8 minute read
Public Works Pipeline
An IntervIew wIth MIchAel trottA DPw SuPerIntenDent town of cAnton, MA
Will you please provide us with some insight into your background, education, and history that led you into your current position?
I have been in and around public works construction most of my life. Two of my uncles were among the first group of Navy Seabees, who later worked for Perini. As a young teenager, I spent a couple of summers working in my hometown of Stoughton, MA for Pacella Brothers Construction doing sewer lines and grading, setting batter board, layout, and keeping a quantity log book. In high school and college, I continued working parttime for Pacella Brothers assisting with estimating, engineering, and working in their concrete pipe plant in Plainville, MA. After graduating from Worcester Polytech Institute with my Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, I spent four years working for Fay, Spofford, and Thorndike in the office and out in the field on water and sewer projects throughout eastern Massachusetts. During that time, I met and worked with many members of UCANE. These men taught me the value of hard work, determination, and the discipline to do the right thing. As a result, I went to work for P. Gioioso and Sons, Inc.
Working with the five Gioioso brothers (Gino, Frank, Joe, Tom, and Sergio) pushed me to grow, to begin to understand leadership, to work to solve problems, and to want to continue my education. I returned part time to WPI to earn my Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. I continued to work for Gioioso in the utility construction field for more than eight years. In 1988, while doing site work in the City of Newton, MA, I met Jim Mula, City of Newton Construction Inspector, and Jim Hickey, Commissioner of Public Works. They convinced me to accept the position of Assistant Commissioner for Construction. That began my career in Public Works. I worked in Newton for 15 years until accepting my current position in 2003 as Canton’s Superintendent of Public Works.
Please give us a brief description of the Town of Canton regarding makeup of the DPW, population, and infrastructure statistics?
The Department of Public Works is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Town’s roads, bridges, dams, stormwater system, water supply and distribution, sewer collection system, public buildings, public shade trees, and municipal cemeteries. Included in this infrastructure inventory are over 110 miles of public roads, 1,000 intersections, 90 miles of storm drain, 2,300 catch basins, six dams, 120 miles of water main, five water storage tanks, eight operating drinking water wells, two water treatment plants, 70 miles of sewer mains, nine pump stations, 19 public buildings, a waste transfer site, Public Works garage, Water Sewer garage, and three cemeteries. continued on page 57
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Public Works Pipeline continued from page 55 The Town of Canton Department of Public Works is made up of a team of 50 hard working men and women, and service providers who the 23,000 plus residents and users of the town’s infrastructure rely on to solve problems, respond to emergencies, and meet their daily needs. The strength of the Department is founded on the knowledge and experience of the work force and the shared commitment to community and to duty. Our team takes pride in providing practical solutions to meet the needs of our customers.
What do you currently see as the most pressing infrastructure needs for the Town in the next few years, and is there a 5-year Asset Management Plan in place to address these needs?
All Departments in the Town of Canton are required to develop a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This CIP is updated annually, reviewed and approved by the Select Board, CIP Committee, and Finance Committee, at our Annual Town meeting. Public Work’s CIP funding requests for FY23 are sizable and currently includes: 1. $4,250,000 for equipment; 2. $24,500,000 for road improvements; 3. $3,500,000 public building upgrades; 4. $2,500,000 stormwater MS4 improvements; 5. $10,200,000 for water system upgrades; 6. $5,200,000 for sewer I/I work.
These items are scheduled to be on the warrant for the Fall ’22 Town Meeting.
How has Canton historically funded infrastructure projects and does the Town utilize the SRF Loan Program through continued on page 58
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MassDEP for water or sewer infrastructure projects?
The Town of Canton’s leadership and voters have always been very supportive regarding funding for the DPW’s Capital Improvement Program requests. This has allowed steady and timely upgrades to our equipment, the road network, as well as our drinking water and sewer collection systems. Canton has used a mix of funding sources for its’ infrastructure projects. These include the State Revolving Loan Fund Program through MassDEP, Chapter 90 funds through MassDOT, and Municipal Bonds. As Boston Area a member of the MWRA Sewer System we are also Locations eligible for MWRA’s low interest loan program and grants.
Funds from the Federal Bi-Partisan
Infrastructure Bill and the prior ARPA Bill are now available in Massachusetts at both state and local levels and earmarked for infrastructure. Does Canton have some projects coming out to bid in 2022 or 2023 that will be utilizing these Federal Infrastructure funds?
We are at 90% design for $4,100,000 Granular
Activated Carbon addition to our Moran Water Treatment Plant to address PFAS concerns. This project has been submitted for ARPA funding. We expect to advertise for bids in December 2022.
Our Consulting Engineer is finalizing plans for CIP Contract No. 3 Water System improvements. This project involves 15,000LF of new water mains and bid documents will be available in December 2022 or January 2023. Design of an Infiltration/Inflow sewer project is nearing completion and should be ready to be bid in the Spring of 2023. Funding for this $2 million project will be through the MWRA.
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What other Industry
Groups and Associations do you belong to?
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I belong to the New England
Chapter of the American Public Works Association, the New England Water Works and American Water Works Associations, and to the New England Water Environment Association.
Because Canton is impacted by the Neponset River, I represent the Town of Canton on both the Neponset Stormwater Partnership and the Neponset River Watershed Association. In addition, I represent Canton on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to keep abreast of and to share ideas and resources regarding regional planning and potential impacts on stormwater management along the Neponset River. n
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