HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-04-05 Board of Public Works Minutes April 5, 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 Hodgkins and Watt and Superintendent Louanis.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
The Board adjourned temporarily at 7:40 P.M. to meet
as the Board of Survey.
The Board reconvened at 8:00 P.M.
Town Counsel joined the meeting.
Read letter from Donald C. Dolben, Junior Warden,Church
of the Good Shepherd requesting that the Board give consideration
to collection of the Church ' s rubbish. Mr . Florence moved, it
was seconded and voted to notify Mr. Dolben that the rubbish
collection system will be for residential pickup only. They will
have to make their own arrangements for any collections which they
may have.
Read letter from 0. Martin Hansen, 1 Barrows Road, re-
questing reconsideration of his sewer frontage assessment on his
corner lot in the amount of $490.68. According to the Superin-
tendent, a more equitable solution to the corner lot assessment
would be to total the frontage on both streets, divide by two
and place the assessment on the average of the total of their
frontage.
Mr . Watt moved, Mr . Hodgkins seconded and it was voted
' to change the corner lot regulation and assess the frontage as
follows: Total the frontage on both streets, divide by two,
and place the assessment on the average of the total of the two
frontages . '
Mr. Louanis gave a verbal report on the Incinerator and
stated that he had not written a letter to Mr . Tully. Mr.Louanis
stated that a letter had been received from Metcalf & Eddy, Inc.
requesting an extension of time to July 15; also, Mr. Dallas of
Air Pollution Control had advised them that each shop drawing
must carry the stamp of a Professional Engineer registered in the
State of Massachusetts. The number of stamped drawings was re-
duced to 15 which will be handled by Combustion Engineering, lnc.
The Board discussed liquidated damages and real damages. The
Board agreed that the Department should obtain further informa-
tion from Combustion Engineering, Inc. through Metcalf E Eddy,
Inc. and Mr. Killam suggested that a letter be sent to Com- '
bustion Engineering, Inc. by Metcalf E Eddy, Inc. stating that
the Town of Reading does not wish to get into the provisions of
the contract having to do with the consequences of delay but
would like to know what their schedule is and see if the con-
tractors can get together and work out the situation. The
schedule will be requested.
Messrs. Killam and Hodgkins left the meeting.
The Board met with the Personnel Board and discussed
non-union personnel , proposed new classifications for admini-
strative personnel , supervisory personnel and sanitation
division personnel . The Personnel Board stated they had taken
an irreversible position on the 5% maximum increase and Mr .White
stated that the Board felt it must request a 6% increase to keep '
faith with the non-union employees. An impasse ' was reached
' and this point was not resolved. A discussion continued with the
Superintendent outlining the need for approval of new classifica-
tions for the sanitation division, clerical help and the mechanics
division. The Personnel Board requested that the jobs be evalu-
ated in accordance with the Job Evaluations Merit Program.
In compliance with Article 3 of the Annual Town Meeting,
Donald E. Florence was appointed as a Member to the Parking and
Traffic Flow Committee.
Read letter from Joseph A. Concannon, 6 Tamarack Road,
which stated that the Town' s regulations regarding sewer installa-
tion place him in a difficult situation and requested that his
house not be serviced from Tamarack Road but from Wakefield Street.
Mr . Watt moved that Mr. Concannon be advised that the Department
' has a new formula for corner lots. The sewer will be installed
in Tamarack Road but the Department will make the concession that
he may wait until the Wakefield Street sewer goes in providing
his septic system does not fail , in which case he will be required
to connect to Tamarack Road. It was seconded and voted.
Read letter from Thomas L. McManus of 128 Saab Volvo,
Inc. , 230 John Street, requesting permission to install a six-
foot high cyclone fence around his dealership facility due to
continued pilferage. The fence will be installed at the edge of
the Town Easement. Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Watt seconded and it
was voted to grant permission for the installation of the chain
link fence.
The Board reviewed the street sweeping bids as follows:
William E. O'Brien & Sons $15.00 per hour
J. K. Construction Co. 18.00 per hour
Rand 's Power Sweeping 20.00 per hour
W. J. Banfield Corporation 30.00 per hour
It was moved, seconded and voted to award the contract for sweep-
ing streets to William E. O'Brien & Sons at the low bid of $15.00
per hour .
Read note from the Superintendent regarding the pro-
motion of Robert A. Nickerson to Foreman in the Highway Department.
Mr. Florence moved, it was seconded and voted that the Superin-
tendent write and so advise the Personnel Board.
It was agreed that the meeting scheduled for April 19,
Patriots ' Day, would be omitted.
The Board signed the Billroll dated April 9 and Payroll
for the period March 29 through April 4, 1971 . ,
Meeting adjourned at 11 : 10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary