Randy Brown, director of Public Works for the Town of Southwick, explains a Robin Road survey during last night’s meeting with the Southwick Selectboard. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown last night updated the Board of Selectmen on the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), a system operating with coded signals over communication channels so as to provide control of remote equipment.
“We have Tighe and Bond designing the SCADA system to implement at our facilities,” said Brown. “From there we will be looking to go to bid. We already have $230,000 in funds available but it’s not enough to complete all the facilities. However, it will get about two thirds of them.”
Brown said he would need an appropriation of funds to install the system in all facilities at a future Town Meeting.
SCADA will allow the DPW to perform many tasks in-house and will save man hours, resulting in a cost savings over time.
“We’ll be able to control databases, the pumps and the operational system remotely,” he said.
Brown also updated the board on Robin Road.
“We finally have the survey from Salvini Associates and the good news is that it appears that the road and utilities are within the appropriate right of way,” said Brown.
Although there is a lot of work needed to repair the road, the survey showed there would not be additional land takings needed.
“This is the first step in accepting the road,” Brown said.
Brown also told the board last night that the transfer station roll-off machine was not in as dire a state as he first thought.
“We had a second vendor look at it and they think the problem is with the oil coolant line,” he said, adding it would cost less than $5,000 to repair.
The repairs should be finished by next week.
“It still needs, at some point, to be taken offline and replaced,” Brown added.
While the machine is repaired, Southwick is borrowing Granville’s. Brown said he met with the Granville Select Board and they asked several questions, including whether or not the truck would be insured while in use and if Southwick would be responsible for any repairs needed during its use in town.
Brown suggested an agreement for mutual aid be written outlining the terms and conditions of borrowing equipment from Granville.
