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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-01-20 Board of Public Works MinutesBoard of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 17, Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street at 7:30 P.M. Present were Chairman Wood, Secretary Fallon, Board Members Barker, Polychrones and Griffin and Superintendent E. Roger Louanis, Assistant Superintendent William R. Bergeron and Police Officer Joseph Veno from the Reading Police Department. Mr. Fallon read the Notice of Public Hearing regarding the upcoming roadway reconstruction to be done on Forest Street at 7:30 P.M. One citizen from Forest Street, Mr. Edward Webb, was present at the Hearing and Assistant Superintendent Bergeron reviewed the proposed plan and outlined the reconstruction process with him. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to close the Hearing at 8:15 P.M. Mr. Fallon read the Notice of Public Hearing at 8 :15 P.M. regarding the upcoming roadway reconstruction to be done on Day State Road. There were approximately 12 residents present. Chairman Wood introduced the members of the Board as well as Officer Veno to the citizens. Asst. Superintendent Bergeron outlined the proposed reconstruction plan for Bay State Road. He showed general roadway reconstruction slides and showed slides depicting the specific plans for Bay State Road. Mr. Bergeron stated there were three reasons for holding the Hearing: the first to inform the abuttors that the existing b" water main will be replaced with a new 12" water main this Spring. There will be general disruption of water service during this construction phase. In addition, any houses that have old water services will at that time be asked to renew their services. I Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 2 Secondly, the department is proposing to install a sidewalk on the northerly side of Bay State Road from the Horizon Homes complex entranceway to Salem Street using the $8,000.00 gift from Horizon Homes to the Town. Thirdly, the roadway will be repositioned approximately eight feet to the North from the present layout which will involve relocation of poles and fences, etc. Presently, the abuttors on the northerly side have been using approximately eight feet of Town property. Also, the cul -de -sac at the end of the road will be reconstructed into more of a circle than it presently is. Mr. Bergeron stated there are three options proposed for the intersection of Bay State Road and Salem Street; the first would be to leave the intersection as is, the second would be to reconfigure the roadway and eliminate much of the area at the intersection. The radius would be lined with curbing and the northerly entrance to Wes Parkers, which exits onto Bay State Road would be closed. The third option is a 60 foot wide triangular shaped island to be placed in the intersection. Mr. Bergeron felt the second option was the best from an engineering standpoint. There will be no removal of trees, just trimming of those trees that are obstructions. Mr. Bergeron stated he would reconfigure the entrances and exits to Wes Parkers restaurant - they are presently using part of the Town way as their parking area. Mr. James McTaggart of 30 Bay State Road asked how the reconstruction would benefit the abuttors. Mr. Bergeron stated that after the 12" water main is constructed, every connection has to be dug up on both sides of the road and there will not be much left of the existing pavement. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 3 Mr. McTaggart stated if the reconstruction work is done, 14 feet would be taken from his property and his car will not fit in his driveway. Mr. Bergeron stated Mr. McTaggart would have a total of 25 feet from his property line to the 'back of the house. Mr. McTaggart stated he would like to see the road repaved as it is now laid out. Mr. Paul Fiore of 55 Bay State Road stated he would like to see the street repaved as it is presently laid out. Chairman Wood stated that at the time of the Hearings for Horizon Homes, there were people on the South side of the street complaining about water problems. Part of the problem is the layout of the street as it is now. She also explained that the Town pays for road reconstruction and water main installation. The Telephone Company pays for moving phone poles. There is no charge to abuttors for reconstructing public ways. Mrs. Ann Fitzgerald of 52 Bay State Road asked about the betterment charges for the sidewalk. Chairman Wood stated there would be no charges assessed for the sidewalk, $8,000.00 was given to the Town by Horizon Homes for this construction. Mr. Reginald Peters of 62 Bay State Road stated the feeling of the neighborhood is if the sidewalk goes in, it makes the area more of a city -type of environment. Our original idea was the safety hazard. During the Hearings for Horizon Homes it was brought out by the Chief of Police that a safety problem did not and will not exist now or later on. Therefore, we prefer to think they are correct and do not want a sidewalk. Mr. Curt Mitzche, owner of properties at 36 and 42 Bay State Road stated he was in favor of leaving the street the way it is. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 4 Mr. James McTaggart of 30 Bay State Road asked why the Town has to go through all these expenses. The only thing the residents want is the new intersection. Why not leave the street the way it is. Superintendent Louanis stated he would like to point out that the purpose of this Hearing is to get the citizens input. The reason for reconstructing the road is basically two -fold; (1) the water main will be installed, and we can patch the road, but we didn't feel that was fair and (2) at the hearings I was at and talked with Mr. Peters, I was strongly under the impression you wanted a sidewalk. This is only a proposal. We are trying to see what the abuttors want within our procedures. It is news to me that you don't want the sidewalk. I would suggest you write a letter to the Board outlining the items that you want. If you don't want the street touched, let us know. Mr. Paul Fiore of 55 Bay State Road stated he was concerned that if the road is repaved, there will be more of a speeding problem. Officer Veno stated the Police Department does receive complaints from Bay State Road, however, by the time the cruiser arrives, the speeder is gone. He stated his only answer is that if there is a complaint, the Police will be there as soon as possible. Mrs. Ann Fitzgerald of 52 Bay State Road stated she would like "Go Slow - Children Playing" signs posted. Chairman Wood asked for this in writing. Curt Nitzsche asked what the width of the intersection at Salem Street will be. Mr. Bergeron stated the total width will be 130 feet. Mr. Nitzsche stated he favors the island proposal. It wa moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to close the Hearing at 9 :09 P. M. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 5 Mr. Fallon read the Notice of Public Hearing at 9;10 P.M. regarding the upcoming roadway reconstruction project on Wakefield Street to obtain citizen input. There were approximately 25 residents present as well as Tree Warden, Irving Dickey. Chairman Wood introduced the members of the Board and Officer Veno to the citizens. Mr. Bergeron gave his presentation to the citizens starting with the Plan for Wakefield Street. He stated Wakefield Street is an ancient way accepted by the Town which is not a standard 40 foot layout. The road exists now as it did in the past. We are proposing a 20 foot wide pavement width similar to the reconstruction done on the other side of Charles Street. The elevations of the roadway were pointed out as well as the fact that there is much ledge under Wakefield Street. Mr. Bergeron showed slides of general road reconstruction and slides of Wakefield Street as it presently exists. A 10" Cedar at the intersection of Pearl and Charles Street should be removed or trimmed. A 12" Pignut has to be removed and the telephone pole line moved. The Tree Warden has indicated that a 48" Oak Tree is not in good condition and would have to come down within the next year anyway. There are two 36" Oaks and one small tree near Juniper Circle that will have to be removed because of the reconstruction. One Elm tree will possibly have to be removed. We have people listed on these plans who are not connected to the sewer. We would advise these people to connect at this time. If they choose not to connect, the Town will install a lateral to the property line. Superintendent Louanis stated that the homeowner will be assessed for a 30% lateral by December 31st of the year the lateral is Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 6 installed.The other item is the water services that are especially old - we will be contacting those people to renew their water services at this time to prevent digging up the roadway after it is repaved. Mr. Richard Canty of 127 Wakefield Street stated the two Oaks and telephone pole are in front of his home and asked why the trees have to be removed. Mr. Bergeron stated the main reason is that section of the roadway needs to be widened. The trees are an obstruction and the wall projects out into the roadway area. Mr. Canty stated he wanted to save the trees and asked what provisions have been made for erosion. Mr. Bergeron stated we would be asking Mr. Canty about building a wall to retain the hill. Mfr. Canty stated from a safety standpoint he could not go with this plan. Mr. Bergeron stated there are 65 trees in this area. We are reducing the standard 24 feet to a 20 foot wide pavement. We have to address the problem of a one -car width roadway. Nancy Anderson of 46 Wakefield Street stated she appreciated the efforts the Board has made on her side of the street. She stated the accidents are at Haverhill Street and Charles Street, both of which have been reconstructed so that people go faster. She is willing to have the street reconstructed, but would like very much for the Board to try hard to reconstruct it without taking any trees. Chairman Wood stated we are speaking of five trees out of 65 trees on Wakefield Street Mr. Charles Wing of 96 Wakefield Street asked if there would be a change in the intersection at Charles Street. Mfr. Bergeron stated the intersection would be widened to match the other side of Wakefield Street. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 7 Mr. Stanley Robinson of 273 Pearl Street stated he would much prefer that the cedar at the corner of Pearl Street be trimmed, not cut down. His other concern was that if Wakefield Street is reconstructed and repaved it may cause larger volumes of traffic. Mr. James Boyd of 166 Wakefield Street stated he was not particularly concerned with any aspects of the reconstruction, however, he has not heard anything mentioned about sidewalks. Mr. Bergeron stated there are no sidewalks planned for the area. Mr. Stephen Trites of 196 Wakefield Street asked if it would be necessary to blast in the area of the bump on Wakefield Street. Mr. Bergeron answered yes, we will probably have to drill and blast as there is a large amount of ledge in that area. Mr. Trites asked how long the project would take. Mr. Bergeron replied that from start to finish it would take 12 weeks maximum. Superintendent Louanis stated in order to maintain the street properly we need to reconstruct. Patching the road would not be successful as the material has nothing to bind to. Street sweeping can not be done properly because of the pitch of the road. We are building a road that has a life expectancy of 20 - 25 years. I think it is a good investment for the Town as part of a roadway reconstruction program we have developed. He also stated he has no desire to cut a tree down that doesn't have to be cut down, and we have no desire to get involved in land takings. Mr. Richard Canty of 127 Wakefield Street stated he would like to make one comment; I think you have done an excellent job on the other end of Wakefield Street and I hope you do the same on this side. S , � Board of Public Works Meeting of January 20, 1983 Page 8 It was moved, seconded and voted 5;0 to close the Hearing at 10;24 F.M. The meeting adjourned at 10,24 F.M. Respectfully submitted, cretary 1