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TAUNTON PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
CITY HALL, TAUNTON, MA 02780
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DATE: February 7, 2008 PAGE NO: 1
BOARD MEMBERS: 1. Daniel P. Dermody, Chairman 5. Richard Faulkner, Clerk
2. David Pimental 6. Bob Campbell
3. Tony Abreau 7. Manuel Spencer
4. Arthur Lopes
ADVISORS:
8. Kevin Scanlon, City Planner
9. James Greene, City Engineer
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Roll Call: Faulkner, Spencer, Abreau, Campbell, Lopes, Pimental. Dermody. Meeting opens at 5::30 P.M. Also present was Kevin Scanlon, City Planner and City Engineer James Greene.
Dick made motion to accept minutes of January 3, 2008, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Cont'd. Public Hearing - Conway Estates - to be located off Fremont Street - to create 8 residential lots, submitted by Conway Realty Trust
Paul Patneuade, P.E. was invited into the enclosure. Letters from the Water Dept., Fire Dept., Conservation Commission and City Planner were read into the record. The City Engineer's previous letter has been addressed.
Arthur made motion to place dept. comments on filed, seconded by Manny. All in favor.
Paul stated he had submitted new plans last month and the Notice of Intent has been approved by Conservation Commission. Paul stated there were several concerns with the ROW to Willis Pond Road. He stated initially there was going to be extensive grading but the new plans shows less grading and raising of the profile grade, 1 or 2 feet below the existing grade. The new plans also show the proposed location of the houses. Paul stated in showing the 40 foot ROW all the lots and frontages were changed. There is very little change in the profile. Paul stated he addressed the neighbor's concern in regards to the location of the houses he has put a 25 No Touch Buffer Zone the entire length of Lot 7 & Lot 8. They were originally proposing septic but now are prosing municipal sewer. They have incorporated a fore
main to the entire project. Each house will have grinder pump. They have also installed a guard rail at the entrance on the recommendation of the Board. Bob stated he appreciated all the changes that were done. He stated the only thing missing is the 25 foot sewer easement and relocating of the cart path. Kevin stated they cannot eliminate cart path but suggests relocating it. He stated he doesn't know the legalities if someone actually owns or has rights to it. He suggests hugging it to Lot 7 and putting in near the 25 no cut zone. It was noted they have to construct cart parth to it's original condition. No opposition.
Dick made motion to close public input, seconded by Dave. All in favor.
Manny made motion to approve "Conway Estates" to include dept. comments and also include 25 foot No Touch Zone in deeds and relocation of the cart path. Seconded by Bob. All in favor. Hearing closes at 5:48 PM.
Page 2 of 3 - P.B. Minutes - Feb. 7, 2008
Bob made motion to assign Field Engineering to be the outside consultant for inspections, seconded by Dave. All in favor.
Dexter Avenue - Roadway Improvement Plan - Release of all surety - HOLDING $15,000 AND MYLAR DEPOSIT ($6,000)
Request is to release all surety being held. Kevin stated all work has been completed and he recommends releasing surety.
Bob made motion to send a positive recommendation to the Municipal Council for street acceptance. It was noted the applicant was just requesting release of funds. Antonio Bairos was invited into the enclosure. He stated the roadway was constructed by a Roadway Improvement Plan. It was noted that the roadway is not the standard 40 feet wide. After some discussion it was recommended that the developer petition for road acceptance.
Dick made motion to release all surety and request the developer to file for street acceptance, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Silver Fox Estates - Completion of Subdivision - located off Tremont Street - REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE UNTIL NEXT MONTH. -Holding $20,000 plus $6,000 mylar deposit - holding 3 lots
Letter from applicant requesting a continuance until next month.
Dave made motion to approve request for continuance, seconded by Arthur. All in favor.
Wren Street - Drainage Bid - Beta Group - Change Order - request to change to
add the removal & replace unsuitable soils on property. - $2,680.00
Letter from Beta Group requesting a change order for drainage on Wren Street. The additional monies is for the removal of unsuitable soils found on property.
