Mayor’s Update to City Council
Mayor Donna D. Holaday
March 29, 2021
COVID-19 Updates
Vaccine – According to the latest state data that’s available on Thursday afternoons, 42% of our population in Newburyport has received at least one dose, and 22% are fully vaccinated. On a particularly positive note, 91% of our seniors 65 or over have received 1 dose and 52% are fully vaccinated.
Newburyport is above the state average as far as vaccinations per capita. This is partially due the local availability of the vaccine through the clinics we were able to coordinate. Since the Lower Merrimac Valley Regional Collaborative clinics began earlier this month, over 7,000 doses have been administered. The clinic will continue at Amesbury High School, with the next few weekends operating as a second dose clinic.
I’d like to take a moment and thank all of the volunteers who are part of the LMVRC clinic operations. This includes our Health Department staff, who are putting in long extra weekend hours to be onsite for these clinics in addition to their weekday work managing COVID cases and contact tracing. Thank you for Frank Giacalone and his staff for their hard work and dedication.
Our other local vaccine center at our Senior Community Center administered though the Beth Israel Lahey network continues to operate and is now running at full capacity. The clinic is currently receiving 1,800 first doses per week from the state. AJH provided the following charts which show Newburyporters receiving vaccine at a rate high than the state average. Chart is as of March 16.
I’d like to note that while the vaccine clinic at the Senior Community Center is operational, our COA programs are beginning to pick up. In particular, the AARP tax aide sessions are in full force. Thank you COA Director Paula Burke and to her staff for accommodating the important vaccine clinic while rolling out our programs.
Last Monday, the state further expanded the vaccination eligibility requirements to include restaurant workers, public works employees, and educators, among others. As far as Newburyport Public School staff, the School Department anticipates that 90% of staff wishing to receive the vaccine will be fully vaccinated by April 26th. The Saturday clinic this past weekend at the Lower Merrimac Regional Collaborative in Amesbury was dedicated to educators and school staff.
Cases – As of the state’s last case report on March 25th Newburyport remains in the green, low risk category. In the 14-day period of that report, Newburyport had 20 confirmed COVID cases, and we continue to see low case numbers. To date there have been 38 COVID-related deaths in Newburyport.
Testing – Surveillance and testing continues in our schools as part of the state’s pilot program. Last week about 900 students were tested, and there were no positive COVID-19 results.
Reopening – We are now in Phase 4, Step 1 of the Governor’s reopening plan. I will be opening City Hall’s doors to the public next Monday April 5, 2021. While we are open and have the necessary PPE and protections, I encourage residents to continue utilizing our website and online payment and permitting features to avoid in-person trips as much as possible. Nearly all City Hall functions and transactions can now happen online.
On March 22nd Newburyport Public Schools began increasing in-person learning from 2 to 4 days per week for K-3 students at the Bresnahan and Molin Upper Elementary expanded in-person to 4 days this week with the middle school next week and the high school following vacation 4/26.
Outdoor Dining and Parklets: I want to thank the City Council in advance for supporting Emergency Order 242 to allow for expanded outdoor dining this season. Last year’s expanded outdoor dining was very successful and helped our restaurants remain in business during very difficult times. I look forward to working with the Ad Hoc Committee on the same process as last year to review and approve outdoor dining applications. Last year we were able to permit over 30 expanded outdoor dining plans in three days.
As far as the parklet portion of outdoor dining, we will be receiving the shipment of materials for the parklets later this week, and our contractor will begin installation on Monday April 5. The parklets are composed of a modular pedestal decking system with ipe wood tiles. In addition, we will be installing perimeter fencing around each parklet and will be providing planters used in other cities as a buffer from vehicular traffic. Restaurants would be responsible for providing tables, chairs, and any other furniture. These parklets are being funded through a MassDOT Shared Streets grant and are modular so they can be easily disassembled and stored for future years. I look forward to working with the Council on future legislation to allow for parklets for expanded outdoor dining in future, post-COVID seasons.
Photos of Bison Ipe decking installation in Pittsfield.
Photo of type of perimeter fencing
Photo of planters
Thank you again, for supporting tonight’s emergency order and for helping expand outdoor dining once again for our local restaurants.
DPS Updates
Phillips Drive: Our consultant, BSC Engineering, will completed 75% drawings this week. The completion of these drawings was delayed in order to incorporate water main upgrades into the project. I will be working with our Engineering Division to set a public meeting date for BSC to review the plans with residents the week of April 12. The project is still on schedule to begin later in 2021.
Hydrant Flushing: Bi-annual hydrant flushing begins today and will last through the month of April. DPS will provide a weekly schedule and updates on flushing on the City website and through their Facebook page.
