1956-11-19 Special Town Meeting Minutes

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-162 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Senior High School Auditorium November 19, 1956 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator, Charles P. Howard, at 8:P.M. The warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk when, on motion of Kenneth C. Latham, it was voted to dispense with further reading of the warrant except the Constable' s Return which was then read by the Town Clerk. ARTICLE 1. The following report was read by Frederick S. Oliver INTERIM REPORT TO SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Since the formation of the Sewer Study Committee in May we have met many times to study the matter of extending the townts sewer system, as directed by the vote of the last General Town Meeting. We have met with the Superintendent of the Board of Public Works and the Chairman of the Planning Board to discuss the aspects of the problem with which they are particularly familiar. By corres- pondence and telephone we have had discussions with the School Com- mittee and with the Town Counsel. We have visited various locations where the problem is most acute. The Committee has also worked in sub-p.Toups on both the engineer- ing and financial aspects of a xtending the sewer system. We have attempted to familiarize ourselves with the laws relating to public sewers and also have reviewed studies prepared in other Massachusetts communities on the matter of sewer installation. In connection with the engineering aspects of the matter the Com- mittee made a study of a small trial area to determine precisely how the sewer system could best be extended in that particular section and what the appropriate cost would be. The area studied was one of the unsewered areas in our town for which the Department of Public Works was able to furnish the detailed information we require to make such a study. Thus it became apparent that the plan prepared by Barbour in 1916, though still an excellent basis for planning the extension of the system in the so-called "gravity area" must be supplemented by a preliminary study of the said gravity area as presently constituted before the best program for completing the gravity system can be evolved. For that reason it is the recommendation of your Committee that the sum of $3,000. be voted at this time for consulting engin- eering services in making such a study. In addition to studying the gravity system area your committee also has under consideration the eventual sewering of areas which cannot be served under the above-mentioned gravity plan. At the next annual town meeting we hope to present competent re- commendations for the guidance of the Board of Public Works in ex- tending Readingts sewer system. Since it is now evident that our final report and recommendation cannot be made earlier than the annual town meeting in March, the Board of Public Works should, of course, include sewer extension appropriations in the 1957 budget. (Signed) Frederick S.Oliver Sewer Study Committee Chm. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the report be accepted as a report of progress and placed on file .