Spencer, Massachusetts: Spencer, Massachusetts:

ROAD MAINTENCANCE ROAD MAINTENCANCE AND AND

ACCOUNTING SYSTEM ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

Project Advisors:Professor Fabio Carerra

Professor Chickery J. Kasouf

Project Group:Brett Ferguson

John Shea

Project Contact Information:E-mail: ht-spencer-06@wpi.edu

Project Web Site: http://users.wpi.edu/~bferguso/spencer_ht.htm

May 3rd, 2006

Context: Context:

The Specific ProblemThe Specific Problem

Figure 2 Municipal Location of Spencer, MA.

• The town of Spencer is home to an The town of Spencer is home to an extensive system of both extensive system of both public and private roads.public and private roads.

• Private roads do not receive state Private roads do not receive state funding, yet the town must still funding, yet the town must still perform at least minimal perform at least minimal maintenance on such roads for liability maintenance on such roads for liability

reasons.reasons.

• Thus, Spencer, is in need of an effective Thus, Spencer, is in need of an effective system of system of roadway maintenance and roadway maintenance and accounting accounting

to better upkeep its roads.to better upkeep its roads.

Project Goal: Project Goal:

This project is intended to help the This project is intended to help the Utilities and Facilities Department of Utilities and Facilities Department of

Spencer, Massachusetts to manage and Spencer, Massachusetts to manage and maintain its roads by upgrading its maintain its roads by upgrading its

current system of records to a computer current system of records to a computer generated map of public and private generated map of public and private

roads.roads.

Presentation Outline: Presentation Outline:

Additional BackgroundAdditional Background Spencer, MASpencer, MA GASBGASB

MethodologyMethodology Objectives 1-4Objectives 1-4

Collected DataCollected Data AnalysisAnalysis Final DeliverablesFinal Deliverables Questions and CommentsQuestions and Comments

Additional Background: Additional Background:

Spencer, MassachusettsSpencer, Massachusetts

• Over 33 square miles of land Over 33 square miles of land area.area.

• 133 miles of Road133 miles of Road

• Large historical setting, Large historical setting, partially responsible for partially responsible for the large system of private roads.the large system of private roads.

• Current roadway management system can Current roadway management system can not handle not handle and account for all private and account for all private roads roads

effectively. effectively.

Figure 3: Map of Spencer adjacent to Worcester

http://www.elook.org/city/cities/Spencer_Massachusetts

Additional Background: Additional Background:

GASBGASB

• Governmental Accounting Standards Board Governmental Accounting Standards Board seeks to seeks to improve standards of state and improve standards of state and local government local government accounting and finance accounting and finance reporting.reporting.

• GASB-34 Compliance is a form that GASB-34 Compliance is a form that determines a determines a town’s town’s entire worth based entire worth based on its infrastructure on its infrastructure and can then and can then be properly assessed by state be properly assessed by state funding funding agencies.agencies.

• Largely beneficial for determining the value Largely beneficial for determining the value and and future value of Spencer’sfuture value of Spencer’s

roadway system.roadway system.

Methodology: Methodology: Objectives:Objectives:

1. To inventory the infrastructure of both 1. To inventory the infrastructure of both private and private and public roadways throughout public roadways throughout the town of Spencer.the town of Spencer.

2. To assess the condition and compliance of 2. To assess the condition and compliance of roads and roads and related standardsrelated standards

3. To estimate the value of the town roadway 3. To estimate the value of the town roadway infrastructure according to GASB-34 infrastructure according to GASB-34

requirementsrequirements

4. To design an administrative process to 4. To design an administrative process to manage manage resources and capture future resources and capture future changes to the changes to the roadway infrastructureroadway infrastructure

Data Collected: Data Collected:

All of SpencerAll of Spencer

Data Collected: Data Collected:

Target AreaTarget Area

Analysis: Analysis:

Private vs. PublicPrivate vs. Public

Analysis: Analysis:

Minimum WidthMinimum Width

Spencer Roadways by Minimum Width

Analysis: Analysis:

Elevation / GradientElevation / Gradient

Analysis: Analysis:

PavementPavement

Analysis: Analysis:

Condition: RoadsCondition: Roads

Analysis: Analysis:

Condition: Street SignsCondition: Street Signs

Analysis: Analysis:

Condition: Guard RailsCondition: Guard Rails

Final Analysis: Final Analysis:

Upgradeable RoadsUpgradeable Roads

Final Analysis: Final Analysis:

GASB AnalysisGASB Analysis

• For the final GASB estimate, each piece of For the final GASB estimate, each piece of infrastructure is individually analyzed for infrastructure is individually analyzed for value.value.

• Then, the total value of each item of Then, the total value of each item of infrastructure is added to the final GASB infrastructure is added to the final GASB value.value.

Final Deliverables: Final Deliverables:

• A new computer-based system of roadway A new computer-based system of roadway inventorying inventorying and management.and management.

• Listing of recommended private roads for Listing of recommended private roads for town upgradetown upgrade

• Listing of infrastructure repairs in need of Listing of infrastructure repairs in need of immediate immediate attention.attention.

• GASB value estimate for the entire town of GASB value estimate for the entire town of SpencerSpencer

Acknowledgements: Acknowledgements:

• Governmental Accounting Standards Board:Governmental Accounting Standards Board:http://www.gasb.orghttp://www.gasb.org

• MassGov Web Site MassGov Web Site http://www.mass.gov/portal/site/massgovportal/menuitem.e1ed4a776http://www.mass.gov/portal/site/massgovportal/menuitem.e1ed4a776e6931c14db4a11030468a0c/?pageID=mg2localgovccpage&L=1&L0=e6931c14db4a11030468a0c/?pageID=mg2localgovccpage&L=1&L0=home&L1=Resident&sid=massgov2&selectCity=Spencerhome&L1=Resident&sid=massgov2&selectCity=Spencer•Sponsoring Agency: Utilities and Facilities Department of Sponsoring Agency: Utilities and Facilities Department of Spencer, MassachusettsSpencer, Massachusetts

Warren Ramsey, Public Highway DirectorWarren Ramsey, Public Highway Director•On-Site Liaison: Karen M. Cullen, Director, Development On-Site Liaison: Karen M. Cullen, Director, Development

& Inspectional Services& Inspectional Services

Questions or Comments? Questions or Comments?

Project Contact Information:

Brett Ferguson and John Shea

E-mail: ht-spencer-06@wpi.eduProject Web Site: http://users.wpi.edu/~bferguso/spencer_ht.htm

Questions or Comments? Questions or Comments?

Project Contact Information:

Brett Ferguson and John Shea

E-mail: ht-spencer-06@wpi.eduProject Web Site: http://users.wpi.edu/~bferguso/spencer_ht.htm