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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-10-01 Board of Public Works Minutes � � | ' Board of Public Works Meeting of October 1, 1.984 Page 1 A mpeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16 of the � l Municipal Building at 7: 30 P.M. Present were Chairman Barker, Secretary Hampson, Board Members Wood, Polychrones and Griffin, Supt. Anthony V. Fletcher and Assistant Superintendents McIntire and Redford. The first order of business was a motion from Mr. Polychrones to accept the minutes of the September 24th meeting of the Board of Public Works. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O to accept the minutes as amended. The next order of business was a motion by Chairman Barker to accept the revised Capital Outlay Plan of September 22, 1984. After the motion was seconded by Board member Polychrones, all voted in favor of the | plan. Tt was recommended that a rover letter be sent to the Finance | Committee. The Supt. 's report included discussion on the removal of the domp dirt mounds and Supt. Fletcher commented that all is going well. He also mentioned an upcoming meeting with DFQF regarding the new well. According to Chief Engineer Bill Kro]l, the new well should be a "go" or "no go" as of February 20, 198S. The Supt. 's report also included discussion on the availability of our water supply. Supt. Fletcher stressed the need to "plug in" to keep up the demand for the past 9 weekends. Board Member Griffin asked if there should be a comprehensive test of the Revay and #3 well. and the Superintendent agreed that it needed to be tested. Mr. Criffin also asked if the Superintendent felt that the / < Water Treatment Plant could handle things right now and Supt. Fletcher � � ) felt that the issve of the "quality" of the water was improving. / � � ` Board of Public Works Meeting of October 1, 1984 Page 2 / / As discussion continued on the quality of the water, the Supt. } �0� � noted that $176,000 was left to help take corrective action. Immediate | � steps to test the well was underway with Contract 8?-20. It was also recommended by Supt. Fletcher that money be used to improve the availability of the water supply. He stated that a minimum of at least one year was needed to design a system, bid and do the work. Supt. Fletcher felt that the Board should address the needs of cleaning the filters at the Water Treatment Plant which uses a lot of water and stressing the need for two wells with a sufficient quantity of watpr. Board Member Griffin commented on the use of additional water bans in order to curb the use of water under current circumstances, mindful that additional development would have forced institution of the | bans. He also asked the Supt. about further industrial development and the steps needed to insure future water supply. Supt. Fletcher commented that the DPW should not issue any permits without considering the effects to the water supply. A public hearing began at 7: 45 P.M. Board Member Hampson read the notice of public hearing which was followed by a report from Jim Blom]ey of the Reading Municipal Light Dept. with regard to the upgrading in the square of the underground light department cables. Mr. Blomley stated that the affected area would be from Woburn Street to the manhole at CVS. Board Member Griffin expressed concerns over how much of the public business area was going to he effected. Board Member Polyrhrones asked if this was all part of a normal / / installation process. / Mr. B]omley responded by pointing out that due to the type of work involved, some would have to be done on the weekends. ` ` | Board of Public Works Meeting of October 1, 1984 Page 3 | irr | } � Various traffic concerns were mentioned with Board Member Griffin | L making a suggestion to block off the Woburn Street driveway or the possibility of having one driveway for in and out traffic. Chairman Barker asked if the Light Dept. was planning to meet with businpss area stores and if not, he asked that everyone, including the Police Dept. , at least be given adpquate notice. Board Member Polychrones then svggested that there also be some other alternatives to close and open roads. It was moved, seconded and voted S: O to close the hearing. It was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 to approve the petition of the Reading Municipal Light Depertment. � Item 5 on the agenda was followed by a discussion with regard to | ) / a revised contract with C.F. Maguire. | �0� Supt. Fletcher made a recommendation to eliminate itpms C, D, and E listed on page S, from the contract to help bring costs down and also made another recommendation not to spend more than $52SO on hazardous waste assessments. Any more than this he felt was not necessary. Chairman Barker questioned the water testing costs and asked if it could be reduced. After a question as to what was going to he eliminated from the contract, (Items C, D & E' page S) Board Member Wood mada a motion to amend the Fnvironmenta] Testing and Hazardous Waste Assessment. A second to the motion was made by Mr. Griffin. The Supt. 