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The Department of Public Works was organized and established within the Town government structure to provide for the maintenance management of the public infrastructure and to provide certain essential public services to the residents of the community.
The Department is responsible to the residents of Framingham generations for the maintenance management of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure that has been constructed over the 300 plus years of the Town’s history. This complex infrastructure was built in part by the current generation of people that reside here and in more substantial part by the fifteen generations of residents that came before. This infrastructure consists of more than 270 miles of a roadway network containing; bridges, sidewalks, curbs, traffic signals, street lighting, guardrail fencing, Surface and sub-surface storm water systems, sanitary wastewater systems, public water supply systems, and public shade trees. This infrastructure is the backbone of the community and it contains many of the resources that all together can well define the over all quality of life in a community.
The Department of Public Works also routinely provides certain repetitive services to a resident population of almost 70,000 people. The Water and Sewer Division provides an average of 9 million gallons of drinking water to the community each day and it then must also collect that same volume of wastewater each day and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. The Highway Division removes snow and cleans the 250 miles of streets and the 160 miles sidewalks in the Town. The Sanitation Division collects and disposes of almost 25,000 tons of solid waste, garbage, and recycling from the 16,400 customer households that it visits each week.
In order to effectively accomplish all of these tasks, the Department must manage and/or oversee budget expenditures from multiple sources in excess of 40 million dollars annually. In addition to the funding that Town Meeting annually appropriates for the operation of the Department, the Department is also charged with the management of millions of dollars in state and federal aid in the form of infrastructure reconstruction and redevelopment projects.
After a careful and considered process of review by the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen, a strategic reorganization of the Department of Public Works was proposed to Town Meeting through the Fiscal 2004 budget process. The purpose of the reorganization was to organize the Department into a program management structure that placed a greater emphasis on accountability and planning.
Essentially the Department was restructured into five management programs that covered each of the major areas of accountability within the organization. Each program is headed by a professional manager who is responsible to the Director of Public Works for the planning and execution of their programs goals and objectives. The Department is organized into the five following programs: Administration and Finance, Engineering and Transportation, Water and Sewer, Highway and Sanitation, and a Fleet, Facilities, and Communications program.
Administration and Finance Division Program
The Finance and Administration Division provides for the consolidation of all administrative and financial functions within the Department of Public Works under one professionally managed and standardized program. This Division is established to provide for the development of professional standards and practices that are intended to integrate current technology with available human resources. The purpose of this effort is to substantially enhance the efficiency and the accuracy of the financial and administrative functions of the Department. The Department manages a multibillion dollar infrastructure and either directs the expenditure or provides oversight of almost 40 million dollars of funding from various program resources.
Engineering and Transportation Division Program
The Engineering and Transportation Division Program is responsible to the residents of the community and to other agencies within the Town, for providing technical assistance and guidance in the areas of civil and transportation engineering, design review processes, public way permitting, GIS mapping, and field survey services. In addition, the Division is responsible for the management and oversight of all horizontal construction within the 250 miles of public roadways within the Town. The Division provides critical support services to the operational Divisions of the Public Works Department in its role of coordinating the capital planning process, design review, and contract and construction management.
Water Division Program
The Water Division Program is responsible for the distribution of a public water supply and for the provision of a fire suppression service to the 17,000 residential and commercial accounts within the Community. The eight million to ten million gallon per day water supply is acquired from the MWRA and is subsequently distributed throughout the Town by means of a complicated system of pumps, valves, and reservoirs.
The Water Division program provides for the maintenance and repair to the water distribution infrastructure that includes; 250 miles of conduit, 2000 hydrants, 22,000 water gate valves, 16,000 water meters, four pumping stations, one booster station, and five above ground water tanks having a storage capacity in excess of seven million gallons.
Sewer Division ProgramThe Sewer Division Program is responsible for the collection and sanitary disposal of 10 million gallons of sewerage each day from the 17,000 residential and commercial accounts within the Community. The collection system consists of 226 miles of gravity sewer mains, 18 miles of sewer force mains, 51 sewer pumping stations, 6,600 manholes, and miles of cross country easements.
