HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-01-05 Board of Public Works Minutes January 5, 1976
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P. M.
in Roan 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Russell , Secretary Dustin, Board
Members Blood, Price and Botka and Superintendent Louanis.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with
correction.
Read letter from Richard Nihan concerning the condition
of several streets in Town following the recent snow storm.
It was accepted as a point of information.
Read letter from Louis Carlow, 150 West Street thanking
the personnel of the Department for service rendered in connec—
tion with a problem in his sewer line. It was accepted as a
point of information.
The Board requested a notice be placed in the Chronicle
to the effect that Christmas trees would be picked up by Town
trucks if residents would place them at the curbside on a
regular rubbish day.
Read letter from Mrs. John Daly of 34 Henzie Street thank—
ing the Board for eliminating the puddle at his driveway. It
was accepted as a point of information.
The Board met with the Site Committee for the proposed new
Police Station. Barry Mitchell Chairperson for the group stated
there were three possible locations under consideration: 1078
Main Street, a site in front of the Board of Public Works Garage
and the third location across the street from the garage at the
Reading Dump. The problem was discussed at great length with
consideration given to the possibility of a combined building
for a Police Station and Public Works Office and Operational
Building. The Site Committee indicated that this possibility
could not be funded with the money currently petitioned by the
Selectmen 's Office. The Board of Public Works would not con—
sider releasing the land at the Public Works Yard unless the dual
purpose building would be agreed to by the Site Committee.
The Superintendent pointed out the need for the Public Works
Department to consider carefully the future needs of the
fifteen acre site and at this time a study had not been made
and because of present work load could not be done in the immedi-
ate future and, too, 'the site requested by the Committee in the
dump should be evaluated from the point of view of how much dump-
ing space would be lost to the Town. After further discussion of
the 1078 Main Street and other locations the Board instructed the
Superintendent to estimate the potential loss at the Reading Dump
if the site was released for the Police Station and report to the
Site Committee by Friday.
Meeting adjourned in order that the Board could meet as the
Board of Survey and reconvened at 9: 15 P.M.
The Board reviewed the Plan of Hopkins Street and it was
moved, seconded and voted that the Superintendent inform the
County Commissioners we are ready to proceed with the Plan.
The Board began a review of the FY-77 Budget for the Public
Works Department and the Superintendent gave an overview of the
Budget discussing the Summary Sheet which represented the Depart-
ment ' s Operating Budget, Debt and Interest Expense and Special
Articles which represent new or continuing construction programs.
An effort has been made to try to keep the Department 's expendi-
tures in line with last year 's budget in an attempt to bring about
a zero impact on the tax levy. Proper evaluation of this has not
yet been made because income figures are not available at this
time. After considerable discussion of the philosophy of the
budget the Superintendent was instructed to rework the budget
Summary Sheet to separate the Public Works Operating Budget so
that the following items could be compared individually: Public
Works Operating Budget: Water Department Operating Budget and
Special Articles. The Board then began an evaluation of the de-
tailed budget sheets beginning with Administration and Engineering.
After a discussion of this it was agreed that further detailed
information diould be included to show funds budgeted for FY-76.
The Board signed the Pay Roll for the period ending January
4, 1976 and the Bill Roll dated January 9, 1976.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P. M.
Respectfully ubmitted,
Secretary
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