HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-08-06 Board of Public Works Minutesi
Board of Public Works Meeting of August 6, 1984 Page i
A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16 of the
Municipal Building at 8:00 P.M.
Present were Chairman Douglass L. Barker, Secretary Barry E.
Hampson, Board Members Wood, Po.lychrones and Griffin and Superintendent
Anthony V. Fletcher.
It was moved and seconded without any discussion to accept as
record the minutes of the previous meeting of the Board of Public Works
held on July 23, 1984. The vote was 3:0:1 with Chairman Barker abstaining
due to his absence from the last Board meeting.
As the first item of discussion Chairman Barker asked to take
Item B, listed under Points of Information on the agenda, out of order.
Superintendent Fletcher stated that he was not in favor of a Water Study
Committee.
Maria Silvaggi, reporter from the Daily Times & Chronicle,
commented that some citizen input is not always a had idea to help keep us
informed as a Town Board.
Mr. Griffin suggested we use such a Water Supply Study Committee
as an offer of guidance to the Board members with the Board still making
all the final decisions.
Mr. Griffin was then asked by the Chair, and agreed, to draft a
letter of response to the request from the Conservation Commission giving
the Board's approval with conditions.
The Superintendent's report on the new John Street Facility was
followed by a lengthy discussion by all the Board members who aired
various concerns.
Superintendent Fletcher stated that he was hoping the Board would
take action on the approval of the plan so that things could go forward.
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Board of Public Works Meeting of August 6, 1984 Page
Chairman Barker addressed his concerns over the size of the
vehicle storage area and also the placement of the carpentry and welding
shops.
Mr. Hampson felt that some outside windows in the lunch area
would present a nice atmosphere for the employees.
It was agreed that assigned parking spaces would be the best way
to handle vehicle parking.
Mrs. Wood and Mr. Griffin asked questions in regard to the
placement and the materials used for the building of the Salt Shed and
Superintendent Fletcher replied that the shed would be expected to be seen
from the neighboring apartments and the materials used for building would
be wood as recommended by the State.
Superintendent Fletcher continued to address questions with
regard to: layout with fire safety and work structure in mind, the flow of
one way traffic around the building, exterior surfaces of the facility
with metal being considered as a first choice, insulation with R factor
specifics, and the law requiring a new building to provide both a
lunchroom and a locker area.
Again Supt. Fletcher stated that he needed to know if this plan
was acceptable.
Chairman Barker asked to go on record requesting the need for
more detail before he could make final comment.
Mrs. Wood, Mr. Polychrones and Mr. Griffin stated that overall
they liked the plan and found it acceptable, however, they did see the
need for a public hearing in order to air citizen's concerns.
Mr. Hampsnn stressed that he wnul.d like the Board to be very
sensitive to the abutting apartments when considering the new building
Board of Public Works Meeting of August 6, 1954 Page 3
plan. He suggested that a picture be taken of the area from the apartment
side in order to provide a visual impression for the concerned residents.
With regard to size of the facility, Supt. Fletcher assured Board
members that the space would be adequate with the hope of using less
equipment in the future.
Mrs. Wood also interjected a fact that modern equipment is
getting smaller, therefore requiring less space.
After reaching a decision to hold a Public Hearing, the Board
concluded that following the open meeting they will be ready to make a
final decision on the acceptance of this plan.
In concluding this discussion of the Superintendents report,
various dates and agenda were mentioned with regard to a hearing for the
public, followed by a meeting with a final decision by the Board, and
ending with a final presentation to be ready for Town Meeting.
In the next order of business, Mr. Polychrones asked to take item
#10 out of order.
Mr. Barrett of 9 Aurele Circle presented a request to add four
(4'0") feet on to an existing ten foot by twelve foot (10' x 12')
structure (built on a slab) making it a thirteen foot by twenty four foot
(13' x 24') addition.
Mr. Hampson made a motion to approve the request for an extension
of the porch into the Water [Quality Area provided it does not extend into
a subsurface foundation. All. Board members approved by a vote of 5:0
subject to condition of size and type of foundation.
Item #11 on the agenda addressed a request for a sewer permit by
TASC.
Board of Public Works Meeting of August 6, 1984 Page 4
Attorney Brad Latham commented that this was part of the normal
process of filing with the State in order to move things along.
Supt. Fletcher noted that we have an active permit already in
existence.
It was moved and seconded that all necessary State applications
for sewer permit to TASC Realty trust be filed, not to be considered a
prejudicial issue at a later date. The vote was S:0 in favor.
Following the vote, discussion continued with regard to recent
problems from area residents with sewerage back up and concerns as to how
the TASC connection to sewer could affect this problem.
Supt. Fletcher discouraged the theory of a holding tank as a
possible solution saying that it was an unacceptable plan which would not
work. He made a visual diagram for the Board members with an explanation.
Mr. Hampson stated that he was worried about the TASC building
being completed before the new pumping station and questioned who would be
responsible for the back up of sewerage to homes in the area.
Mrs. Wood stated that the sewer back up problem has been in
existence for some time.
TASC (Marvin Cohen) replied that they were not aware of this
problem and the hope is to have the pumping station completed before the
TASC development.
It was also mentioned that the pumping station may not totally
eliminate the back up problem.
After further discussion a motion to reconsider was made but was
voted down by a vote of 2:3 (Mrs. Wood, Mr. Pol.ychrones in favor; Mr.
Hampson, Mr. Barker and Mr. Griffin opposed), which made the original
motion now standing.
Board of Public Works Meeting of August b, 1984 Page 5
Text order of business was the awarding of contracts, agenda
items #5 and #h.
Mrs. Wood moved to recommend that the Board award Contract 84-4,
Crack Sealing Bituminous Concrete Surfaces to Seal-Best, Inc. of
Bridgewater, Ma. in accordance with their bid in the amount of $21,590.00
subject to their procurement of the required payment bond, performance
bond, and certificate of insurance. Approval was given by a vote of 5:0.
Mr. Hampson moved to recommend that the Board award Contract
84-14, Repair of Bituminous Concrete Roadways & Sidewalks by Infra-Red
Heater Method and the Application of Asphalt Rejuvenator at Various
Locations to Felix A. Marino Company, Inc. of Peabody, Ma. in accordance
with their bid in the amount of '10,450.00 subject to their procurement of
the required payment bond, performance bond, and certificate of insurance.
Approval of the Board was given by a vote of 5:0.
A motion was made to table discussion on a letter received from
the Reading Public Library until August 20th so that estimated labor and
material costs could be requested.
It was moved and seconded to use unexpended Chapter 732 funds for
sidewalk work to eliminate the section of curb cut designated as Area III,
Washington Street - near Ash - next to "Donut Maker". Permission was
given to select an alternative area in the same amount of funding.
Approval was given under Item #9 by a motion to allow for the
removal of curbing - Hopkins Street at the owner's expense. Chairman
Barker seconded the motion with a request to have it put in writing, with
conditions as suggested by Mr. Fletcher.
The discussion of the Birch Meadow wading pool ended in an
agreement not to fund at this time but to request that Mr. Par_ino consider
this on their list of Recreation Committee priorities.
Board of Public Works Meeting of August b, 1984 Page 6
An MBO concept decision was settled by an agreement to create an
"umbrella" set up by which the Board could implement a Management by
Objective System, to be implemented by the Superintendent.
Both the payroll and bil.lroll for the period ending August 3,
1984 were signed by the Board.
The Chair made a request to go into Executive Session. A roll
call vote was taken with all members voting in the affirmative.
The meeting adjourned at 12;10 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secr ary
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