RANDAL BROWN
SOUTHWICK – Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown sought approval from the Board of Selectmen last week to move forward with a SCADA system and for drainage work on Powder Mill Road.
SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) is a system operating with coded signals over communication channels so as to provide control of remote equipment (using typically one communication channel per remote station).
Having the system in place would save the town time and money, said Brown. Funds earmarked for SCADA in the water and sewer budgets have sat untapped for some time and Brown said he wanted to move ahead.
“Tighe and Bond submitted a proposal in the past to develop a SCADA system and it has not been acted on,” said Brown.
Brown requested approval to use $83,200 out of the water and sewer budget for the design of the system, which would be done by Tighe and Bond.
“Tighe and Bond estimates $275,000 for the design and construction,” said Brown. “We do not have enough right now for all of it, but we do have about $224,000 so there would be a shortfall of about $50,000.”
Brown said they could tap into the retained earnings to come up with the $224,000 but would need additional funds for the project.
Brown also requested using $80,000-$100,000 of Chapter 90 funds for a Powder Mill Road drainage project.
“A sinkhole formed there a few weeks ago by Whaley Park,” said Brown.
The problem was a faulty pipe.
“The pipe was deteriorated, to say the least,” said Brown.
In order to fix the problem, a new pipe must be laid from Whalley Park to the outfall about 350-feet away.
“We don’t have the funds in our operational budget, so I’d like to tap into Chapter 90 funds,” he said.
Brown also informed the board this week of accepted bids for annual DPW contracts, including All State Asphalt for chip sealing, Lane construction for paving, and Highway safety for line striping.