State Street and Pleasant Street Intersection Pedestrian Improvements: Our MassDOT Shared Streets grant is also funding pedestrian improvements at this critical downtown intersection. Our contractor Allied Construction began last week rebuilding our sidewalk ramps in order to comply with ADA requirements. The new ramps will be brick with cast iron ADA detectible warnings, and the brick sidewalks within the area of these ramps will also be repaired and reset. In addition, the intersection will be receiving all new traffic poles, traffic lights, and crosswalks, which will be installed this week. The entire project will be completed in April.
2021 Paving: I realize we are delayed in sending out this plan but we ran into difficulties with the c. 90 requirement of upgrading/completing sidewalks on every road using this funding and had to go back to Beta to integrate the sidewalk and road plans. I will be sending Councillors a full list of paving and sidewalk construction for this season as well as a 5-year paving and sidewalk plan for 2022 through 2026. In the meantime, Merrimac Street sidewalk and paving work resumed last week from Ashland Street to Broad Street. The sidewalk construction is starting from where the contractor ended last season and DPS anticipates this work to be completed in the next several weeks, followed by the paving of the street to be completed by end of May.
Arlington St. work has also begun and will be completed over two seasons beginning with the extensive brick sidewalks on both sides of the street.
Columbus Ave. paving was to occur this season but the contractor hired for the water main replacement failed to perform and the contract was terminated and rebid.
Paving Ferry Rd. has also been a priority after years of construction vehicle use for the Whittier Bridge project however, the road needs a new gas line and DPS is working with National Grid on timelines.
I will also be presenting the Council a schedule for restriping High Street within the next few weeks. This is the segment of High Street outside of the Safe Routes to School project, approximately from Tyng Street to Three Roads.
Watershed Protection: In addition to the acquisition of the Artichoke River Woods project in partnership with Essex Greenbelt, which will be completed shortly, Planning and the DPS Water Division are working on the acquisition of another critical property to prevent future development and protect our reservoir system. This parcel, 117 Indian Hill Street, is 6.1 acres that includes the outfall of a stream that is the sole connection of raw water flowing from Indian Hill Reservoir to the Upper and Lower Artichoke Reservoirs ultimately to the Water Treatment Plan. We are again working with Essex Greenbelt on this acquisition and will provide the City Council with a full submission of information at its next meeting on April 12. The City would acquire the parcel with Greenbelt being the holder of a Conservation Restriction.
Project Updates
Plum Island Reservation Terrace – I held a public meeting with residents and have had several coordination meetings with state agencies and our legislative delegation on GZA’s short term plan to provide near term protection of Reservation Terrace. This project would provide protection until the Army Corp of Engineers places over 220,000 cubic yards of dredged sand on Reservation Terrace as part of the Merrimack River dredging project. Project review by our Conservation Commission is underway and a MEPA review application will be submitted to the state within by the next deadline of April 15th.
WWTF Berm Revetment and Rail Trail – The City’s contractor, George R. Cairns and Sons, Inc., is re-mobilizing to complete the remaining work. National Grid has completed their portion of the project, which included installing custom manholes to access underground cables. The project remains on schedule to be completed in June.
Complete Streets State St and Parker St – Our contractor Aqualine will pick up on the remaining construction on April 19th. This includes emerging the HAWK light, paving, and landscaping. The project is also expected to be completed in June.
Safe Routes to School High Street – MassDOT’s contractor Pacella is mobilizing for this construction season, beginning with landscaping work and then concrete driveway aprons in April. They are scheduled to mill and pave the roadway in May.
Building Department
The Building Department has been functioning with the return of Gary Calderwood, our former Building Commissioner. Hiring for the Building Commissioner and Inspector has been very challenging but I am very pleased to report that Greg Earls and Dennis Morel Jr. have been hired and begin next week. Both Mr. Earls and Mr. Morel have extensive years of experience in the construction industry but need to complete the Building Inspector exam for certification within the next 3 months with Mr. Earls completing further study and exam to achieve certification as the Building Commissioner. Mr. Calderwood will continue to oversee inspections and provide training until they have received Building Inspector certification. Mr. Earls’ appointment will be in your next council packet.
Other Updates
DEI Alliance – The DEI Alliance has been meeting twice a month since December through Zoom. Together with the Human Rights Commission, they will be undergoing training through Essential Partners, a consultancy specializing in DEI and inclusive trainings and conversations. The group has also been working with Michael Eatman, who also works with the School District on DEI initiatigves. The Alliance will be scheduling community conversations that will begin early summer. The topics of these conversations will include race, belonging and inclusion, bias, and symbols. Members of the Alliance have been working hard over the last several months to plan and organize community outreach, and I am very impressed by the residents volunteering their time for our group and for such an important initiative for our City.
2022–2026 Capital Improvement Plan – Earlier today Councillors should have received by email our new 5-year CIP. I will be providing a brief overview of the plan tonight and I look forward to working with the Council through the scheduled workshops on adopting this plan by June 1st, as required by City Charter. The plan is available to the public though the Finance Department webpage on the City website.