HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-03-29 Board of Public Works Minutes March 29, 1971
' Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30
P .M. in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman White, Secretary Florence, Board
Members Cochrane, Hodgkins and Watt and Superintendent Louanis.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
Read letter from the Department of Public Works -
Division of Waterways - regarding the Annual Rivers and Harbors
Hearing to be held on April 1 at 10:30 A.M. , 100 Nashua Street,
Boston. It was accepted as a point of information.
Read letter from Harold Swanson, 29 Juniper Circle
! regarding a snowplowing and drainage problem at his driveway;
also, the Superintendent 's comments in relation thereto. It was
moved, seconded and voted that the gutter and driveway apron be
regraded which may help eliminate the drainage problem. Accord-
ing to the Superintendent, the snowplowing is a normal condition
resulting from living on a cul-de-sac.
Read letter from James J. Lanctot, Jr . , Reading Clean-
Up Day Chairman, Reading Jaycees, requesting use of Department
trucks on Saturday April 24. It was moved, seconded and voted
that the Department would participate in the Clean-Up Day and
instructed the Superintendent to provide equipment which he con-
sidered necessary.
Read letter from Robert E. Jones, Dump Sale Committee,
Reading Scholarship Foundation, requesting permission to conduct
a flea-market type rummage sale on Sunday, the 16th or 23rd of
May, on land in front of the Public Works Building opposite the
Town Dump. It was moved, seconded and voted that permission be
granted subject to the following conditions:
1 . Suitable liability insurance be obtained.
2. Since this is to be held on a Sunday, permission
should be obtained from the Board of Selectmen
and/or the Police Department.
3• All debris shall be removed from the site at the
end of the sale.
Read note from the Superintendent with reference to
proposed salary increases for Non-Union Personnel and Job class-
ifications regarding Administrative Personnel , Supervisory Per-
sonnel and for the newly created Sanitary Division of the
Department. The Board discussed facets pertaining thereto. It
was agreed that the Chairman would sign and send a letter to the
Personnel Board requesting a joint meeting with said Board on
April 5 to discuss the items. Mr . Locke, Chairman of the Person-
nel Board appeared and confirmed the meeting on April 5.
Members were appointed to the following Committees:
Recreation Committee - Donald E. Florence
Planning Board 's Master Plan Study - Nathan C.White
Industrial. Committee - George L. Hodgkins
School Site Committee - George W. Cochrane
New School Building Committee - William H. Watt
The Board reviewed results of a Sewer Hearing held on
March 8, 1971 . It was moved, seconded and voted that Sanitary
Sewer be installed in the streets as programmed with the excep-
tion of County Road. Mr. Watt moved, Mr. Cochrane seconded and
it was voted that the Superintendent be instructed to attempt to
negotiate with the abuttors to County Road to obtain easements,
and if not obtainable, that they be taken by eminent domain. '
Read letter from Robert Meuse, d/b/a Meuse Contruction
Company requesting approval as a Licensed Drain Layer in the Town
of Reading. Mr . Cochrane moved, Mr . Florence seconded and it was
voted to approve the application.
The Board reviewed tabulation of bids on items perti-
nent to the operation of the Department. Mr . Cochrane moved, it
was seconded and voted to follow the Superintendent's recommenda-
tions and that the items be purchased from the low bidders with
the exception of Reinforced Concrete Pipe and Bituminous Concrete
Type 1-1 . The Superintendent requested more time to evaluate the
bids on the Cold Water Meters . The Bookkeeping and Accounting
Machine will be purchased from Olivetti Corporation of America
at atotal cost of $7,000.00.
Read letter from Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. regarding letter
to Combustion Engineering alerting them of their upcoming con-
tract completion date to erect their refuse burning system; also
letter from Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. to Metropolitan Boston Air
Pollution Control District.
Mr . Watt moved, Mr. Cochrane seconded and it was voted
that a letter be sent to Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. requesting them to
exert the maximum amount of pressure to complete the Incinerator
and to carry out the letter of the contract relative to liquidated
damages ; also they make every effort to obtain the standard
operating manual for the Municipal Incinerator and submit it to
the State.
Mr . Watt moved, it was seconded and voted that a letter
be sent to Mr. Tully, Vice President of Combustion Engineering,
LInc. stating that the Department is at a loss to see how Com-
bustion Engineering can complete the project in the time specified
and would appreciate a copy of the timetable.
Read note from the Superintendent regarding construc-
tion plans for Haverhill Street under Chapter 90 and his recom-
mendation that the Board vote to request the State Department
of Public Works to proceed with the stage-type construction of
Haverhill Street, due to lack of funds . The proposal has ad-
vantages:
1 . It would get the work under construction this year
about July or August.
2. It would give the road a chance to settle before
the finished course was placed on the highway.
3. If bids do come in lower than the estimate, then
part of the finished courses could be put on at
that time.
Mr . Cochrane moved, Mr. Watt seconded and it was so voted.
The Board signed the Billroll dated April 2 and Payroll
for the period March 22 through March 28.
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Meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M.t
adj
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary