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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-03-26 Board of Public Works MinutesBoard of Public Works Meetino of March 26, 1984 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in the second floor conference room of the Reading Public Library, Middlesex Avenue, Reading, Ma. at 7:30 P.M. Present were Chairman Barker, Board Members Wood, Polychrones and Griffin, Superintendent Anthony V. Fletcher, Assistant Superintendent William R. Bergeron, Engineering Division Representative William A. Redford and Forestry and Parks Supervisor Irving E. Dickey, Jr. It was moved, seconded and voted 4:0 to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works meeting of March 20, 1984 as amended. Superintendent Fletcher reported the staff has been preparing data for comparisons of DPW space requirements and this should be done later this week for next weeks' meeting. The Water Treatment Plant work is continuing on schedule. Side two will start with tomorrow nights' drawdown. The lime system is complete and being tested by CDM, but not our staff. Regarding the relocation of the DPW site, Mr. Fletcher presented the Board with a drawing which outlines the new location referred to in the newspaper. Chairman Barker stated the Superintendent and I have talked about a number of changes with regard to the format of the Agenda, specifically, the Superintendents' and Chairmans' reports. The Board next reviewed the award of Contract 84-2 - Turf and Lawn Treatments. Forestry and Parks Supervisor Bud Dickey stated this program is to work with one contractor for three years on our athletic fields and to get our fertilizing program on an even keel. % Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page 2 It was moved, seconded and voted 4;0 to award the following, subject to the procurement of their payment bond, performance bond, certificate of insurance, and Town Meetings' appropriation of the funds for each fiscal rear; 1. To the Greenway Company Inc. of Peabody, Ma.; a. Fertilizer at 28.7628 cents per pound; b. Chickweed control at 35 dollars per acre; c. Broadleaf control at 35 dollars per acre; d. knotweed control at 35 dollars per acre; and e. Insecticides at 60 dollars per acre. 2. To Prescription Turf Services, Inc. of Middleton, Ma.; a. Caulk dry lime at 1.73 cents per pound; and b. Crab grass control at 104 dollars per acre. The Board next reviewed the award of Contract 84-3 - Sweeping of Streets. It was moved, seconded and voted 4;0 to award Contract 84-3 "Sweeping of Streets" to J.K. Municipal Services, Inc. of Middleton, Ma. in the amount not to exceed $21,200.00 for Spring Clean-up and $435.00 per diem/unit for Sweeping as Necessary as per their bid of March 15, 1984 provided they procure the required Performance and Payment Bonds and a copy of the necessary liability insurance. It was moved, seconded and voted 4;0 to request a transfer of $15,000 from the Reserve Fund for the Snow and Ice Account. Superintendent Fletcher stated we are now approximately $1,000.00 in the red under the Snow and Ice account. Given the potential for the next month or so, it is essential we have this money available to us. Board of Public Works Meeting of March ?b, 1984 Page 3 Mr. Griffin read the Notice of Public Hearing at 7;45 P.M. regarding the roadway reconstruction projects on the following streets; LOCATION FROM TO Knollwood Road Main Street Summer Avenue Van Norden Rd. Forest Street Franklin Street Chestnut Street Auburn Street End Irving Street Main Street Pearl Street Torre Street Salem Street End There were approximately 40 residents present. Chairman Barker welcomed everyone, and thanked them for coming and introduced the members of the Board of Public Works. Assistant Superintendent Bergeron made a presentation regarding each of the streets. He showed slides of the reclamation process which will be used on each of the streets. He stated the process takes the full width of the right-of-way, however, provisions are made for access of emergency vehicles. Mr. Bergeron explained the process of replacing old water services and installing sewer laterals. He stated that the advantage of doing this type of construction process is the amount of time it takes vs. a conventional process taking two to three times as long. The disruption to the abuttors is generally more with the conventional process. The first street discussed was Knollwood Road. There were about six abuttors present. Mr. Bergeron stated there are drainage problems at the low point of the hill. We will be installing curbing for these drainage problems, and will be creating a slight berm near the Main Street intersection. Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page 4 There will be no tree takings and no pole relocations. He also stated there are no utilities on Knollwood Road that need to be replaced. Mr. Griffin of 29 Knollwood Road asked what about the opening and pass-through of emergency vehicles? Mr. Bergeron replied if there are school buses that use the street, we will find out the schedule. The ripping up and laying down of the street will take 4 or 5 days. Every night we leave the street in passable condition. The roadway will be open for emergency vehicles upon any notice. Normally, one lane is left open unless the road can be detoured easily. Mr. Griffin asked what about sidewalks? Mr. Bergeron replied ,yes, we know we need to do sidewalk maintenance work. We will be hiring a separate landscape contractor to do the sidewalk work after the curbing is put in. The maintenance will be looked at at that time. Mr. Griffin asked could you comment on the moving of the equipment in the evening? Mr. Bergeron replied the largest equipment would be stored at the Public Works Garage on John Street. The next street discussed was Chestnut Road. There were four abuttors present. Mr. Bergeron stated in front of House No. 11 there is a retaining wall that was put out in front of the property line. In front of House No. 10 there is a set of stairs, the bottom step of which is approximately eight feet into the right-of-way. Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page S Mr. Bergeron stated we will probably move the hydrant on the corner of Beacon Street closer to the property line. He stated there are four people on Chestnut (toad not connected to the sewer. He also stated we will landscape the areas between the property line and the roadway. The next street discussed was Irving Street from Main Street to Pearl. Street. There were six abuttors present. Mr. Bergeron stated the grade of the street will be adjusted to make the drainage go to the sides and the curb will be smoothed out to create a more defined stop. He stated we will be replanting the entire street on the tree lawns. There is one sewer service and one water service that need to be either installed or replaced. Mr. Bergeron stated the drainage from Irving Street goes down to to Main Street. The drainage problem is all tied in together. There is a collapsed pipe in Main Street that will also be repaired by the State. We also had an underground water main break that has been corrected. Mr. Bergeron stated I would estimate this to be a three day project. If the funding is obtained at Town Meeting, we will schedule this for August or September. The next street discussed was Torre Street from Salem Street to the end. There were four abuttors present. Mr. Bergeron stated all of the drainage will drain down towards • Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page 6 Harvest Road. We will be installing new catch basins, the pavement will be 24 feet wide and crowned in the center. The next street discussed was Van Norden Road. There were approximately 12 residents present. Mr. Bergeron stated this street is approximately 4200 feet long and will be reconstructed in two sections. The average pavement width up to Harold Avenue is about 18 1/2 feet. Mr. Bergeron stated there should be no problems with trees where they currently exist, however, we may be trimming up some of the Birch trees near #59 Van Norden Road. Mr. Hampson joined the meeting at 9;15 P.M. After a general discussion of Van Norden Road, it was moved, seconded and voted 5;0 to close the Hearing at 9,30 P.M. It was moved, seconded and voted 5;0 to accept the letter from the Board of Library Trustees regarding the BPW`s offer to snow plow the driveways and parking lot of the new library and mowing of lawns during the summer months, as a point of information. Mr. Griffin stated I personally would like to see that we reciprocate the courtesy to the Board of Library Trustees. Mr. Barker stated trimming is a standard item we normally do. Mrs. Wood stated we do not do any school facility trimming so I feel we should go into a total program to do this at all of the school facilities for grounds maintenance and set up funding for this as a total program. Chairman Barker requested the Department look into this matter and report back to the Board. Hoard of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page 7 The Hoard reviewed and it was moved, seconded and voted 5:4 to accept as a point of information the letter from TASC regarding the relocation of the Department of Public Works on John Street. The Hoard reviewed and it was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to accept the letter from Town Counsel regarding the Shaw vs. Ciano and Town of Reading case as a point of information. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:4 to accept the letter from Superintendent Fletcher to Mr. & Mrs. David Melanson regarding Criterion Road as a point of information. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to accept the letter from the Hoard of Selectmen regarding their reorganization as a point of information. Chairman Harker assigned the motions for Town Meeting to the various Hoard Members as follows: Article 11 - Labor - Doug Harker Article 16 - Main Motion including non-energy and salaries - Doug Harker Article 16 - Snow & Ice - Harry Hampson Article 16 - Water Works - Bob Griffin Article 16 - Sewer Maintenance - Arthur Polychrones Article 16 - Rubbish & Landfill - Gail Wood Article 16 - Drain Construction - Doug Harker Article 16 - Road Construction - Bob Griffin Article 16 - Equipment - Arthur Polychrones Article 16 - Parks & Playgrounds - Harry Hampson Article 16 - Sewer Construction - Gail Wood Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1984 Page 8 Article 38 - Solid Waste - Bob Griffin Article 39 - Hanscom Avenue Extension - Gail Wood Article 40 - Morgan Park - [Marry Hampson Article 41 - Drainage Easement - Field Pond Acres - Arthur Polychrones The Board next discussed the DPW facility relocation. Mrs. Wood stated she could not imagine how the Planning Board could come to the conclusion of a recommended site at the undeveloped land near Gallahue's Market on Salem Street. She stated she had occasion to talk to a lot of people this weekend for a long time. One of the statements she heard is that the BPW is going to contract everything out, therefore, we no longer need that much land and those many buildings. All she could say to this is that each item will have to be looked at separately. She stated it is time the Board looks at this very seriously. She also heard from more than three people a recommendation that we put the public works facility at Sturges Park. Chairman Barker stated the Superintendent and the Department are preparing a response to the Planning Boards' Article. Mrs. Wood stated I would like to see the Board come out with some kind of a statement in response to this. Chairman [Marker stated I think this Board needs to do some long and hard thinking over the next week on what kind of response we wish to have on motions to be presented at Town Meeting. Mr. Hampson stated I went to the Board of Selectmen's meeting tonight with 230 signatures on a petition requesting a delay in the sale Board of Public Works Meeting of March 26, 1954 Page 9 of land to TASC. He stated the citizens have gathered enough petitions for five articles to be placed on the Warrant. He stated our petition and articles were cordially received. It is very apparent we will have sufficient signatures by next Monday night. Mr. Hampson moved that the Board direct the Department to prepare the preliminary plans and cost estimates to keep the BPW garage at its present site on John Street to the same level of effort and scope that is given to other sites being considered by the Board of Public Works Facility Relocation Committee. The motion was seconded and voted 5:0. The Board signed the Payroll and Billroll for the period ending March 23, 1954. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 0 Secre7~41/go