SKANEATELES - The village Department of Public Works is responding swiftly to recommendations from a report on its electrical transformers issued in December.
DPW Director John Hunt briefed the village Board of Trustees Monday on the progress his department has made since engineering firm Stearns & Wheler recently analyzed the village's 11 transformers.
The firm's report determined that all failed to meet the National Electric Safety Code, a set of industry standards set by a nonprofit professional organization.
The DPW sealed exposed wire inside the transformers that could cause injury if the cover was damaged, a key critique of the report.
“Phase one is complete,” Hunt said. “They're protected.”
The next step will be to shore up protection around the electrical relays, like cement pylons to shield errant auto traffic, or replace as many transformers as logistics allow. Some will not be eligible for upgrade because of their configuration and location, Hunt said.
“We'd like to see if it's feasible to replace the ones that are the oldest,” he said.
The DPW may pursue an unrelated upgrade to automated meter reading if a state Shared Municipal Services Incentive grant application is successful.
The village and town are eligible for up to $125,000 to purchase and install equipment that would allow the DPW to read water and light meters wirelessly.
The cost would vary based on the system, but would likely exceed the amount of the grant, Hunt said.
There are about 3,000 water and light customers in the town and village combined.
In other news:
€ The board accepted the resignation of DPW Water and Light Superintendent Gene LaForte.
His retirement effective Feb. 28 ends about 30 years of service.
€ Gave final approval to Jackie Keady to replace her century-old boathouse behind 4 E. Genesee St.
Plans call for the six-slip private structure to get a 2 1/2-foot lift to accommodate modern vessels.
The boathouse was originally constructed in the early 1900s and is in very poor condition despite being rebuilt in the 1970s, architect Bob Eggleston said.
“I'm a tenant of this boathouse, so I guess I can expect the rent to go up now,” village Mayor Robert Green quipped before abstaining from the 3-0 vote.
Board member Martin Hubbard was absent.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
The firm's report determined that all failed to meet the National Electric Safety Code, a set of industry standards set by a nonprofit professional organization.
The DPW sealed exposed wire inside the transformers that could cause injury if the cover was damaged, a key critique of the report.
“Phase one is complete,” Hunt said. “They're protected.”
The next step will be to shore up protection around the electrical relays, like cement pylons to shield errant auto traffic, or replace as many transformers as logistics allow. Some will not be eligible for upgrade because of their configuration and location, Hunt said.
“We'd like to see if it's feasible to replace the ones that are the oldest,” he said.
The DPW may pursue an unrelated upgrade to automated meter reading if a state Shared Municipal Services Incentive grant application is successful.
The village and town are eligible for up to $125,000 to purchase and install equipment that would allow the DPW to read water and light meters wirelessly.
The cost would vary based on the system, but would likely exceed the amount of the grant, Hunt said.
There are about 3,000 water and light customers in the town and village combined.
In other news:
€ The board accepted the resignation of DPW Water and Light Superintendent Gene LaForte.
His retirement effective Feb. 28 ends about 30 years of service.
€ Gave final approval to Jackie Keady to replace her century-old boathouse behind 4 E. Genesee St.
Plans call for the six-slip private structure to get a 2 1/2-foot lift to accommodate modern vessels.
The boathouse was originally constructed in the early 1900s and is in very poor condition despite being rebuilt in the 1970s, architect Bob Eggleston said.
“I'm a tenant of this boathouse, so I guess I can expect the rent to go up now,” village Mayor Robert Green quipped before abstaining from the 3-0 vote.
Board member Martin Hubbard was absent.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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