's report included discussion on groundwater tests and � corrnsivity tests to test the corrosive action of the water. The Supt. i stated that according to tests done by Whitman & Howard the results showed | | the water to be only slightly corrosive. | | ' Board of Public Works Mepting of Ortobp' 1, 1984 Page 4 ' ! Mr. Griffin asked if ]nng term use could have any negative -- effects. Mr. Hampson voiced his concerns for health and safety measures. Supt. Fletcher's response was that a safety code was established with Maguire to be submitted with thp State plan. The Supt. also mentioned that Rill MirRripn was the assigned 'Safety Officer for the Department. Board Member Hampson then asked if there would he any additional costs. He followed the question with a motion to approve as amended, the Hazardoos Waste Assessment Contract of September 28, 1.984 with a $S?SO limit. i Mr. Griffin moved to reqoest that the Board accept in principle � but with a new final draft ^ � Chairman Barker asked for any further discussJon and with none, Mr. Hamnson spconded. Item No. 7 on the Agenda was followed by a lengthy discussion in regard to FY86 Budget. Chairman Barker asked Board members to refer to their memo with regard to a plan for the new budget. Mr. Hampson commented that he was pleased with the outline and felt it was a step in the right direction. Asst. Supt. McIntire gave an example of how salary items were kept in detail. A record is kept of all. sick, vacation, personal time, and overtime with the Board receiving an overtime report each week. Contracted services are kept separate from normal sprvices. � Al] oil and fuel are voted on spparately at Town Meeting. Under the new format the Departmpnt was asked to eliminate lnng lists of � --` | i separate items. | i � Mrs. Wood had a question on expensps being kept separate. | ' Mr. Criffin recommended the new format � . . � / | . | ' � Board of Public Works Meeting of October 1, 1984 Page S | | / | i � Asst. Svpt. MrTntire cnmmentpd that a vprbal description of | accounts could a]ways be given. � Margaret Russe] l of the Finance Committee stated that her Board feels that it (the budget ) needs to he simplified. S''pt. Fletcher mentioned that varioop sheets would still be avai ]eh]e for information on internal office supplies and their records for further control. Next the chair asked for a concensus of opinion on keeping temporary labor separate. Three (3) Board members did not see a need to do this and two (2) were in favor of keeping the telephone cost separate. Asst. Supt. McIntire asked to use the new format in the transition of the Capital Outlay Plan with information provided if | � required. Finance Committee made the same request. A motion was made to accept the FY86 budget plan and all Board members were in favor.. A request by the Chair was made to notify Finance Committee in writing of the Boards' decision.. With regard to the next item on the agenda, Supt. Fletcher recommended that the Board take action on a reqoest for the Avalon Road sobdivis4nn. Mrs. Wood madp a reqopst to have the petitioners file a full set of conveyance p]ans. A motion was made to approve the revised plan of May 87 1984 for the approval of a subdivision at Avalon Road Fstates. The vote was 4: 1 ' (Mrs. Wood npposed). � ° . ^ . | � Board of Puh] ic Works Meeting of October 1, 1984 Page 6 | \ | i � | / | The next order of business was a request by Atty. Brad Latham for ! �N� | ~~~ the abandonment of an easement - Field Pond Drive. | � Supt. Fletcher noted that prior hold op was due to no plan, fust a verba] request. With a written plan provided, a motion was made to request the Selectmen to draft the necessary arrangements for the abandonment of a 20 foot drainage easement on Field Pond Drive. The motion was seconded and voted S:0. A small discussion on the monies available for the new facility focused on Town Meetings' decisions, the override of Proposition 2 1/2, and the new bonding ispop. Mr. Hampson questioned who has the control over | the 1.7 million dollars received from TASC. | ) | As a final report from the Supt. , an evaluation was given of the ! ��@ | Parks and Forestry Division. He stated that it was extremely well supervised group and he felt that for such a small group they accomplished a lot of wnrkr being responsible for maintaining all parks within the Town. In order to cut costs in this Department, eliminating Dutch F]m removal was cited as a possible solution. Mr. Griffin raised an objection to this suggestion.. Supt. F]ptcher stated that it was just a recommendation as a long range look at tightening the budget. Mr. Griffin then suggested the Department set op a preliminary cost pay back fee structure. The Supt. then requested that it be done only to recover costs and no profit be rep]jzpd. Supt. Fletcher told the Board that he has been in contact with | John Pacino, head of the Recreation Department, and he has said that so far there are no problems in the area of our parks and playgrounds. Ro.ard of Puhli.c Works Meeting of October 1 ,. 