Highway Division Program
The Highway Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Town’s 250 mile roadway and sidewalk infrastructure that includes; pavement surfaces, granite and bituminous curbing, street and regulatory signage, street sweeping, storm water utilities, pavement markings, traffic islands, bridges, and public shade trees. In addition, the Highway Division is responsible for all winter storm management activities and plays a significant role in the Town’s Emergency Management response plan.
Sanitation Division Program
The Sanitation Division is responsible for the management of the Town’s residential and municipal solid waste programs, as well as for the operation of a resource recovery program intended to collect recyclable materials and thereby limit their inclusion in the more costly general solid waste disposal program. The Department collects solid waste and recycling from 18,652 dwelling units each week or approximately 3,700 units each collection day.
Fleet, Facilities, and Communications Program
The Fleet and Facilities program provides a critical support service to the other public works programs and provides vehicle maintenance support to other agencies within the Town. The Program is accountable for; the development and implementation of professional fleet management standards and practices, the design and procurement of all public works vehicles and equipment, and for providing standardized maintenance management practices for all Public Works facilities including Water and Sewer Pumping Stations. The Division is also charged with the technical management of the telecommunications network and thereby provides a critical service component to the Department’s Emergency Management response plan. The mission of the Division is; to provide the Department with the most functionally effective equipment possible, to maintain the equipment at a high state of readiness, to preserve the residual value of the equipment and its component parts, and to minimize or eliminate unscheduled maintenance which can cripple the operational inefficiency of the Department
Directions to
Directions to Western Avenue are as follows: Traveling South from the Memorial Building/Town Hall, proceed across the railroad tracks and across Route 135, bear left onto Irving Street around the rotary, continue south on Irving Street through two sets of traffic lights, pass the Fire Station and MCI on the left and the next building which is located across the street from Adesa will be the Public Works Facility. Directions to
The directions to the
How much am I paying for my water?
After holding a public hearing, the
Board of Public Works and the Water and Sewer Commissioners for the Town
of
SCHEDULE OF CHARGES – FY08
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING
SANITATION
When is my trash picked up? Your trash and recyclables are picked
up at curbside once each week (as are your recyclables); the collection
day depends on where you live. If you don’t know which day, call
532-6001. All trash, and other items to be picked up, need to be placed
at curbside by
What happens if my collection day
falls on a holiday? Your trash will be picked up the next day, and everyone else whose collection day follows the holiday will have their trash picked up one day later than usual, so that Friday’s trash will be picked up on Saturday for that week. Holidays in Framingham are: New Years Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday (Monday), President's Day (Monday), Patriots Day (Monday), Memorial Day (Monday), Independence Day, Labor Day (Monday), Columbus Day (Monday), Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Click here for Recycling Collection Schedule (PDF file)
Are there any restrictions on what
I can put in my trash? Yes. By state ruling or Framingham By-Law the following are not allowed: hazardous wastes (see table 2 on Public Works Page), rubber tires, most metal items, yard waste (grass, leaves, brush), Christmas Trees, recyclables such as newspapers, glass bottles, metal cans, television sets, computer monitors, fluorescent light bulbs, Ni-cad batteries, and lumber or other home construction materials from home repair.
So, what do I do with ITEMS I CAN'T
PUT IN MY TRASH?
The Sanitation Division conducts special
pickups for almost all of these items except lumber and demolition materials
which are not accepted at curbside or at the
Some alternatives for disposal of construction/demolition materials are:
WHEN IS THE
Every Friday and Saturday from
You can pick one up at the Department
of Public Works office in the
These are currently brought by our collection contractor Waste Management to a Material Recovery Facility, sorted, and marketed to companies that can reuse the material.
Our sanitation trucks bring it to a transfer station in Marlboro owned by Waste Management, the low bidder on a long term disposal contract, and from there Marlboro takes the trash to an approved landfill or incinerator.
You can bring up to five bags or 35
gallon size barrels of trash each week to the
WHAT IF I SEE ILLEGAL DUMPING?
If you see any illegal dumping or other
environmental hazards occurring in your neighborhood, please call your Local
You don’t necessarily have to put them
in the special biodegradable bags. You can put them in barrels clearly
marked “Yard Waste” and leave them out on the same day that your trash is
collected during the weeks that yard waste is collected.
No plastic bags are acceptable.
Alternatively, you can bring the yard waste to the Compost Area on
Biodegradable paper yard waste bags are available for purchase at the Mount Wayte Recycle Drop-Off Center or at your local hardware store. Prices and availability may vary.
Yes. According to the Board of Selectmen’s Policy on Trash collection, “the amount of household trash that is eligible for curbside collection per week shall be limited to three (3) 35-gallon barrels or an equal amount in volume of bags and/or barrels …and shall weigh no more than 40 pounds each.” Any amount of trash in excess of these limits will be refused collection, tagged and a fine may be issued for non-compliance. Trash in excess of these limits may be taken to the Recycling Convenience Center for disposal if the resident has a valid Permit. HOW MUST I BUNDLE MY BRUSH/YARD WASTE?Yard Waste is defined as leaves, grass clippings, shrub trimmings, plant cuttings and non-woody organic garden waste only. Brush is defined as wood waste from bushes and trees that is less than four inches in diameter. Materials such as dirt, sand, sod, rocks, stumps or trunks will not be accepted. Pieces of brush must be no more than 4” in diameter and no more than four feet long. Brush must be tied and bundled in lengths of four feet or less and weigh no more than fifty pounds per bundle. Brush not meeting the above criteria will not be accepted at the Dudley Road Compost Drop-Off Site. This also makes it easier to load the brush into the trucks, and reduces the cost to the Town. There is an annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day usually held in May of each year. Items listed as accepted may be disposed of during this event. Watch your newspaper for an announcement of the specific day. Items listed as NOT accepted require private contractor handling. All products must be labeled and placed in a box (no paper or plastic bags, please). Disposal of Hazardous Waste (alternative to Hazardous Waste Collection Day)
The Sanitation Division conducts curbside
pickup of bulky items by appointment and for a fee. Residents may pay for
and schedule a pickup at the Department of Public Works office located in
Room 213 of the
No Sheds or Fences; No Demolition
Material
Prices are subject to change without notice. Recyclables
Recyclables are picked up by a contractor,
Waste Management, on the same day as your trash. A special blue bin
is required, which can be
purchased at the
Paper: This includes all newspaper and inserts, magazines, telephone books, junk mail, white & colored paper, computer paper, envelopes, and chip board (e.g. cracker boxes, cereal and gift boxes). Paper may be placed in a separate blue recycle bin or must be in paper bags if placed in the same bin as containers. No plastic coated paper, carbon paper, tissue, napkins, paper cups/plates, or similar items. Also, please remove all food residues, and put soiled paper in your regular trash. No soiled paper, pizza boxes, or plastic bags will be collected.
Glass:
Clear or colored glass bottles and jars only (all sizes) - rinse out.
Plastic neck bands, caps, lids, rings, corks, and necks may stay.
Labels may stay.
Do not include any broken glass,
light bulbs, Pyrex, ceramics, mirrors, drinking glasses, vases, window or
auto glass, plate glass, etc. Do
not put glass in bags.
Metal: Tin and aluminum food and beverage cans (any size) and lids, plus aluminum foil and trays will be collected. Rinse out, but you can leave paper labels on. To make more room in your bin, the cans can be flattened (hint: remove both top and bottom lids, if possible, to make it easier to flatten). Please do not include scrap metal, aerosol cans, paint cans, propane tanks, or other metal items other than those indicated. Do not put metal in bags.
Plastic:
Clear, opaque, white or colored plastic
bottles, jugs, or jars marked with a recycle symbol and the number 1 thru
7 on the bottom that are used for foods, milk, water, soaps, etc. can be
recycled. Also, juice and milk cartons
and drink boxes, rinsed out with the straw and cap removed.
Flatten, if possible, to make more room in your bin.
No plastic wrap or bags, no motor
oil/chemical containers, no foam containers, and no bottles used for hazardous
materials such as antifreeze and motor oil.
Do not put plastics in bags.
Cardboard:
Corrugated cardboard will also be
collected, but it must be flattened, wax free, and in pieces no larger than
three feet by three feet and tied.
Other Items Accepted at the
The Recycle Drop-off Center also accepts
the following materials for recycling: Plastic containers #1 - #7, paper
and cardboard (flattened only, cut 2’x2’ not required), tin and aluminum
cans, glass jars and bottles, fluorescent light bulbs, antifreeze, motor
oil (must be in plastic container with screw-on cap or in original container),
oil filters, car batteries, rechargeable batteries
and propane tanks ($3.00 charge for each tank).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING
HIGHWAY I need to get out of my street, but the snow plow hasn’t come by yet. Whom do I call? Call the Highway Division (532-6030) or the DPW office (telephone 532-5600) and let them know if there is an emergency situation. If there is a medical emergency, call 911. If it’s not an emergency, please be patient, your street will be plowed as quickly as possible. Available plows must first clear all of the main roads before they begin the residential streets. However, the plows and/or sanders begin work as soon as the streets get icy or the snowfall begins. So, unless we have an unusually heavy blizzard, your street should be plowed before there is more than a three inch accumulation of snow. Remember, Framingham has over 250 miles of roads to plow.
Several cars are parked on my street
during the snow storm, and they impede complete plowing of the street. What
can I do about this? If cars are impeding the snow plowing, the DPW and Framingham Police will have them towed away, and the owners will have to pay a fine and towing fees. It is against the law to park on public ways during a snow storm. If the cars are not removed or towed, you can call the police at 872-1212, and they will take appropriate action.
The catch basin (storm drain) near
my home is caving in or clogged. What should I do? Call the Highway Division (532-6030) or the DPW office (telephone 532-5600) and let them know where the catch basin is located. It will be repaired (or cleaned) as quickly as possible. There are over 10,000 catch basins in Framingham. Also, please do not put oil or other wastes into the storm drains as these will pollute your waterways.
How do I get the pothole on my street
repaired? Call the Highway Division (532-6030) or the DPW office (532-5600) and let them know where the pothole is located. It will be put on the list and repaired as quickly as possible. Our highway crews usually find the potholes and repair them right away. But, in the spring when many potholes develop all over town, it’s sometimes hard for the DPW crews to be aware of them all. Your reporting of potholes is very helpful and welcome.
How often do I receive my water and sewer bill? Homeowners are generally billed four times each year; large users (some businesses, apartment buildings, condominiums, etc.) are billed monthly. The water and sewer bill for any property must be in the owner’s name. The owner may request that it be sent to another address but the owners name must appear on the bill. It is the owner of any account that is responsible for any charges against that account. What if my meter isn't working? Immediately call the Water Division (532-6050) to report this, and your meter will be replaced at no charge to you. You will, however, be charged for water and sewer use up to the time of the repair based on estimated use, and there is a charge to repair meters that freeze during the winter as residents should take care to see that meters are protected from freezing temperatures. How do I obtain a final bill when I sell my house? 1. Final reads are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Call the Business Office at 508-532-5605. 2. Owner or Realtor must call the billing office to schedule a final read within 5 days prior to closing date. ( No exceptions) 3. New owner’s name must be provided on the day the appointment is being made. 4. A contact phone number must be provided. 5. There will be a fee of $20.00 for the final reading included in the final bill amount. 6. If the appointment is missed, the next available time would be the next final read day. There will also be a charge for the missed appointment. 7. The final bills will be ready for pickup 1 hour after the last scheduled appointment. Please feel free to call our office to confirm the bill is ready for pickup. The bills will not be faxed nor will verbal amounts be given. The final bills must be signed for release.*** 8. The final bill amounts are due within 7 days of the date the final bill is issued. The final bills must be paid with cash or certified check to the Treasurer’s office. There is a daily interest rate of 14% assessed by the Treasurer’s Office for each day the bill remains unpaid. ***this is to ensure that the party picking up the final bill assumes responsibility for delivering the bill to the closing or to pay the bill in the treasurer’s office. In the event the bill remains unpaid, the new owner will be notified as they will be responsible for outstanding balances.*** What if there is a mistake on my bill? You can call the Water Office at 508-532-5605 and see if the problem can be handled by phone, or come to the DPW office on the second floor of the Memorial Building, Room 213, and the staff will gladly assist you in explaining the bill or rectifying any errors. It is usually helpful if you write down the current reading from your inside meter before you call or visit. There is also information available in the DPW office for the resident to help determine if there is a leak at the property. For last year's water quality report, click on this link. http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/water/html/awqr.htm Once the MWRA has the results from this year's report, the link will be updated.
last updated: 04/22/2008 |
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