(March 30, 2017) With work on Flower Street wrapped, the Town of Berlin is turning its attention to stormwater improvements on West Street and William Street.
The town has been operating on almost $2 million in grants from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and FEMA.
Work began on Flower Street late last year and included the creation of large stormwater retention pond near the multipurpose building, replacement of the existing culvert and realignment of a large drainage ditch.
On Monday, the Town Council approved contract modifications of $41,500 for on-call services and $68,000 for construction management and inspection services with stormwater engineer EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc.
The town originally signed the on-call contract on July 1, 2000, for $20,000. Since then, the contract has been modified seven times. It now totals $366,000.
The contract for construction management and inspection services was originally signed on Aug. 22, 2016. It now totals $215,000.
Both contracts are reimbursable through grants, which EA has helped the town obtain.
According to a March 23 letter from EA to Town Administrator Laura Allen, the contract modifications would help with storm drain replacement along West Street, between Broad Street and Bottle Branch, scheduled to start soon.
It also includes construction management and inspection services on William Street near the town eclectic plant, which will be funded by FEMA and DNR grants. The storm drains along the Hudson Branch under William Street are undersized and the area is a high-priority area prone to flooding, the letter stated.
Allen, on Monday, said the town had expensed the DHCD money and was operating using DNR and FEMA funding, which expires at the end of the calendar year.
“I would say [this phase of stormwater improvements] will be done before the end of this year,” she said.
She said the original plan was to finish stormwater improvements on Flower Street and William Street, and “see how far we can get” using the grant money remaining to address stormwater problems on Graham, Grice and Nelson streets.
“We’re still keeping our eye out for grant money even as we’re working through design and construction of these projects,” Allen said. “It’s not as available as it used to be … but we are keeping our eye out for grant money for the remaining projects.”
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the town’s stormwater utility was not a temporarily entity.
“It will be here as long as it rains,” he said. “The idea is that we’re trying to upgrade, significantly, those areas that were most severely impacted by stormwater and other related issues.
“This is kind of like maintaining the streets – it goes on indefinitely,” Williams added.