HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-12-06 Board of Public Works Minutes pp-
December 6, 1976
1It
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P. M.
in Room 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.
The Superintendent outlined the 33.5 mile sidewalk plow
route he wished to follow during the forthcoming winter . We
have three bombardiers and if an allowance is made for normal
breakdown time and other problems that could occur, it is not
possible to plow a route 42 miles in length as was scheduled
last year. The cutback in the routes was made in the outlying
districts where school children are transported by bus. It was
moved and seconded that the Board endorse the plan submitted by
the Superintendent as a realistic approach to sidewalk plowing
as it is what we can expect to accomplish with the equipment
at hand. The vote was 3-2 in favor. The Superintendent was
instructed to have the plow routes published in the Reading
Chronicle.
The Board reviewed at length the storm warning system as
it exists between Weather Services Corporation and the Board
of Public Works. The Superintendent reviewed the procedure
followed and the, length of time involved from the time the
storm warning is received until the trucks are on the road
either sanding or plowing. The Superintendent offered that
perhaps some time could be gained if a call man was on duty
but this would add considerably to the cost of running the
Department.
It was noted that the Sanitary Landfill area is open the
first and third Saturday of each month from 8:00 A. M. until
4:00 P. M. However, the first Saturday in January is a legal
holiday, New Year ' s Day, and therefore the Sanitary Landfill
will be open only one Saturday in January, namely the fifteenth.
The Superintendent reviewed the proposed Public Works or-
ganization chart with the Board indicating where he wished to
make changes. The Board discussed the proposed chart in detail
recognizing some of the changes would be beneficial to the De-
partment and raising many questions that need further discussion
and clarification. It was decided to submit the proposed re-
organization to a subcommittee and the following members agreed
to serve: Mr. Blood, Mr. Dustin and Mr. Botka.
Meeting adjourned temporarily at 8:00 P. M. and reconvened
at 8: 15 P.M. The Board met as the Board of Survey during this
period of time.
The Board reviewed Weston and Sampson's proposal for a
Comprehensive Water System Study. The Engineering Division
had suggested several changes be made and after a discussion
of the changes it was agreed that the proposal be rewritten
and submitted to the Board for consideration.
Following a brief discussion it was moved and seconded to
meet on December 13, 1976 and January 3, 1977 and to cancel
the meeting scheduled December 20, 1976. The vote was 4-1
in favor.
The Board reviewed the preliminary type plan submitted
by McNeil Associates for their housing project located at the
south westerly corner of Main Street, Mill Street and Sanborn
Lane. It was agreed that the plan was too preliminary and did
not provide sufficient information to evaluate the utility re-
quirements of the site and the Board would require further infor-
mation before commenting on the site plan.
The Board reviewed the proposal and specifications con-
cerning the sale of scrap metal at the sanitary landfill . It
was moved, seconded and voted to post and advertise the pro-
posal ; bid opening to be on December 30, 1976. It was also
moved, seconded and voted to approach the Bylaw Committee and
obtain a ruling from them on the issue of selling scrap materials
from the landfill site.
Read letter from Robert W. Doolittle, Youth Ministry
Coordinator of Saint Agnes Church requesting that Lowell Street
Minutes - continued December 6, 1976
between Woburn and Salem be closed on December 19th from 3:00
to 6:00 P. M. to accommodate this year 's Christmas on the
Common celebration. It was moved, seconded and voted to grant
the request and to notify the Police and Fire Departments of
the Board 's action.
The Board reviewed letter from Town Counsel regarding the
$25,000 bid deposit bond held on DiMartino Brothers Company, Inc.
Sewer Contract 76-2. After considerable discussion it was
moved, seconded and voted to return the bid deposit bond to
DiMartino Brothers Company, Inc. It was also agreed that
future bidding by the Department will exclude the use of bid
deposit bond. Copy of Town Counsel ' s letter appended hereto.
The Board signed the Pay Roll for the period ending
December 5, 1976 and the Bill Roll dated December 10, 1976.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 P. M.
R� b�miijtted,
Secretary /