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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-01-27 Board of Public Works Minutesf\ . i Board of Public Works meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 1 A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 17, Community Center at 7:30 P.M. Present were Chairman Wood, Secretary Fallon, Board members Barker, Polychrones and Griffin, Superintendent E. Roger Louanis, Assistant Superintendent William R. Bergeron and Reading Police Officer Joseph Veno. Mr. Barker read the Notice of Public Hearing regarding the reconstruction of Pearl Street at 7;30 P.M. There were approximately 40 residents of Pearl Street present. Chairman Wood introduced the Board and Officer Veno. Mr. Beraeron introduced himself and started his presentation by outlinina the or000sed olan of Pearl Street from Lucy Drive to Wakefield Street. He stated the Department is proposing to construct a twenty foot wide pavement width from Lucy Drive to Forest Glen Road. From Linnea Lane to Wakefield Street the width will remain at 24 feet. There are no tree removals or land takings proposed on this roadway. There are no major chanaes proposed in grading except for the crest between Irving Street and Forest Glen Road where the crest will be lowered approximately one foot. He then showed slides of general road reconstruction, explaining the reclamation process that will be used. He then showed actual slides of Pearl Street. Officer Veno stated he went back to January of 1982 in his records and found there was one reported accident at Pearl Street and Lucy Drive caused by icy roads on January 27, 1982. Mr. Arthur Vars of 414 Pearl Street asked Mr. Bergeron to be more specific on the plans, and asked why the reconstruction involves removing his hedoes and adding on to his retaining wall. Mr. Bergeron stated specifically to improve the sight distance around the corner at 414 Pearl Street. or s Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 2 Mr. Daniel Chamberlain of 380 Pearl Street stated the curve is a deterrent to speeders and asked what the present speed limit is. unposted. Officer Veno stated the speed limit is 30 miles per hour - Mr. Beraeron stated there is no intention of taking the curve out, the curve will remain as it is. We are only speaking of improving siaht distance. Mr. Vars stated he is agreeable to removing his shrubs, but does not want a retaining wall. Elizabeth Cronin of 403 Pearl Street asked how deep the road would be duo up. Mr. Beraeron stated 12 - 16 inches. Mrs. Cronin asked about the danger of damaging trees or their root systems. Tree Warden Dickey stated he would work directly with the Contractor on each individual tree. Mr. Paul Stevens of 402 Pearl Street stated he has a handicapped child and would need access to his driveway at all times during this reconstruction. Mr. Bergeron stated we keep one side of the street open at all times and have a Superintendent on -site at all times and can make arranoements for emeraency situations. Superintendent Louanis stated there were similar situations on our last two reconstruction ,jobs and we can make arrangements so that the Contractor will see that your driveway is accessible and clear. Mr. Stanley Atwood of 393 Pearl Street asked how long has Pearl Street existed as it is presently laid out. Superintendent Louanis stated Pearl Street was the main turnpike throuah the Town of Reading since Colonial times. It has probably been Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 3 the width it is now since the turn of the Century. Chairman Wood stated Pearl Street is considered an "ancient way" and we are trying to preserve that character. Mr. Norman Reith of 349 Pearl Street stated the Board should table this for one year and do a traffic volume and speed study. Ruth Malta of 371 Pearl Street asked about sewer and water connections. Mr. Beraeron stated every home with an old water service would be contacted and advised to renew their service. Suoerintendent Louanis stated regarding sewer lateral connections: (1) the homeowner can hire a Licensed Drain Layer approved by the Town or (?) we will make the connection to the property line, 30% of the cost will be assessed to the homeowner on December 31st of the year it is installed which can be apportioned over a ten year period - the remainina 74% will be assessed at the time of connection. Mr. Carmen Fugazzotto of 448 Pearl Street stated the people are aaainst this - why don't drop the idea. Chairman Wood stated we want to repave this road because of the poor condition it is in. Mr. David Chalk of 359 Pearl Street stated Mr. Bergeron has made a very good case for resurfacing the road, however, by improving sight distance it will increase speeding on the road and the street will become more hazardous than it is. Mr. Robert Sprague of 365 Pearl Street asked how long the project would take. reoaved. Mr. Bergeron replied it would take approximately four weeks to be Norton Nickerson of 299 Pearl Street asked when the Board plans to make a decision. Board of Public Works meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 4 Chairman Wood stated the Board will wait until they get the opinion polls and comments back before we make a decision. Mr. Lawrence Choms..ky of 386 Pearl Street stated the road appears to be very safe, on the other hand, it appears to need resurfacing. Has any consideration been given to speed bumps? Officer Veno stated he would take this suggestion into consideration, however, this request would have to go through the State DPW and they would probably not allow this, partially because of the flow of traffic. Mr. Harold Andrews of 342 Pearl Street asked what would happen if nothina were done to the road. Superintendent Louanis stated if the Town does not do any repair or resurfacing, it is a matter of two to three years and the roadway will be in very bad condition. The method we are proposing tonight is the most cost - effective that we have available to us. Once it is completed, its life expectancy will be 20 -- 25 years. Mr. Ooerhomer of 179 Pearl Street stated that as far as he is concerned. the people who speed the most on the roadway are the residents of Pearl Street. He also felt it is more difficult to stop a car on a rough road than on a smooth pavement. Mr. Fioazzutto of 444 Pearl Street asked about drainage. Mr. Beraeron stated part of this process is to evaluate the adeauacy of the drainage in the area. Mr. Vars of 414 Pearl Street asked if the residents will be notified of any further action taken on this road. Chairman Wood stated the residents will be notified. Lucille Prince of 387 Pearl Street asked if the section from Franklin Street to Lucy Drive would be done first. Mr. Beraeron stated yes, it would be done first. > Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 5 It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to close the Hearing at 9:15 P. M. Mr. Fallon read the Notice of Public Hearing regarding the proposed reconstruction of Franklin Street at 9 :30 P.M. There were approximately 20 residents of Franklin Street present. Chairman Wood introduced the Board and Officer Veno and explained the reason for the Preliminary Hearing. Assistant Superintendent Bergeron outlined the plans for the road and stated we are proposing a standard 40 foot wide layout. This layout normally has a 24 foot wide pavement with an 8 foot wide sidewalk. Mr. Bergeron presented slides of general roadway reconstruction depicting the reclamation process. He then showed slides of Franklin Street beoinnina at the Haverhill Street intersection going towards Main Street. The present volume of traffic on this road is over 4,000 vehicles per day. At the intersection of Haverhill Street, the pavement would have to be widened on the opposite side of the street from McDonald's Farm which would push the wall back five feet. The total taking in front of House #17 would be from 3 - 5 feet. The fence and hedges would have to be reset. The taking in front of house #29 ranges from 2 - 6 feet. Approaching the park area we would make a sidewalk area on the other side of the present wall. A 4" maple would be removed and reset near Batchelder Field. The hydrant will be moved back and the tree replanted. At house #87 there will be no changes. At the intersection of Pearl Street there will be the installation of a wall and the enlargement of the pavement area. At the intersection of Gavin Circle the southerly side of the street will be widened. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 6 The wall in front of house #124 will be moved back 0 -3 feet and the 18" Oak tree will have to be removed. There are a total of five trees involved on this roadway that will have to be removed. Superintendent Louanis stated he would first like to remind the citizens that this Hearing is preliminary. After this Hearing is over, the Board decides whether or not to go forth. The land taking is done by the process of eminent domain. We would hope the people would be acceptable to these land takings. The Town would hire an appraiser to look at the property and make an evaluation of what the property will be worth after the taking, and come up with another value and the money received from the Town would be the difference between the two. The legal procedure for doing this is that we are required to have an advertised hearing. the Board would have to vote the taking, and the Town would have to set up a pay date and at that time the Treasurer would give a receipt which states you have accepted the check, but have not given up any rights. You would have the option to go to Court within two years of the date of the pay date to contest the appraisal. The number of takings we are talking about in this proposal are 18 different lots. They range from 23 square feet to a maximum of 765 square feet. The majority range somewhere between 300 -400 square feet of land. The land taking at 1331 Main Street would be 700 feet. Mr. David Powell of 130 Franklin Street asked why don't you take the ledoE by the gas station on Main Street. Superintendent Louanis replied we tried to minimize the number of trees removed and problems with land takings. Mr. Powell asked why do you want to improve this roadway, and why don't you make it a one -way street. Board of Public Work=_. Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page Superintendent Louanis replied we have a system of evaluating streets so that the streets that need the most work done are done first. This is one of the highest priority s_.treets in the Town, and it has poor drainage. We want to build a roadway that will have a life expectancy of 24 - 25 Years. Mr. Powell asked are you also considering the safety aspect, the cars co down there at 60 MPH. Superintendent Louanis replied we believe we are using the proper enaineerina standards for these streets. The road is being designed for a speed of 25 MPH. Mr. Carlo Boschetti of 116 Franklin Street stated if you widen the street, we will have a speeding problem. Officer Veno stated he went back in his records to January of 1982 on this stretch of roadway and there were no reported accidents. down. Mr. Boschetti stated the reason is the trees that slow everyone Mr. Gordon Feener of 626 Haverhill Street asked why does this street have to be widened, why can't it be repaved at 20 feet like Pearl Street. When you widen these roads, you are making the safety factor worse. Mr. James Campbell of 36 Franklin Street stated in the previous_. oresentation Pearl Street was referred to as an ancient way. What is an ancient way and is that section of Franklin Street an ancient way. Superintendent Louanis stated if a street was built prior to a certain year, it could be called an ancient way. Mr. Campbell asked who is paying for this widening. Supt. L..ouanis replied the Town of Reading, there are no State funds involved so this allows the Town to set the standards_.. Mr. Campbell stated you are making a safety problem worse. We have to live with what is done to this roadway. v y Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Wage 8 Mrs. Savage of 591 Pearl Street stated she thought the scheduling of this meeting was unfair in that the Hearing was held so late at night. She stated she didn't think Franklin Street should be made wider because it would encourage laraer volumes of traffic. She felt it should stay at its aresent size because of the safety factor involved with large numbers of vouna children. Mr. Robert Hurford of 71 Franklin Street stated it seems apparent that most of the land takings are being done to accomodate a 40' layout which apparently would be used for an 8' walkway on each side of the pavement. Has any consideration been given to reducing the walkways and cutting down on the width. Chairman Wood stated we are here to get your input. Mr. Campbell of 36 Franklin Street asked where the figure of 4.000 cars came from. Mr. Bergeron stated we did a traffic survey in August. The traffic counter we used can be used in conjunction with the Police Deaartment. We can set the hoses up so that heavy trucking can be determined, and pinpointed so the Police Department could be advised when to go up there. Mr. Feener of 626 Haverhill Street stated the sign for "No Trucking" is posted in the wrong place and should be moved. Officer Veno stated he would make a note of this. Mrs. Morgan of 617 Pearl Street asked if Franklin Street could be made one -way on a trial basis. Officer Veno stated you could sign a petition and submit it to the Board of Selectmen who would turn it over to the Mass. D.P.W. They would then do a survey and give the Town an answer. Board of Public Works Meeting of January 27, 1983 Page 9 Mr. Polychrones stated the citizens should not assume that widening Franklin Street will automatically make it a speedway. �~ Mr. Fallon stated one of the things we have looked into is the possibility of less than a 40 foot roadway. The plans shown here are preliminary. There is the feasibility of a 32 foot roadway which means less land takings. We could still construct a 24 foot road within that, or a 20 foot road. There are many options. The primary concern for us to realize is that Franklin Street as a road is probably the worst street in Readinq. Gloria Connor of 124 Franklin Street asked why don't we deserve one hot top sidewalk - there is no place safe to walk. Mr. Bergeron stated what we are saying is there will be a grassed area - this is an opportunity to provide an area for the horses to use, and we are trying to to the best job we can to stay within the minimum standards. It was moved, seconded and voted S:O to close the Hearing at 11|1S P.M. Respectfully submitted, ?Secretary ��