Kevin stated there was $85,752.23 available and the P.B. allocated $80,000 for Wren Street, Bid awarded to Bay State Piping for $70,160.00 and any remaining monies to be used by the City Engineer for roadway acceptance. Bob asked if it's unit prices? City Engineer answers he was unsure.
Bob made motion to approve change order in the amount of $2,680.00 for the removal of unsuitable soils, seconded by Dave. All in favor.
Hoover Street - Road Acceptance - Need to send a recommendation to Council
Request from the Municipal Council for roadway acceptance. The City Engineer stated the residents on the street are petitioning the Municipal Council for roadway acceptance. However; Jim stated a large portion of this roadway is dirt, there was a roadway improvement plan done for a portion of this roadway. He stated the residents want it acceptance to have it paved by the City. It was asked if the roadway is private and it was answered yes. It was suggesting asking Tony, DPW on their recommendation and possibly continue until next month. After some more discussion Bob suggesting not accepting this dirt roadway and setting a precedent .
Bob made motion to Send a NEGATIVE recommendation to the Municipal Council for roadway acceptance due to no legal description and setting a precedent of the City accepting dirt roadways, seconded by Dick. All in favor.
Page 3 of 3 - P.B. Minutes - Feb. 7, 2008
Discussion on Outside Consultants -
Kevin stated he wanted to go over the list of Outside Consultants for Inspections. He stated this was put in place several years ago and has worked very well. He stated currently we have Vine Assocates, Field Engineering, Fuss & O'Neill and Greenman-Pedersen. He stated he has received some complaints from T.D.C in regards to Liberty & Union Industrial Park - Phase 2. Fuss & O'Neill are the outside consultants for this project. Mr. Shafer has complained about the high cost of the invoices. Kevin looked over the inspection fees and found that Fuss & O'Neill are about 30 - 50% higher than the rest on the list. Liberty & Union has their own engineer working on the project which is Field Engineering and Jon Connell, former City Engineer works there. Kevin
recommends removing Fuss & O'Neill from the list and replacing them with Earth Services Corp.
Bob made motion to remove Fuss & O'Neill from the Outside Consultant List without cause., seconded by Dick. All in favor. Dick wanted to express his feelings on the higher fees. Kevin stated that they haven't violated their contract they are just higher. Kevin stated their fees were included in their resume. Kevin stated per the Contract the Board would have to notify them 20 days prior to termination of their contract.
Kevin stated there is a mechanism in the contract if the contractor wants to appeal.
Bob made motion to add Earth Services Corp. to the outside consultant list, seconded by Dick. All in favor.
Kevin suggests having the City Engineer to do the remaining inspections for Liberty & Union. Jim stated he didn't have any problem with that. Kevin stated the majority of the work has been done already.
Kevin suggests assigning Earth Services Corp. to be the outside consultant for Courtland Estates and removing Fuss & O'Neill. It was noted there hasn't been a contract drawn up yet because the development hasn't been started.
Dick made motion to assign Earth Services Corp. to be the outside consultant for Courtland Estates, seconded by Bob. All in favor.
Kevin also stated Fuss & O'Neill was the outside consultant for Sabbatia Landing. Kevin stated most of the work has been done on that project and recommends having the City Engineer do the rest of the inspections. Jim stated that would be ok.
Arthur made motion to terminate the contract for Fuss & O'Neill for Sabbatia Landing, seconded by Bob.
The remaining inspections will be done by the City Engineering dept.
The Preserve- Need to assign Outside Consultant -
Kevin suggests assigning Earth Services Corp. to be the outside consultant for The Preserve.
Dick made motion to assign Earth Services Corp. to be the outside consultant for The Preserve, seconded by Arthur.
Chairman Dermody asked for a moment of silence for Kevin Fagan who passed away, son of Representative James & School Committee woman Christine Fagan.
Meeting adjourned at 6:21 PM.
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