At a recent meeting, Milford City Council accepted Watergate Phase I streets and utilities into the city system. City manager Chris Coleman stated that the Public Works Director and City Engineer have determined the water system, water wastewater system and roadways in Phase I have been completed in accordance with city standards and requirements. The matter was opened for public comment and there were no comments for or against the proposal.
“I want to ask this question from lessons learned,” Councilman Jason James said. “Do we have the proper documentation to say that we have tested, verified all these things are in great condition? I am being transparent here because we have had things we have had to revisit in the past.”
Coleman stated that as far as he knew everything had been tested and there were proper records to confirm everything was in order. Mayor Todd Culotta stated that it said in the resolution that it was signed off by city staff.
“I’ve been doing this awhile,” James said. “I understand the resolution and I have no problem accepting this, but I want that question to be on record because if we come back and something pops up, I want to say we did ask the question.”
Councilman Dan Marabello echoed James’ question.
“In light of what Councilman James said, instead of hoping everything is in place, why don’t we just table this until the next meeting,” Marabello said.
A member of the audience spoke up and Culotta asked that the audience not interrupt the meeting.
“What happened in the past weren’t final approvals,” Culotta said. “He asked a very pointed question, and I want to take that into account, but we don’t need to convolute everything and question it when our engineers have reviewed it, signed off on it, inspected it, have done all the stuff they need to so we can accept it as a city utility.”
James explained his question.
“I don’t want my comments to misconstrue that things are not in order and that we should not accept it,” James said. “I’m saying we’re asking the questions; we want to make sure that the city manager is comfortable with his department’s signing off on these particular items, water systems, sewer systems and streets, and we have this resolution in front of us, then I’m okay with that. But, as a council person, I felt obligated to ask that question of the city manager to hear it from his mouth that he is comfortable with those things.”
Coleman responded that he was 100 percent comfortable with the staff recommendations. Councilwoman Katrina Wilson made a motion to approve the resolution and Councilwoman Nina Pletcher seconded. The motion passed with a vote of six to zero as Councilwoman Madula Kalesis was not present at the meeting.
