Public Works Pipeline

An IntervIew wIth Joseph FlAnAgAn Dpw DIrector town oF DeDhAm, mA

Will you please provide us with some insight into your background, education, and history that led you into your current position?

In my early years, growing up in Dedham, I worked summers for a couple of local contractors including P.J. Hayes. I liked the construction business and after graduation from Salve Regina University in 1992, with a degree in Administration of Justice, I began working at the Flatley Company learning more about construction and especially permitting, and how timelines worked from planning to completing the project. I immediately enrolled in Wentworth Institute of Technology for building and site related courses. In 1996, I accepted an opportunity at the Dedham/ Westwood Water District. Wanting to learn more about waterworks, I took night classes in construction management and water treatment at Wentworth and the University of Lowell and worked my way up to a superintendent. In 1999, I returned to the Flatley Company where I spent the next seven years as a project manager, which included obtaining permits, making public presentations for project approvals, and building large Flatley retail, residential, and commercial projects all over New England. In 2006, the Town of Dedham was looking for a Director of Public Works. I knew the Town was about to embark on a new level of commitment to their aging infrastructure. I liked the challenge it presented, and the job was close to home. With the wide-ranging experience that I had under my belt, I decided to put in an application. I got the job and this became the beginning of my public works career. It is a very satisfying position that allows me to make a difference in the community.

What Industry groups or associations do you belong to, and how has that helped your career?

I am currently on the Board of Norfolk Bristol Middlesex Highway Association (NBM). I am also a member of the Mass. Highway Association, and I am a member of Mass. Municipal’s Transportation Committee. There are many great associations and committees that I am a small part of including Mass. Waterworks Association, the New England Chapter of American Public Works Association, and the Solid Waste Association. As Dedham’s Tree Warden, I also belong to the Mass. Tree Warden Association. These groups all have different specialties that keep me up to date with all the various facets of public works and help me to do my job better. Being able to meet and network with other public works officials has helped further my knowledge of the business. I have been fortunate to have worked with some great Directors who always have answered my calls for advice including Tim Walsh of Westwood, Bob O’Brien of Walpole, and most of all Joe Welch from Norwood. I have known Joe for many years and his phone is always on. He is always available and willing to share his knowledge and commentary.

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Can you give us a brief description of

Dedham regarding the make-up of the DPW, population served, and infrastructure statistics?

Dedham has a population of about 25,000 residents requiring our services. We also have a very large commercial and retail presence in some parts of town that creates some substantial traffic. These businesses are a large part of our tax base, and rightfully also demand a lot of our services, especially when it comes to road and sidewalk maintenance. Dedham/Westwood Water District manages the public water system, but Dedham Public Works handles everything else when it comes to the Town’s infrastructure.

I have a great team of professionals at the Dedham Public Works Department who help me to push out and complete a ton of worthwhile projects that not only beautify the town, but make it a safer place for both drivers and pedestrians. We maintain 110 miles of roads including sidewalks and curbs, 95 miles of sewers, all the storm drains and over 4000 catch basins, and three sanitary sewer pump stations. We are also responsible for the solid waste removal, the recycling program, maintaining of all public shade trees, and taking care of the public land including two cemeteries, one active and one historical.

Finally, the whole town looks to this department when it comes to my “favorite” winter past-time: Snow and ice operations! I hire out a good portion of the snow fighting equipment and have been assisted by many talented UCANE contractors over the years.

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 those needs?

We do have a Capital Improvement Plan in place, principally on our road and sidewalk projects. The roads, sidewalks, ADA compliance, and Safe Street Program consumes the largest part of our DPW budget annually. Through annual meetings with Dedham/Westwood Water and the various private utility owners (gas, electric, cable, etc.) our scheduling of road projects may require some adjustment depending on what kind of pressing projects these private entities need to work on. We try to work with these private companies and encourage them to continued on page 48

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Public Works Pipeline continued from page 47 upgrade their facilities ahead of any sizable road projects we are planning. After we repave or reconstruct a street we will impose a seven year moratorium on new road cuts.

The DPW Operating Budget is just under $6 million, and our Capital Budget ranges between $8 million–$12 million per year depending on projects. Most of the capital program is put out to public bid.

How has your municipality historically funded infrastructure projects? Does the Town utilize the SRF Loan Program through MassDEP for sewer projects?

We have not applied for SRF funding in recent years. The Town is nearly 100% sewered and there is not much land available to increase the population, so the need to expand the current sewer system has been low. It has operated pretty successfully over the years, but some areas are due for upgrades. With the new Federal Infrastructure Bill offering some sewer and water funds at great terms, we will be looking more closely at the SRF program in 2022.

One area of concern for Dedham that we are constantly monitoring is our wetlands. With climate change, we have seen an increase in beaver and wildlife activity that is causing excess debris in our culverts, which is backing up stormwater in parking lots and properties. These culverts need to be maintained, cleared and cleaned annually and some of them are in wetland areas that makes it difficult to access. Hopefully we can find some funds for these types of projects. Obviously, a lot of our roadway programs are dependent on Chapter 90 funds and the Complete Street Grants Program to supplement the Town’s annual share of costs.

As you know the Massachusetts Legislature has recently allocated some surplus 2021 ARPA funds for horizontal infrastructure work, and the long awaited “Infrastructure Bill” was recently passed in Washington. Both promise to provide substantial funding opportunities for roadways, bridges, and water and sewer projects for the next five years (minimum). Is Dedham weighing in at the State House for access to these funds, and does the DPW have some “shovel-ready” projects available for 2022 if necessary?

We know the Federal Infrastructure Bill is also offering an infusion of funds for municipal roadwork and a host of other programs that Dedham could be eligible for. We’ll be looking into that as a potential funding source as more details come out about the bill.

We have several road, sidewalk, and stormwater projects that are “shovel ready” for any funding that the Commonwealth or Federal Government is ready to release, and it won’t take us long to increase that list of projects. I’ll be working with our consultants in early 2022 to make sure we don’t miss any funding opportunities that are out there. n

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