1.954 Page 7 Mr, Hamnson asked if Town Meeting will require an evaluation of " the number of npnnfR and ..nice nPpdpd_ 3 Fletcher stated we would do a bUildinn evaluation such Ps' how many people and what they do, i i Water and Sewer was also discussed with reference to the responsibilities of the Dent.. and the number of personnel. I Sunt. Fletcher noted that a 3 year cycle of system flushing was in operation and water tanks and lines were cleared at the treatment plant. He also stated that we are long overdue for a new fell system of pipes and mentioned that this also effects the quality of the water. Because of the cost involved, the Superi.ntendent recommended cleani.ng lines by scraping. Thi. s cn1d pos_s. i.bly by a 7 year plan. The meter division with only three people; is responsible for reading all meters, maintaining them, and helps at times with the Water 3 Department, t The Sewer Department with four people maintains 95 miles of sewer mains within the Town. Sunt, Fl.etcher felt that these departments were doing an excellent.. job. Chairman Barker questioned the overtime at the Water Treatment Plant and wanted to know if we could leave the Water Treatment Plant.. unattended. Sunt. Fletcher objected to ever leaving the plant unattended, s it would be ton dangerous, Lastly, the Highway Department discussion developed into equipment needs and roadway maintenance pol+ciec-.. Supt. Fl.P rhpr noted that he and Asst, Sent, McTntire drove through the Town to inspect.. streets _ / ^ ^ ~ \ \ Board cif Pohlic Works Meeting of October 1 ' 1984 Rpge 8 | ' k � and made some general comments on tape. / Overall the ';opt. felt the Department has a prodortive staff. The Board signed the Payroll and the Bj ] ] rnl ] for the perjnd ending September ?8, 1984. The meeting adjourned at 11 : 30 P.M. Respectfully sohmitted, Secret. y | | �N� MEMORANDUM TO: Board of Public Works FROM: A.V. Fletcher, P.E. Superintendent DATE: October 12, 1984 RE: Water Quantity & Quality Report COST SUPPLEMENT: The following is an update of the project activity program of September 25, 1984- A. Replace One Filter (October 1984) $4,572 B. Replace Five Filters (Winter 1984) 22,860 C. Instrumentation 3,200 D. Seismic Study 6,000 E. Rehabilitate Well M3 13,290 F. Rehabilitate Revay Well #1 10,043 G. Repair Well Flow Meter 1 ,500 H. Replace Auxiliary Engine, Revay N1 2,500 TOTAL $63,965 Well 82-20: Estimated Development Cost A. Well, Pump Complete $100,000 B. Distribution Line 83,000 $183,000 Bond Money Available October 1 , 1984 176,000 Our immediate goals are to have the treatment plant operating at the best possible efficiency level, and to insure adequate water supply for the coming years. To achieve these goals and to meet the high summer demands of 1985 I request the Board authorize the sum of $65,000be expended for immediate project activity as shown. This work could be completed in time for 1985 spring flushing and subsequent summer demands. Since there is little chance that development of Well 82-20 can not begin (and in fact may never begin) until summer of 1985, I suggest the Board budget the amount of $75,000 in FY86 for well development and pipe line construction. AVF:cmb DO GLASS L. BARKER, Ch¢ifmon TOWN OF READING OFFICE OF BARRY E. SAMPSON, Sevefmy GAIL F. WOOD ARTHUR POLYCHRONES BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS ROBERT P. GRIFFIN p Y MUNICIPAL BUILDING A. V. FLETCHER, P.E., Supennfentlent �' � READING, MASS. 01867 teA°�� MASSACHUSETTS October 3, 1984 Middlesex, as The undersigned, Board of Public works of the Town of Reading, in compliance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 80, as amended by Chapter 63 of the Acts of 1933, hereby certify that the lists herewith contain the names of persons against whom we have made betterment assessments together with the location of the land ianefited by the improvement and the nature and amount of such betterment assessment. Sewer lateral 1708)......................$182.00 Total......... .............$182.00 ' Such list is certified to you for the purpose of commiting same to the Tax Collector, as provided by law. WITNESS our hands this fifteenth day of October 1984. Cpairman !,,=cretary