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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-07-15 Board of Public Works Minutes July 15, 1974 Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P.M. in Room 16, Municipal Building. Present were Chairman Blood, Board Members Dustin, Price and Russell and Superintendent Louanis: Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as read. The Board reviewed the letter to Mrs. Alpedo. A dis- cussion ensued. It was moved, seconded and voted that the letter be amended indicating a completion time relative to the project at the Filter Plant and that the Superintendent work with the Editor of the Chronicle in preparing an article up-dating last year' s report regarding Reading water. Chairman Blood signed letter addressed to Mr. William McCauley. The Board adjourned temporarily at 7:45 P.M. to meet as the Board of Survey and reconvened at 8: 15 P.M. Mr. John Agnew, Reading's Executive Secretary, Chief-of- Police John F. Beaudoin, Messrs. Watt and Bell from R.C.A. and a delegation from Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforce- ment Council met with the Board at 8: 15 P.M. to discuss the possibility of installing a satellite receiving station at the Bear Hill Water Tower. (Mr. Reed joined the meeting at 8:25 P.M. ) Following a lengthy discussion it was moved, seconded and voted to allow Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council to mount a receiving antenna on the eleva- ted water tower on Auburn Street subject to approval of con- struction details by the Public Works Engineering Department. Mr. Price retired from the meeting. Mr. Gerald Carey from the firm of Whitman and Howard, Inc. appeared before the Board and reviewed the Sewerage System Study of the Willow Street Pumping Station Area in Reading. The Board adjourned temporarily at 9:30 P.M. to meet as the Board of Survey and reconvened at 10: 10 P.M. Following his review of the Sewerage System Study of the Willow Street Pumping Station Area, Mr. Carey presented a supplementary cost estimate of increasing the capacity of the j present sewerage system at a cost of $1 ,200,000.00. * "Problems at the Willow Street Pumping Station and the sewerage system tributary to it, such as overflowing conditions at Arcadia Avenue etc. , have been caused primarily by increas- ing flow rates to the station due to the increased sewered population within the area. Infiltration during some periods of the year has further aggravated the situation. This infiltra- tion, however, appears limited to a small part of the system and might readily be found after surcharging of the system has been eliminated. Further development of the area tributary to the station will cause the problem to worsen in future years so that a long-range solution to the problem is now necessary. A very costly alternate for the solution of this problem would be rehabilitation and enlargement of the pumping station and the sewerage system downstream of the station to the MDC system at the Stoneham Line. A much more economical solution by far more preferable, would be a connection by gravity to the M. 0. C. trunk sewer in Woburn. This would eliminate the Willow Street Pumping Station completely and allow for continued ex- pansion within the tributary area. It is possible that the Town of Reading could obtain up to 90% grant funds for the con- struction of such a trunk sewer. The Town should undertake the repair of the questionable sewers within the system as outlined in SECTION I , of the Whitman and Howard, Inc. report. The first step in this work should be the cleaning of all sewers that have been subject to surcharging. We have noted that rodding machines or bucket machines have not been effective in removing the great deposits of silt and sludge present in the sewer lines. This accumulation has often re- sulted in flows to the station being restricted in such a manner that they were caused to overflow at Arcadia Avenue. This has , happened even at times when the pumping station was not working at its full capability. Based on the findings of this report, ' we would like to recommend to the Town of Reading the follow— ing measures to insure a long term, well—maintained and trouble— free sewerage system for the area: 1 . That the infiltration problem be closely evaluated in the area described in SECTION I and appropriate measures through television inspection and sealing be taken to relieve the problem in that area. 2. That additional minor repairs and alterations be made to the system in instances mentioned in SECTION I such as the leaking manhole, removal of roof leaders and placing of water— tight covers in areas subject to flooding. 3• The Town obtain a jet—type cleaner to maintain the areas of the sewerage system which are now subject to surcharge and much settlement. This would enable Town forces to more efficiently maintain the system. 4. To repair flow metering equipment at the pumping station. This would enable a check on work being done on the infiltration, etc. , and to determine any significant changes in flow pattern during these preliminary work stages. 5• To take all necessary steps for constructing a trunk sewer from the Willow Street Pumping Station area to the MDC trunk sewer in Woburn. These steps would include the following: a) Appropriation of funds for planning and rights— of—way. b) Obtaining the necessary rights—of—way either through mutual agreements with the City of Woburn or with legislation enabling the Town of Reading to take such needed rights—of—way via eminent domain proceedings. c) Obtaining permission from the Massachusetts Department of Public Works to make a crossing of Route 93 via tunnelling under the highway. d) To have prepared the necessary final plans for such a project. f e) To have the sewer ordinance approved by the EPA. f) To have an equitable cost recovery system and a user cost fee approved by the EPA. g) To file grant applications for construction funds with necessary federal and state agencies. h) Appropriate the necessary funds for construction. It is our opinion that adherence to these recommendations will result in a sewerage system that would satisfy the demands of the study area for the forseeable future and result in a minimum of maintenance for the Town. These recommendations would also result in the most economically feasible solutions to Read— ing's sewerage problems in the Willow Street area. We suggest the recommendations be implemented as soon as possible to alleviate the problems that now exist in the area." It was moved, seconded and voted to proceed with the recommendations made by Whitman and Howard, Inc. 's proposal to take all necessary steps for constructing a trunk sewer from the Willow Street Pumping Station area to the M. D. C. trunk sewer in Woburn, and to instruct the Superintendent to investigate the procedure necessary to obtain the easements from the City of Woburn. Mr. Price abstained. It was moved seconded and voted that Whitman and Howard, Inc. be informed that Phase II of the present Contract with Whitman and Howard, Inc. , will not be acted upon until the Willow Street sewer area problem has been solved. Mr. Price abstained. It was moved seconded and voted to instruct the Superin— tendent to obtain two additional proposals for the engineering of the proposed interceptor sewer from the Willow Street Pumping Station area to the M. D. C. trunk sewer in Woburn. The Board signed the contract with Bell and Flynn to Apply Bituminous Seal on Various Streets The Board signed the contract with Reliable Fence for , the installation of new fence at the Tennis Courts and Basket— ball Court at Glen Meadow. 10 The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending July 14th and the Bill Roll dated July 19th. Meeting adjourned at 10: 10 P.M. Res ectf 11u�bmJit�ted/, Secret`% `L" — * Note: Quotation taken from Whitman and Howard, Inc. 's Sewer System Study report.