Planning Board recommends Technical Design & Construction Standards Manual updates; staff to refine metering and CMP references

The Saco Planning Board reviewed draft edits to the city’s Technical Design & Construction Standards Manual (TDCSM) Aug. 19 and voted 6–0 to forward a positive recommendation to City Council, while requesting staff follow up on several technical points raised by board members and staff.

What was discussed: planning staff summarized edits and responses to comments raised earlier by board members and city electrical staff. Changes covered clarifications for municipal street lighting maintenance and a recommended insertion of a section on private grinder pump station requirements; staff proposed tightening an internal late‑submission cutoff for packet materials from Thursday 5 p.m. to Wednesday 5 p.m., and adding administrative procedures for the chair and vice chair to review late materials and recommend tabling items when appropriate.

Technical comments and follow up: board member and engineer Jeff Brusciau recommended additional language referencing Central Maine Power (CMP) metering/handbook requirements and discussed secondary metering for municipal streetlights so the city can expedite repairs without invoking third‑party CMP costs and delays. Staff committed to discuss Section 7 metering language with code enforcement and the city electrical inspector and to consider referencing the CMP handbook (and NFPA 70) where appropriate.

Board action: the board voted to send a positive recommendation to Council on the TDCSM updates while asking staff to address the metering/lighting language and other minor editorial changes before the manual goes to Council for public hearing.