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Williamstown Installs Water Line on West Main StreetBy Tammy Daniels - August 26, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
 | | A small red dot marks the location for a new fire hydrant next to the Williams Inn driveway. |
WILLIAMSTOWN — The Sewer and Water Department is taking advantage of a project on Belden Street to upgrade the water main for the west end of town.
"Now we have the opportunity after 80-something years to do it right," Edward Rondeau, water and sewer superintendent, told the Selectmen on Monday night.
The plan had been to upgrade the main along Belden Street, off West Main Street. But the project ran into complications when it was discovered the main running into Belden was too small.
"We always assumed that the 8-inch [main] went all the way up from North Street and everybody was happy," said Rondeau. "But we started to research the old maps and it came out to be that they're 6-inch mains."
The piping was shown on a map dating to before 1937, he said. Some parts of the older system were even four inches in diameter.
By contrast, the lines placed as newer residences were built out to the west and northwest, such as on Thornliebank and Buxton Hill roads, were 8 inches.
 Edward Rondeau, water and sewer superintendent, points out where the new water main will be installed. At top, the broken red line indicate the new 8-inch main and the unbroken black line the old 6-inch main.
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"They put in 8 inch far up ... but they were still being fed by a 6 inch," said Rondeau, causing disturbed water and low pressure.
The 6-inch line runs from the intersection of Main Street and Route 7 west past Field Park and down West Main Street, opposite the Williams Inn. The new 8-inch line will run parallel to the older line in front of inn, crossing the street and tying into the 8-inch line below Belden Street, which will also receive a new 8-inch line.
Work has already began at the Field Park intersection to tie the new line into the older one running along Route 7. Rondeau said the area is heavily used by pedestrians and will be black-topped as a temporary measure for the season.
The project will also include the installation of two new fire hydrants — one near the eastern driveway into the Williams Inn and the Town Hall parking lot that will cover both the inn and town offices and a second one west of Belden Street. An older one in that location will remain.
In fact, the entire 6-inch main will stay in place as a backup, said Rondeau.
Most of the homes to the west won't be directly affected by the work but they will end up with better quality water, better fire protection and better service, he said.
Selectman Thomas Costley questioned whether homeowners in the area had been notified; Rondeau said only a couple had been so far but that letters would be sent by his department informing them of the work.
Selectman Ron Turbin said he had received complaints about rusty water in the Lindley Terrace neighborhood. Rondeau said that problem would not be solved by the work on Main Street.
He was aware of the issue and believed it was being caused by a blocked or shut off valve somewhere along that line. Workers had been trying to pin it down for a year, Rondeau said.
He expected any closures or rerouting to be minimal, saying those most affected would several homes on Belden Street, which may have to close for a day, and a driveway off West Main Street under which the mains will meet.
The entire project is expected to take a little over a month. The Williams Inn is going to update its fire protection system but won't tie into the new system until later in the fall, when it will be undergoing some renovations.
Rondeau said his crews were pushing to be "over the hill" and past the Williams Inn by Friday in anticipation of the Labor Day weekend. With the college students arriving and the inns full, he wanted the pedestrian areas clear.
"This is something that's been long overdue and it need to be done and the opportunity has created itself from this little project on Belden street," he said.
In other business:
Town Manager Peter Fohlin reiterated the reasons for holding a special town meeting during the next regular Selectmen's meeting. The special town meeting is required to move some of the surplus funds from one transfer station account to another to satisfy the state Department of Revenue review of the town books. Further explanation can be found on the town Web site, here.
Once the review is complete, Fohlin expected the property tax to be set and bills mailed by the beginning of October.
The Selectmen signed a resolution approving the spin off of Time Warner Cable from Time Warner Inc. The new entity will be 100 percent publicly held. Fohlin described the situation as a fait accompli but said the company had requested the resolution, which states that the agreement the town had with Time Warner Inc. for service will continue through Time Warner Cable.
Unanimously approved an exemption that would allow William Barkin, the town's principal assessor, to serve as a member of the Historical Commission, which would make him a special municipal employee. Because Barkin is a paid employee of the town he had to file a statement saying he had no financial interest or conflict in serving on the commission, which is appointed by Fohlin.
Residents were reminded that Wednesday, Aug. 27, is the last day to register for the state primary on Sept. 16. Students heading off to colleage are reminded that they can apply at the town clerk's office for an absentee ballot for the presidential election. |
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