Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-07-08 Board of Public Works Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 8, 1985 Page 1 P MW A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16, Municipal Building at 7:30 P.M. Present were Chairman Barker, Board members Polychrones, Griffin, and Boucher, Superintendent A.V. Fletcher, P.E. and Assistant Superintendent William A. Redford. g' It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works Meeting of June 17, 1985 as amended. ' It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the minutes of the Board of Survey Meeting of June 17, 1985 as amended. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works Meeting of June 27, 1985 as amended. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 that Sheet No. 9, Bill No. 10 for Mark L. and Joan B. Wetzell, 163 County Road, Plat 36, Lot 11, dated July 8, 1985 for a 70% lateral, in the amount of $334.70 be committed to the t Tax Collector and betterments assessed accordingly. F It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 that Sheet No. 9, Bill No. 11, for Herbert L. and Ruth C. Kelloway, 30 Wakefield Street, Plat 146, Lot 10, dated July 8, 1985 for a 70% lateral, in the amount of $309.49 be committed to the Tax Collector and betterments assessed accordingly. Under the Superintendent's Report: Superintendent Fletcher stated John Louanis is retiring effective August 1 from the Water Treatment Plant, he is in the process of filling e out his retirement forms. Superintendent Fletcher stated it is my intent not to replace that job per se. The job descriptions for the Water Treatment Plant have been accepted by the Personnel Board, which I t presented to you some time ago. He added that he is comfortable with assigning Ted McIntire the responsibility of overseeing the Chief Operator/Chemist in his work, and there will be a short report on this at a future date. r F Board of Public Works meeting of July 8, 1985 Page 2 Am a Superintendent Fletcher reported that during the week of June 21st, the Water Treatment Plant was pumping at 4 MGD, which is an extremely large amount of water. Mr. Griffin stated that since he has been on the Board, the figures F have been approximately the same for this time of year, however, the difference is that last year we had a particularly wet Spring and wet snow cover, the result was that we were able to maintain a high well level. I think that if there is some problem in maintaining quality, we should k think about a water ban. Superintendent Fletcher stated I think the Board should at least warn people to go on a self-controlled conservation program. It was the consensus of the Board that if the average daily comsuaption has not been reduced to approximately 3 MGD by the close of business on July 18, they will impose a partial water ban. They will impose a full ban on July 29th if the consumption still does not come down. The availability of water is adequate, but the time necessary for treatment is a problem. Under Members Questions and Comments: Mr. Griffin stated the July 3rd Meeting of the Regional Water Advisory Group took place with 3 of the members present. To the best of his knowledge, nothing was really accomplished. Superintendent Fletcher stated I will mail to your homes the Secretary of Environmental Affairs answers to the MEPA progress regarding the Riverpark 93 development. The Board adjourned temporarily at 8:05 P.M. to meet as the Board of Survey. The meeting reconvened at 8: 45 P.M. The Board next discussed Superintendent Fletcher's memo regarding a s Board of Public Works Meeting of July 8, 1985 Page 3 "Proposition 2 1/2 and Reading". Superintendent Fletcher stated he tried to point out to the Board that their budget entails a loss of about 4% per year due to inflation. To stay even you really need a 3 1/2 - 4% increase in the budget, with annual contractual increases plugged in, trash particularly, and construction 4 materials and the Water Treatment Plant. We are constrained by Proposition 2 1/2, but the State isn't. Mr. Griffin asked that the Department present a report on a justification for street sweeping to be done by Town forces with a new f machine at a cost of $1059000. Mr. Boucher stated I read through this and wonder where we can cut services. There just isn't any place to cut. Mr. Griffin stated I would like a statement that the amounts necessary { for the funding of all water related issues are funded under the "Water Ow- Enterprise Account". ' Mr. Griffin stated I have for the last two or three years, been requesting funds for the solid waste disposal and rubbish collection. I have made it a point to indicate that rubbish collection has destroyed the DPW budget for the preceding five years because of the inordinate amount of spending with no recovery. There is no other single factor here that in i any way represents the magnitude of increase that rubbish collection does. f Chairman Barker requested that the Department do the following in order to draft a very detailed memo to the Finance Committee explaining our dollar needs over the next five years. He would like to see the staff begin to prepare a report on: a 20 year road reconstruction list and the number of street acceptances pending upon petition. Also, equipment f Y replacement including a Sweeper and Dynahoe and new Facility Funding, and all other capital improvements separately. He added that he thinks we also need a list of significant projects that are in progress and dollar i Board of Public Works Meeting of July 8, 1985 Page 4 t i funding that may be allowed. He would also like to see the projects that E can not be done because of the man-hours involved. He wants this to prove that we need a staff Engineer to complete some of these projects. Regarding the John Street New Facility, Chairman Barker stated we are waiting for a report from the Planning Board. He asked the Board Members if they want the Department to begin to prepare a background position update type of report on site options? He is trying to evaluate our role as Board Members. Should we be asking staff to do a report as time F permits? Mr. Boucher stated we should also be aware of the Warrant closing. Superintendent Fletcher stated I studied the Facility Relocation Committee Report. In my opinion, there are only two viable sites, Haverhill Street and John Street. Mr. Boucher stated we don't have boring analyses for Haverhill Street F or the back of the landfill, we need further clarification on both of these sites. How much longer can we sit back and not look into these sites? We must do something, we are running out of time and need definite information. Superintendent Fletcher stated I am very comfortable that if you don't have a site by November, your agreement with TASC is out of the question. Mr. Griffin stated we need to do a review of the facts. We need to make a strong statement about the calendar. I do not believe the Town is fully alert to the bidding problems that now exist in relationship to that site. The next round of bidding is a commitment or we will get sued. To the best of my knowledge, Haverhill Street is a significant source of potential future groundwater. He added, your next option may turn out that you are going to have a split department. Board of Public Works Meeting of July 8, 1985 Page 5 After further discussion, the Board signed the Payroll and the Billroll for the period ending July 5, 1985. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ecreta DOUGLASS L. BAREER, Chairman OFFICE OF BARRY E, HAMPSON. Secretary TOWN OF READING ARTHUR POLYCHROMES ROBERT P. GRDRIN BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS J. R. BOUCHER e A. V. FLETCHER, P.E., Supe ntmdmt pY MUNICIPAL BUILDING L READING. MASS. 01887 MASSACHUSETTS - ISI' 1