Richer School Area Stormwater Bond
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and figures may be misheard.
- What: a $6.3 million city bond for stormwater drainage design and construction near the new Richer K-5 school site, paired with the Richer School Project bond.
- Where it stands: Finance recommended it 5-0 on 2026-07-13 and the City Council approved it 10-0 on 2026-07-20 (roll call, one absent).
- Next: design, then bidding of the neighborhood drainage work; the MassDOT piece depends on the state's schedule.
The problem
- The DPW has seen recurring flooding about every three years at Ripley and McGee Avenues and through the wetlands behind the site.
- Millham Brook was piped through the neighborhood long ago; the trunk lines are undersized and surcharge in intense storms.
- A modeling study by the school's civil engineer (Nitsch Engineering) found the school adds only about 3 percent of the problem, but flooding reaches the southern bus and parent entrance.
The plan
- About $5 million for construction and $1.3 million for design.
- Double the trunk line through the neighborhood (over 1,000 feet, outfall at Glen Street into Millham Brook).
- Work with MassDOT on a stilling basin and drainage channel behind the school.
- Look at controlling the spillway at the Lake Williams dam to delay flow before big storms.
- Run as a separate DPW project because the MSBA funds only the school itself. Ideal timing is two phases, starting after winter 2027 and the next year, to finish by the school's fall 2029 opening.
Concerns and cost
- No state money; all city cost (Councilor Ducette confirmed).
- Michael Ossing said the stormwater work is needed whether or not the school is built.
- Councilor Oram asked about outfall capacity; Thomas DiPersio said that stretch of the brook can handle it. No detention basins are possible; the new school will have its own detention.
Discussion time
About 16 minutes across 3 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-20 - City Council | 2 |
| 2026-07-13 - Finance Committee | 12 |
| 2026-06-09 - School Committee Richer School Project Forum | 2 |
Log
- 2026-07-20 - City Council - Approved on a roll call, 10-0 with one absent, after Councilor Vital asked that the project be explained on camera.
- 2026-07-13 - Finance Committee - Presented with the school bond by Vertex and the city engineer; recommended 5-0 with a suspension request.
- 2026-06-09 - School Committee Richer School Project Forum - Vertex explained the $6.3 million DPW stormwater project (McGee and Ripley Avenues flooding) as separate from MSBA funding but advancing alongside the school; Finance review expected after the June 24 MSBA vote.
- 2026-06-08 - City Council - Mayor's proposed $6.3 million stormwater bond referred to Finance and to be advertised.