HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-29 Board of Public Works Minutes September 29, 1975
1 The Board of Public Works met with the Selectmen and Town
Counsel at 7:30 P.M. to discuss the Open Meeting Law and subse-
quently met in Room 16, Municipal Building at 8: 30 P.M.
Present were Chairman Russell , Secretary Dustin, Board Mem-
bers Blood, Price and Botka, Superintendent Louanis and Assistant
Superintendent Bergeron of the Engineering Division.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with correc-
tion.
The Board met with representatives from Weston and Sampson,
Messrs. Blake and Tucker, to discuss their qualifications and
proposal for a Master Drainage Study for the Town of Reading. Mr .
Blake reiterated Weston and Sampson' s proposal for a Master Drain-
age Study for the Town of Reading as submitted in their proposal
of June 30, 1975 indicating that they had also done similar work
in the Towns of Sudbury, Duxbury and Provincetown and left these
' reports for the Board's consideration. Many questions were asked
by the Board regarding criteria of design for their approach to
the job and whether or not Weston and Sampson would be able to shift
from a phase study program to completing the engineering in a
shorter period of time providing funds became available and whether
or not this would result in a reduction in the total cost. Mr .
Blake reported that there would be no problem shifting engineering
of the project from a phase program and there would be no reduction
in the actual cost. The Board took the matter under advisement.
The Board met with representatives from Whitman and Howard,
Inc. , Messrs Fuller, Ellis and Langell ./ Mr. Fuller discussed his
firm's compentency in the area of drainage study stating they had
expertise and personnel to carry out a job of this magnitude and
scope stating they had done similar studies in Abington, Hampton
and Pembroke and they had at their disposal a computer program
' for a drainage analysis, stating further however this was not always
practical in every situation and small problems would be given in-
Mr. Price abstained from the discussion.
dividual attention and solved on a slide rule basis. Many ques-
tions were asked by the Board Members and answered by the engin-
eers, in particular whether it would be possible to shift from '
a phase study program to completing the engineering in a shorter
period of time providing funds became available and if this would
result in a reduction in total cost. Mr. Fuller stated he saw
no problem with continuing the phase program right into a comple-
tion of the whole project but there would be no reduction in cost
due to the fact that the basic approach to the study would not
change. Mr. Botka requested further information relative to the
backup detail necessary to develop the Master Drainage plan in-
cluding examples of computer readouts and the calculations in-
volved in making necessary improvements to the drainage system.
The Board took the matter under advisement. Mr. Price abstained.
The Board met with Richard Stript and Anthony Galcenski from
General Tire and Rubber Company and Richard Cutts from the En-
gineering Firm of Dana Perkins and Sons relative to a proposed
driveway entrance on John Street and the piping of the John Street '
Brook. Mr. Stript stated he was the Plant Engineer for General
Tire and he stated General Tire wished to construct a new access
to their plant easterly on John Street and that they had hired
Dana Perkins and Sons to design the driveway and solve the drain-
age problems in question. Mr. Stript stated there was a need for
this because of congested conditions on General Street due to
traffic from Cerretani 's Market and McDonald's Restaurant. It
was believed that the traffic pattern would generally be south
on John Street for most trucking to and from the plant and some
automobile traffic north to Village and Washington Street by
approximately two hundred and seventy-five employees. The Super-
intendent reported that the Engineering Division had reviewed the
plan and found the drainage computations adequate and adequate
site distances were available on John and Village Streets for
this proposed driveway entrance. The Board asked many questions
regarding the proposal and in particular were concerned with
additional truck traffic turning left into John and Village Streets
Minutes - continued September 29, 1975
and north to Reading Square. Mr. Price suggested that General
Tire might be willing to post a sign limiting turning to the
I right only or "No Left Turn" on their property. Mr. Stript re-
ported that he would have to check that with the people at Gen-
eral Tire. A general discussion ensued relative to the safety
of the proposed island and it was agreed that General Tire and
Rubber would study the size of the proposed intersection and
supply the Board with additional data relative to traffic flows
from the plant. The matter was tabled pending receipt of addi-
tional information.
The Board read letter from Mrs. Tucker regarding the use
of Batchelder Field for horse shows. (copy attached) The Board
accepted the letter as a point of information and instructed the
Superintendent to handle the situation as an administrative pro-
blem.
' The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending September
28, 1975 and the Bill Roll dated October 3, 1975.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary