Utility Companies and Private Contractors,
Based on complaints we’ve received from the Mayor’s Hotline, feedback from the CIU inspectors, and from my own observations, some of you are slacking off on the leafleting and posting requirements when working in the City of Boston.
Without realizing it you sometimes live in a construction bubble that doesn’t allow you to truly understand the impact that your construction has on the residents. Parking is a premium in the city. We truly affect someones life when the parking that they are used to is no longer available.
Of course construction has to take place, and that is why we allow the no parking signs to be put up, but you need to follow the BTD and Public Works procedures.
Although the construction season is almost at an end you know that there will be work permitted during the Winter Moratorium Period. All of you need to be totally on board now with the rules regarding leafleting and posting.
MUST LEAFLET 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF WORK
Permittees must use the BTD leaflets provided by the Boston Public Works Permit Office.
If ever the dates posted on the No Standing signs become expired then the Permittee is responsible to once again leaflet the street 72 hours before resuming work.
MUST POST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF WORK
Permittees must use the signs sanctioned by BTD. The Permit Office prints out stickers for all permits to be placed on the BTD No Standing signs.
For major jobs the PWD template must be used.
No other signs will be allowed.
If ever the dates posted on the No Standing signs become expired then the Permittee must post 48 hours before resuming work.
MUST WORK EVERYDAY THAT THE SIGNS ARE POSTED FOR
Nothing frustrates a resident more than when they take their time and effort to try and find another parking space for their vehicle and the crews never show up.
I can explain when once in a while weather conditions, plant breakdowns, or other unforeseen reasons prevent you from showing up, but I can’t explain when you don’t stay on schedule.
For example, you can’t post for November 4th through November 11th, and show up only on November 6th and the 10th without editing the signs.
MUST CHANGE THE DATES WHEN SCHEDULES ARE ALTERED
The minute that you know you are not going to be working that day or the next day you need to change the dates to reflect the days that you are coming back ASAP.
When updating a sign to extend beyond the original dates posted, all postings must be updated 48 hours in advance of crews arriving.
For example, you had a posting from the 10th through the 15th. Now it’s the 17th and you want to come back to complete the work. You now must leaflet 72 hours in advance of resuming work, and post 48 hours in advance to give proper notification to the residents. This means work cannot resume until the 20th. You lost your privilege of editing signs when the original posting dates expired.
ON MAJOR JOBS YOU MUST ONLY POST WHERE YOU WILL BE FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS
Permittees are responsible to post 48 hours in advance before work begins.
On long jobs the Permittee should only post where they will be working actively in the next 2-3 days. Do NOT post the entire street for the duration of a project where you will not be working until a much later date.
We cannot have people moving their cars when your work is significantly down the street.
YOUR PERSONNEL MUST BE AWARE OF THE LEAFLETING AND POSTING REQUIREMENTS
I am not telling you that you need to set aside resources just for leafleting and posting. What I am telling you is that your personnel, from the office to the field supervisors and the crews themselves, must strictly follow the BTD and Public Works rules regarding leafleting and posting.
Tracking leafleting and posting requirements will go a long way in ensuring that you are not unnecessarily burdening our constituents.
Once again your work is valuable to our City. We just want to make sure that when we inconvenience our residents we do so with as little impact as possible and within the times needed.
Sincerely,
Mark Cardarelli
Supervisor of Utility Coordination and Compliance
Boston Public Works
Tel 617.635.4951
Fax 617.635.7498
Cell 617.840.2249
Codman Square Neighborhood Council 