The Derby Board of Aldermen recommended paying $6,329 for work that was done to remove a fast-spreading invasive plant that was spoiling views of the reservoir at Witek Park.
Fifteen-foot tall phragmites were over taking the shore line — and were casting a shadow over a monument dedicated to Derby World War II combat hero Frank P. Witek.
Witek Park is off Academy Hill Road.
During the summer, crews lowered the water level in the reservoir and brought in heavy machinery to dig up the plants and their root system.
The fear was that the phragmites would spread throughout the reservoir, turning the popular fishing hole into a swamp.
On Thursday, Dec. 17, the Board of Aldermen recommended paying $1,579.65 to Milone & MacBroom for consulting work on the job.
The Aldermen also recommended paying $4,750 to McManus & Sons Construction of Derby for work performed at Witek Park.
The money allocation has to be approved by the city’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation.
Responding to a question at the Dec. 17 Aldermen meeting from former Mayor Marc Garofalo, Mayor Anthony Staffieri said the city received all permits necessary to do the job.
The removal of phragmites at Witek Park has been an issue championed by Ken Hughes, president of the Board of Aldermen, who twice tried to secure grants to remove the plants.
“This has been a pet project of mine since 2005,” Hughes said. “The local veterans erected a beautiful monument in that specific location due to the water views, and over the years, thiose views were lost. Not only does this bring back the beauty of the monument area, it also opens up the ressevoir for more fishing spots for our yearly fishing Derby.”
At the same Aldermen meeting, elected officials approved a motion to allow the city of lease two new dump trucks for the Department of Public Works.
The trucks are expected to arrive in January from Nutmeg International Trucks, Inc.
Total cost — $266,181.
