enforcement, then you know they're technically supposed to kind of
21. 21:15sign off on it before >> rather have it come from them. >> Yeah. >> In small doses to give you 50. >> Yeah. Um, >> I appreciate that. You're welcome. >> Uh, so the only thing I had from Jason was that he wanted to make sure that we all knew that the greenway, the Hudson Valley Greenway grant that we applied for the study to do the two intersections, we were denied. >> So, so we're uh going to try for the next round, which is probably in a few months. Um, and Jason is still in communication with them >> and they said, "Please keep we'll keep you on the list and we'll try again for the next round." But that one we got passed on. >> Yeah. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the >> Yeah. >> Um, there were I did find one more parking meter. I'm sorry, two more parking meter poles.
22. 22:17Um, >> yeah. We're just waiting for HPD to make up their mind because >> Oh, right. >> Sometimes they're in, sometimes they're out, sometimes they're back in again, sometimes you shake it all about. So, >> you know, >> sure. >> You know, so that's just there's there's this communication between, you know, Miller and Frankie and whenever they there's a final decision, it doesn't take anything for us to remove them. >> Yeah. So that's just that's where we are right now. >> Great. Um I don't have a lot for this meeting because uh just standing in for Jason and he did not have much um going forward other than the greenway grant and just a few updates that are not time sensitive. So he'll catch up with those next month. Um Russ have anything online? Yeah. Look like Bill's got his hand up.
23. 23:21>> Bill used some language in the emails over the last few days that doesn't really sit well with me. So, I was not calling on Bill tonight for those reasons. >> Oh, time out or Billy. >> What? I'm just curious. So, I know you were on top of the tree of peace thing way before anyone else. So, I'm just trying to establish the timeline. Because I think when I was there on Friday, May 1st, I kind of felt like something was missing. So, do you have any idea when when we first became aware because I know at the conservation action committee that was Tuesday, May 5th. They knew of it at that time, but I get the sense that you had already did the aerial and spotted it. Do you remember kind of when and where you were with? Somebody called me and asked me where it was or if I knew anything about it or actually first. >> I have no idea really. I got to check the picture before I went down. Anyway, the question was whether or not DPW had removed it and of course the
24. 24:24>> No, but how did the ground get smoothed over? >> Whoever took >> you think whoever >> whoever removed the tree that was the condition when I went down there and I saw the tree over the hill. So, I saw the tree over the hill on May 5th. >> So, that was the day before the before the meeting of the CAC. And did Carol tell you? Did you find out from Carol? >> No, it was one of the CAC members asked me. Ask me if I know where the tree was. >> Oh, it could have been uh Co. >> I have no idea. I don't pay attention. There was a question. They asked me if DPW moved it. I said no. >> Have you heard anything from the mayor on the tree? What? You know, cuz now where you don't you know what tree is? >> I have no idea. I'm I'm on a need to know basis, man. They threaten me when >> what >> they Oh, yeah. I can't give involved those high discussions about the tree of peace. That's the state secret. I'm out. >> You got to bury the hatchet. >> I have no idea where it is. >> I can tell you it's it's flourishing. It's got new growth. >> That's wonderful.
25. 25:24>> So, it seems like it's doing all right. I was wondering about the It's probably way too late. You think it's got any potential to make it into the flag date parade? >> I have no idea. I won't. >> Yeah. Listen, that's enough of this. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No more tree stuff. >> Oh, no. There's the s No, this is very significant. That's because that's a very it's one of the issues. It's almost an insult that that tree was displaced. There's a lot of communities that might not happen. >> Well, there's a lot of that that >> that vandalism you discussing the vandalism at the park last month. >> That's it. What are you going to do? I mean, >> somehow it gets tolerated. U Rooney and Dan. >> Okay. Anyone online for DPW? >> Okay. Well, that being said, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. Second. All >> in favor? Hey. I >> Thank you very much. Thank you.

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