DPW Highlights: Parks & Cemeteries and Recycling & Solid Waste Divisions’ 

The Weston Department of Public Works is a department that does not always get the recognition it deserves.  We appreciate the men and women the DPW that continuously work hard to get things done so the Town remains as beautiful as a scenic postcard. We would like to recognize the DPW every week by highlighting each division, and provide insight to what their jobs entail. National Public Works Week is May 21-27, 2023, however we wanted to showcase them now. This week will highlight the Parks & Cemeteries and Recycling & Solid Waste Divisions’ which are under the Supervision of Jackie Jackson. 

Existing Staff:

In the Parks & Cemeteries and Solid Waste & Recycling Division there is the Supervisor,  Heavy Equipment OPerator, and two Chauff- Laborers.

In the Solid Waste and Recycling Division there are three Disp. Area Operators.

Operational Duties (Current)

Operational Duties (current) – Parks and Cemeteries: include mowing, string trimming, leaf clean up, brush cutting, mulching, loam and seeding, weeding, watering, fertilizing, pruning, tree removal, and planting.

Daily operation and maintenance of the Cemeteries:

• Linwood Cemetery – Approximately 50 acres with approximately 35 developed;
• Central Cemetery – Approximately 3 acres
• Farmers’ Burial Ground – Approximately 0.90 acres;
• South Avenue Cemetery – Approximately 0.50 acres.

Daily Operation and maintenance of the Parks: 

• Parks - Island at Route 20 and BPR (west end);
• Parks - Fiske House (corner of Linwood & BPR);
• Parks - Fiske Park (between Fiske Lane and Concord Road);
• Parks - Lampson Park;
• Parks - Town Hall (around Town Hall);
• Parks - Along the sidewalk around Town Green;
• Parks - Water Can (adopted – weed kill in island);
• Parks - Park at the corner of School Street and BPR By-Pass Anniversary Park 
• Parks - Park at the corner of BPR and BPR By-Pass (east end) Childrens Park
• Parks - Scout House;
• Parks - Case Park;
• Parks – Library (WAIC);
• Parks – DPW;
• Parks – Police;
• Parks – Fire Station HQ
• Parks – Fire Station 2;
• Parks – Town Center (grass strips, trees, Knox Park, Town Square, irrigation system, put out and clean park furniture)
• Parks - Transfer Station (around the building
• Parks – Main Library
• Parks – Pump Station
• Parks – Trail Head across from Love Lane
• Parks – Intersection of Newton St. and Rt30;
• Parks – Coordinate planting of Arbor day tree and water
• Parks – Ash St. and Rt 30 leaf clean up 1x a year

Daily Operation and maintenance of the Cemeteries:

• Cemeteries – Open and close graves and cremations – Approximately 70 openings and closings each year
• Cemeteries – Sale of graves
• Cemeteries – Turf treatment and maintenance for 54.4 acres of cemeteries
• Cemeteries – Field location of new burial sections of Linwood Cemetery
• Cemeteries – Meet with individuals/families to discuss purchase of gravesites
• Cemeteries – Coordinate with funeral directors for burial and gravesite services
• Cemeteries – Spring and Fall cleanup of leaves and debris
• Cemeteries – Remove unsightly material at burial sites
• Cemeteries – General cleanups annually (Memorial Day, Veterans Day);
• Cemeteries – Gravesite and marker repairs
• Cemeteries – Raise flat markers;
• Cemeteries – Coordinate with vendors for turf and tree management and pest control;
• Cemeteries – Participate in Snow & Ice Operations (Supervisor-Section Foreman & others operators) – both sanding and plowing operations
• Cemeteries – Participate in repair of Water breaks.
• Cemeteries – Pouring headstone foundations
• Cemeteries -- equipment repair and cleaning
• Cemeteries – replace American flags at Veteran grave sites annually
• Cemeteries – assist Solid Waste and Recycling division overseeing transfer station

There are still several programs that the Cemetery Division will be looking into in the future that may include or are ongoing:  addition of temporary summer/seasonal help with vegetative management (mowing and weeding), storing cemetery records electronic (mapping and links of each lot to mapping), layout of future lots (and clearing documented), modifications of the Rules and Regulations, etc. signing Permits for the use of town green and parks, Continuing education for licenses and certifications.

Operational Duties (Current)- Solid Waste and Recycling

• Check and monitor stickers and PAYT bags;
• Monitor  activities at Transfer Station including providing guidance of where trash and recycling goes with customers.  Having a complete understanding of the rules and regulations concerning disposal of solid waste (what can be and cannot be dumped);
• Sweep, pickup, etc. the common areas
• Keep order in the swap shed
• Assist customers, as needed, which may involve grabbing trash bags;
• Litter patrols at the transfer station and beyond (T-parking lot and along Church Street);
• Operate (push button) for compactors
• Make necessary calls to Harvey (vendor) when compactors are full (typically Friday is when compactors are emptied
• Bag the recycling and organize for pickup;
• Transport electronics, as necessary, to the back trailer
• Pickup solid waste (twice per week) and recycling (once per week) from Town Buildings and other areas(Conservation/Recreation):   DPW, Police Department, Fire Department- Station 1, Town Green, Town Hall, Ash Street (dog waste); Newton Street (MWRA dog waste); Fire Department - Station 2, Drabbington Way (dog waste), Schools (recycling), Town Center, Indian Hill (dog waste), Brook School Apartments (recycling)
• Work at the brush dump several times throughout the year on weekends;
• Pest and Insect Controls – Contracted out
• Cleaning bathrooms, office and other areas;
• Mowing adjacent to solar array fencing.  Ameresco, solar array contractor, moves inside the fence, repair vents and turbines to landfill;
• Participate in Snow & Ice Operations (Supervisor-Section Foreman & others operators) – both sanding and plowing operations
• Participate in repair of Water breaks.
• Calibration of weight scale
• Manage Tipping Fee contract (current Wheelabrator out of Millbury);
• Manage Transportation contract (current E.L. Harvey);
• Manage various vendors for Recycling (scrap metal, electronics, propane tanks, deposits, paper, plastics, cardboard, etc.);
• Have fabricated and purchase solid waste and recycling stickers;
• Coordinate PAYT Program
• Coordinate and take payments for Bulky Waste Program;
• Coordinate Food Waste Program.
• Compact metal containers to maximize loads
• Paint bollards, recycling area, and solid waste hoppers
• Assist Parks and Cemetery division preparing for Memorial Day Celebration
• Manage and coordinate Household Hazardous Waste Day two events (new) per year
• Coordinate brush grinding and composting at Merriam St
• Assist truck drivers with removing solid waste and recycling containers
• Apply for DEP Grants

There are still several programs that the Solid Waste and Recycling Division will be looking into in the future that may include:  replacement of weigh scale, collection of mattresses (DEP mandated), etc.