Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-05-20 Board of Public Works Minutes` ` Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 1985 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in the Lecture � , i Hall, Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Ma. at 7: 30 � P.M. Present were Chairman Barker, Secretary Hampson, Board Members 8 � Polychrones, Griffin and Boucher, Superintendent A.V. Fletcher, P.E. and ' � Assistant Superintendents McIntire and Redford. � ' Mr. Hampson read the Notice of Public Hearing at 7: 30 P.M. regarding the scheduled change in the water and sewer rates. Chairman Barker welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the members of the Board and Department. There were nine citizens present. Chairman Barker informed everyone that the Board will take a formal vote on the new rates at the meeting to be held May 28, 1985, with an effective date of April 1, 1985. ' � Supt. Fletcher gave a brief general history on the water rates. | Li He stated water rates have not been reviewed or adjusted since 1981. During that period, an addition to the Water Treatment Plant Plant has been constructed and other capital replacements and improvements have been completed with approximately $2,600,000 from bond sales. In addition, u labor and material costs have increased an average of 6% each year. New regulations regarding water treatment and installation of systems to control the removal of iron and manganese in our raw water has greatly increased water prodoction costs. Sewer use rates were established at the same time, 1981, and no adjustment has been made for inflation, labor and material increases, or ' bond principal and interest for work performed to extend the town sewerage system. � �.� In addition to these increases, the town must revise rates to meet the 42.6% increase of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, v , , ' ' . Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 198S Page 2 � ' (formerly M.D.C. ) for FY 1986 and for the following years through 1990. Asst. Supt. McIntire gave a description of the terminology � L relating to water. He stated total income does not equal total expenses � for the Water Department. � Asst. Supt. Redford explained how the Department came up with the suggested charges. Chairman Barker then asked for questions on the presentation thus far. He added that the sewer rates would he presented as a separate issue. � Mr. Nathan White stated as I understand it, the intent is to operate this as a non-profit making business. Rather than subsidize the water rate out of the general tax levy, you want to collect enough out of the water rate itself to support the system. He stated, I wonder, however, if there is a tendency to go too far in the other direction. HeMPW 1 � asked, what about the municipal government users? They are the heaviest users of water in the community. Chairman Barker stated first of all, in the presentation handout given, these figures are intended to show what the true enterprise accounting system would cost if we went to 100% all at once. We feel « that, in our deliberations, part of the problem is that some of those expenses tend to ebb and flow in different years. Some aspects of the capital projects may continue to come from the tax rate. Ms. Gail Wood stated that she objects to the effective date being � � set at April 1, 1985, water has been used since then, this should not be i ^ � retroactive, the new rates are to come in after June 30 which should mean , an effective date of July 1st. Chairman Barker stated we will take every one of your comments � into consideration. Mr. Russell Graham of the Finance Committee stated, I think under i � � ` � Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 1985 Page 3 � � � � the best of circumstances Proposition 2 1/2 will seriously impair the � services of the Town. In my opinion, the Board of Public Works must make every effort to minimize those cuts in services. I think that you should � � see to it that those who use the water pay for it. I would urge the Baord r � proceed and charge the full cost of water and make it in the full sense an ^ � � Enterprise Account. Mr. Nathan White stated it seems to me that the municipality ` should not pay for the users in town. Supt. Fletcher stated our studies indicate somewhere between 15 / � � and 22% of water is municipal usage. � Asst., Supt. Redford stated all municipal buildings and schools � � are metered and sent out a bill like any other