HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-03-25 Board of Public Works Minutes March 25, 1974
' Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P.M.
in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Blood, Secretary Reed, Board Mem-
bers Dustin, Price and Russell and Assistant Superintendent
Tormey.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with
correction.
The Board reviewed the Contract for a Mapping Program
of the Town of Reading with James W. Sewall Company. Town
Counsel , Donald Connors, advised the Board it was not within
the realm of their authority to encumber funds prior to July
1 , 1974. However, once the contract has been amended to the
effect that Phase Two is to be paid pursuant to the vote on
Article 31 of the Adjourned Town Meeting of March 9, 1974
the Board may enter into an agreement with James W. Sewall
' Company.
The Board read the Contract from Weather Services, Inc.
and postponed action until the meeting scheduled for April 1 ,
1974.
Notice of Public Hearing regarding taking an easement
through private property north of Fa- est Street for drainage
and sewerage purposes was read at 8:00 P.M. No one attended
the Hearing. Order of Taking was not available for signatures
and the Hearing was closed .
The Board adjourned temporarily at 8:05 P .M. to meet as
the Board of Survey and reconvened at 8:45 P .M.
Read trip report from Ken Hall relative to recycling. It
was accepted as a point of information.
The Board reviewed the Park and Playground Maintenance and
Construction Program based on the Recreation Committee ' s recom-
mendations . Mr. Dustin agreed to contact the Recreation Com-
- ' mittee and request an itemized list of maintenance work that
may be done by our Department. The Assistant Superintendent
was instructed to investigate the possibility of providing some
form of protective padding for the center field light pole in
the Birch Meadow Soft Ball Field. '
The Baseball Diamond Maintenance Schedule was read and
accepted as a point of information.
Read letter from Mr. and Mrs . Robbins of 37 Warren Avenue
concerning the location and use of the baseball diamond in
Washington Park. Mr. Dustin volunteered to view the area,
speak to the abutting property owners and report back to the
Board.
Read letter from County Commissioners requesting completion
of Petition for Franklin Street. Since the residents of Frank-
lin Street are not anxious to have the street widened, the Board
has selected another street. It was moved, seconded and voted
to instruct the Assistant Superintendent to advertise a Prelim-
inary Hearing on Hopkins Street from Route 28 to the Wakefield
Town Line, reconstruction to be accomplished with Chapter 90
Funds. ,
Letter from Mr. Bruce Bowden, and note from the Superinten-
dent with regard to snow plowing on Main Street was read. A
lengthy discussion ensued. The Assistant Superintendent was
instructed to write Mr. Bowden advising him that a concerted
effort would be made to clear the snow in a more satisfactory
fashion on Main Street in the future. The Assistant Superinten-
dent was also instructed to gather statistics and estimate the
cost of snow removal in the rather congested area cited in Mr.
Bowden ' s letter .
Mr . Price refrained from participating in the discussion
on the following matter.
Letter from Whitman and Howard, Inc. relating to the Willow
Street connection to the M. D. C. Sewer was read. The Board in-
structed the Assistant Superintendent to call Whitman and Howard,
Inc. , advise them we would like a final report and request they
come out and check the area during a wet period and point out ,
where the problem lies.
Read note from the Superintendent relative to the request
for a full abatement of assessment of the sewer frontage for
St. Athanasius Parish on the basis that they are a charitable
organization. Previous advice from Town Counsel indicated that
charitable organizations under Statute are exempt from taxation
for the general purposes of government but this does not 'include
exemption from taxation for the cost of local improvements of
a public nature such as sewer betterments. It was moved, seconded
and voted to deny the request for abatement.
Read note from Superintendent regarding the Dalrymple pro-
perty on Forest Street and Rice Road. Based upon advice from Town
Counsel the Superintendent recommended that since a betterment
assessment can only be made if the property is deriving a benefit
Lot 10, Plat 136 on Rice Road be assessed in the amount of $327.36.
It was moved, seconded and voted to carry out the Superintendent' s
recommendation.
The Board was advised by note from the Superintendent that
D. L. Maher was the only bidder for cleaning and redeveloping
Pumping Station #15• It was moved, seconded and voted to award
the contract in the amount of $6,580. 50 to D. L. Maher .
Read note from Superintendent requesting a two per cent in-
crease be given to non-union employees. It was moved, seconded
and voted to increase the Superintendent' s salary by two per
cent and to approve his recommendation that the salary of non-
union personnel be increased by two per cent as of April 1 , 1974.
The Board reviewed the bids for Street Sweeping for the
year 1974, as follows:
Power Sweeping Contractors, Inc. $ 18.00 per hr.
William E. O' Brien & Son 18.75 " "
Ray Ruggiero 20.00 " it
J. K. Construction Co. (Elgin White Wing) 20.00 "
11 11 1' (Elgin Pelican ) 22.50
It was moved, seconded and voted to award the bid to Power
Sweeping Contractors, Inc.
' Mr . Paul Dube appeared before the Board to request permission
to pump water from the cellar of his property at 68 Scotland Road
into the storm drain. Mr. Dube will use 4" orange-burg type
pipe, enter the catch basin approximately 4' below the earth ' s
surface, seal the catch basin to the satisfaction of the Board ,
of Public Works, and provide a back-water-valve immediately y
inside his basement. It was moved, seconded and voted to allow
Mr. Dube to proceed with this project.
The Board signed the Bill Roll dated March 29 and the Pay
Roll for the period ending March 24, 1974.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M.
Respectfully—submitted,
A.t.t l �p
Secretary
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