April 22, 2015
‘Year of maintenance’
for city DPW
City Department of Public Works Superintendent Chris Bistocchi declared 2015 as “a year of maintenance” Tuesday after outlining to the city Common Council the road work projects he and his crew plan to accomplish this year.
Bistocchi highlighted some projects the DPW will be undertaking throughout the year to improve the city’s roads and parks.
From now until August, major projects include replacing water mains on Yong Street and Central Avenue, making repairs to sanitary sewers throughout the city, and maintaining the retaining wall near the pond at the Cortland Waterworks.
Bistocchi also said that in early fall, the DPW will be assisting with the rebuilding of Wickwire Pool and starting a playground rejuvenation project to enhance city parks, which Cortland Youth Bureau Director John McNerney announced during a special meeting at Beaudry Park in April.
Making pothole, catch basin and leak repairs throughout the city is something that the DPW will also be addressing throughout the year, Bistocchi said.
Bistocchi also noted he has been looking into purchasing used paving equipment to complete road work for his department.
Bistocchi said the DPW having its own paving equipment would help reduce rental costs which, after speaking with representatives from Cortlandville-based paving company Suit-Kote Corp., he estimated were just under $3,000 a day.
In addition, he said it would allow the DPW to make repairs on its own schedule as opposed to when construction companies are free to lend their equipment. He predicts this will allow the city DPW to finish work sooner.
“You mill it (a road) up in May and then it sits until August or September because we’re in a batting order with all municipalities in Central New York,” Bistocchi said. “So we’re at the beck and call of when the weather is good and when Suit-Kote has a paver available.”
Bistocchi said he has already spoken to two companies in Syracuse and in Weedsport that have pavers to sell and he will be looking into another option in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before asking the council to consider tapping into reserves to fund a purchase.
In other business, the Common Council scheduled a public hearing for residents to weigh in on amending the city Code and Charter. The amendment would decrease the cost of noise ordinance permits for commercial businesses.
The council is asking the public for its opinion of the plan to lower these permits from $250 per event to a one-time annual fee of $100 or $25 per single event.
The amendment would also make permits effective from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and require businesses to notify the city at least 10 days before an event.
During the meeting, some aldermen voiced concerns about the proper amount of time required for notification. City Attorney Ric Van Donsel said language in the amendment will be revised accordingly.
The public hearing will take place before the regular meeting of the Common Council scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 5.
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