customer. Mrs. Wood asked what is the suggested rate change? Chairman Barker replied we do not have the rates set at this time. Mrs. Wood stated I would like you to consider, if possible, � bi-monthly billing. I think if homeowners could make payments in smaller chunks, it is easier. � � Regarding the sewerage portion of the presentation, James O'Leary � of the Finance Committee stated 8S% of the Town is currently on sewerage. " What effort will be made to mandate the remainder of the Town to the existing sewerage system, and can the existing system handle the � additional hook-ups? " � Supt. Fletcher stated bids were opened today for the new "Reading � � Pumping Station". The trunk line and force main construction are already underway. This new station should handle up to 30,000 people in Reading. ' The Board has recently taken action to obtain an Aquifer Protection Plan to sewer those unsewered areas which will have to be done by bonding. � � Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20 198S Page 4 ' ' ' � . � � i Cail Wood asked what percentage of the water metered rates are � you going to charge for the sewer? Supt. Fletcher stated the M.W.R.A. has been ordered to clean up Boston Harbor. The initial movement is an increase of 42.6% now and S � � years from now 130%. Obviously, you can no longer consider percent of � | > water used. Both Federal and State law mandate these charges can not be put on the tax levy. � Mrs. Wood stated I would caution the Board against going to 100% ! because I think there are a lot of people who spend lots of money on water that does not go into the sewerage system. There are a number of them who � might be looking for separate water services. Supt. Fletcher stated it is very difficult to get a well approved for public consumption. Russell Graham stated J am saying the same thing about sewer that I said about water. It was moved, seconded and voted S| O to close the hearing at 8:40 * P.M. Chairman Barker thanked everyone for coming and informed them that the rates would be set on Tuesday, May 28, at the regularly scheduled ' � Board Meeting. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works Meeting of May 13, 1985 as amended. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O to accept the minutes of the ^ \ Board of Survey meeting of May 13, 1985 as amended. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works Executive Session of May 13, 1985 as amended, and 0N�o that they remain in private privy. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O that Sheet No. 4, Bill No. 4, � Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 1985 Paoe S ` John E. & Mary Ann Laoe, 9 Brewer Lane, Plat 168 Lot 16, dated May 2O, � . ' � � ' 1985 in the amount of $336.00 and Bill No. S, Harold B. & Mary Huff, 223 Haverhill Street, Plat 147 Lot 8, dated May 20, 198S in the amount of $323.40 he committed to the Tax Collector and Betterments assessed ^ accordingly. ; � It was moved, seconded and voted S:O that Sheet No. S, Bill No. � 6, Carl R. Moores, S Dean Road, Plat 212A Lot S, dated May 20, 1985 in the amount of $175.60 he committed to the Tax Collector and betterments � k assessed accordingly. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O that Sheet No. 6, Bill No. ` 7, William F. & Adeline D. Kilduff Jr. , 56 Summer Avenue, Plat 81 Lot 4, dated May 20, 1985 in the amount of $400.00 be committed to the Tax Collector and betterments assessed accordingly. Mr. Hampson read the Notice of Public Hearing at 9: 00 P.M. � � -- regarding the petition of the Reading Municipal Light Dept. to locate poles, wires, cables and fixtures including the necessary sustaining and protective fixtures, for the transmission of electricity for lighting, � � heating and power and for general and commercial purposes, upon, along, under and across the following public way or ways: � � John Street - Seven (7) new poles. � » � Chairman Barker welcomed everyone to the hearing and introduced � � � the members of the Board and the Department. James Blomley of RMLD stated this petition was on behalf of TASC. � � � There are seven poles involved. The poles we proposed to use are 43' high � i off the ground. The guy wires for the poles would extend into the proposed ; \ culvert on the dump property. The poles will be placed 12 feet back from ; L the curb lines. These would be in the public way -just in front of the fence in front of the dump. The guy wires would extend into or around the � � easterly slope of the culvert. � | � | ^ \ o � Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 198S Page 6 | , * Mr. Polychrones asked what is the purpose of moving these poles? � \ Marvin Cohen of TASC replied one of the reasons is that this was --- » negotiated with the Selectmen over a year ago. We would like to keep the � � poles as far away as we can from the dishes on our roof. Mr. Polychrones stated he was not aware this was negotiated with i � the Selectmen. Was that in your Purchase & Sales Agreement? � Mr. Cohen replied no. Mr. Polychrones asked what is the input from the Planning Board? Maureen Rich replied I can not speak for the Planning Board as " | this has not been presented to us. As one member, we have talked to the � people who are developing our RFP~s, and of coorse, as has been said many times, they would like a clean site. However, the Planning Board would like input on this. Mr. Polychrones asked what is the input from the Industrial 1 Development t C itt ? v omm ee � Don Stroeble replied it has recently been voted to take "no � � position". We have not had a meeting recently and can not take a position at this time. We are unaware of any negotiations with the Selectmen and ' > � TASC. / \ Chairman Barker stated I am totally disappointed in the response to the memo dated April 10. We would now ask that all Boards officially ' respond to this memo of April 10. � Virginia Adams of the Historical Commission stated the Selectmen � voted tonight that they strongly support the removal of the poles from � east to west. They will be putting this in writing tomorrow. � � Mr. Griffin asked how many of these poles are directly related to � � �� street and area illumination? _ ` � ` Board of Public Works Mepting of May 20, 1986 Page 7 . � ^ Mr. Blomley replied the fixtures are on every other pole. � � Mr. Hampson stated I would like the IDC to consider where the new � developer of the dump site would want the poles. Perhaps that should come off the purchase price. Mr. Griffin asked if the nature of the guying into the channel � structure is a common practice. � Supt. Fletcher replied I would have problems with guy wires being � [ partly up a slope of a drainage ditch as far as maintenance problems. If i � this becomes an eventuality, we would ask that this be placed outside the � | � slope and also this would have to go before the Conservation Commission. / Mat/reen Rich stated we could get the cost of this back from the developer of the land. Chairman Barker stated in the spirit of cooperation we should take this matter under advisement. We will send out a new memo of request and will await response in writing from each and every one of the " addresees. Marvin Cohen of TASC stated we are about to dig piles and place � foundations on the property. Three weeks will really hold the project up � � � and I object to this timing. � � � Chairman Barker stated I fail to see how the physical location of a pole would interfere with the construction of that building. � � / It was moved, seconded and voted 3: 2 (Mr. Griffin and Mr. Boucher � � � opposed) to table this until we receive further information from the � � , Boards concerned. � Y ^ ` It was moved, seconded and voted 4: 1 (Mr. Griffin opposed) to � close the hearing at 9: 35 P.M. � | | � . � ` -~ � Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 1985 Page 8 ' ` Y � The Board signed the Payroll and the Billroll for the period . � , ending May 17, 1985. ^ The meeting adjourned at 9: 35 P.M. / / � . Respectfully submitted, � . � i . Secreta�� � � / � � � ~~~ � � � � i � ^ � � L � ! � � DOUGLASS L. BARKER, Chdi . OFFICE OF BARRY E. SAMPSON. SeneWry TOWN OF READING ARTHUR POLYCHRONES ROBERT P. GRIFFIN BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS T R. ROUGHER A. V. FLETCHER, P,E, Supe+IntenEent 1 MUNICIPAL BUILDING READING. MASS. 01887 MASSACHUSETTS DOUGLASS L. BAREER, C i—. OFFICE OF BARRY E. RAAtfRON, Seoaary TOWN OF READING ARTHUR POLYCHROATS ROBERT P. GRIFFIN BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS J. R. BOUCHER A. V. F=HER, P.E., SupMnt dtl l i � MUNICIPAL BUILDING READING. MASS. 01867 MASSACHUSETTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. i. i .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L . t .� DOUGLASS L. BARKER, Chairman OFFICE OF BARRY E. NAMPBON, Secretary TOWN OF READING ARTHUR POLYCHRONffi ROBERT P. GRIFFIN BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS J. R. BOUCHER A. V. PLELCHER, P.M. SupMntendent p � MUNICIPAL BUILDING READING. MASS. 01867 MASSACHUSETTS