HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-06-21 Board of Public Works Minutes June 21 , 1971
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7: 30
P.M. in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman White, Board Members Cochrane,
Hodgkins and Watt and Superintendent Louanis.
In the absence of the Secretary, Mr . Cochrane read
the Minutes which were approved.
Mr . Florence joined the meeting.
Read letter from Richard B. Knudson of the Quannapowitt
Players requesting a permit for the Dump which could be used by
each monthly chairman or some other solution. It was suggested
that the Quannapowitt Players use a commercial dumper or have one
of the members who is a resident of Reading use his household per-
mit.
Read letter from Ralph P . Bagdigian, 18 Marla Lane, re-
garding the use of galvanized barrels in the refuse collection.
The Board took no action.
The Board met with Harold Kilgore of Dustin Associates
regarding two proposals made to the Board on future water supply
needs and detail designs for construction of a water main between
Revay Meadow Wells and Grove Street. Mr . Kilgore presented his
views on the need to treat Revay water and the engineering design
necessary to transport the water to the Treatment Plant. Mr.Watt
' questioned Mr. Kilgore on the relative quality of the water to be
treated and the corrosive proponent of the Revay water. Mr. Kil-
gore replied that the corrosive proponents were chlorides, manga-
nese and iron. Manganese and iron could be removed at the Treat-
ment Plant and the chlorides would only be diluted. The Super-
intendent stated that this work should be accomplished in con-
junction with the installation of the sludge removal equipment,
previously designed by Dustin Associates.
Mr . Kilgore stated that his second proposal would pro-
vide for a codification of the past engineering studies of
Reading 's water supply with a reevaluation to insure that no un-
touched source had been overlooked. The report also would include
a planned program.of improvements with cost estimates and a pro-
posed method of financing and a new water rate structure for the
Board 's consideration. ,
The Board adjourned to Room 2 at 8:00 P.M. where a
Public Hearing was held regarding the taking of slope easements
on various properties on Haverhill Street. Twenty-one persons
attended the Hearing. The Chairman explained that slope easement
does not mean taking of the property but when the sides of the
road do not match the road, there must be some correction. In
some cases cuts will be required and in others, retaining walls
will be built. The Board and abuttors discussed in detail the
drainage, width of the street and the construction of driveways.
The Board reconvened in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Messrs . Watt and Louanis left the meeting to confer ,
with the Board of Selectmen regarding a grievance on the part of
David Perna.
The Board met with Brain Hogan, Philip Giantris and
' Robert Norton of Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. ; Brian Dougherty, John
Watts and Claude Klimas of Combustion Engineering, Inc. ; and
Peter Connolly and Raymond Bilodeau of Connolly Brothers, Inc.
for a discussion on the progress of the Incinerator .
Mr . White expressed the concern of the Board over the
progress of the Incinerator . Mr . Giantris outlined the work to
be done on the two units and stated that the building should be
in the air in two weeks. Connolly Brothers, Inc. is still on
schedule; Combustion Engineering, Inc. is working within the
schedule.
Messrs. Watt and Louanis returned to the meeting.
Mr. Florence questioned the possibility of completing
the Incinerator before October . Mr. Giantris did not know the
answer .
Mr. White stated that the Hardware did not seem to be
moving very fast and Mr . Norton stated that work is being done
inside which is very meticulous and takes a lot of time. Mr.
Watts of Combustion Engineering, Inc. stated that they hope to
be done by the middle of August. Mr . Connolly said that his
firm did not anticipate any trouble - it is a question of
coordination.
Mr . White remarked on the lack of reports to the Board.
The Superintendent stated that he had received reports from Mr .
' Norton each week but had neglected to pass them on to the Board.
The Board will go along with Mr. Norton' s reports .
It was suggested that Combustion Engineering, Inc. '
have qualified people at the site as the Incinerator nears com-
pletion and a training program for personnel - manual plus shop
drawings - be inaugurated.
Read note from the Superintendent regarding a proposal
to connect to the Storm Drain System in Spruce Road from Richard
Blakeley of 75 Spruce Road. Mr . Florence moved that Mr.Blakeley 's
plan to connect to the Storm Drain System in Spruce Road be ap-
proved contingent upon modifications outlined by the Superin-
tendent, as follows:
1 . That the cleanout manholes be changed to small catch
basins with grates installed on the top to catch sur-
face water;
2. That the 4-inch pipe going to the concrete platform '
be 4-inch transite sewer pipe with watertight joints
connected to a watertight catch basin with grade to
accept water from down spouts and the concrete plat-
form; and
3• That all pipe laid within 50 feet of the sanitary
leaching area be of transite sewer pipe with water-
tight joints.
Mr. Watt seconded and it was voted.
Mr. Hodgkins left the meeting.
The Board conferred at length with John Weed, Arlene
Kelley and Robert Nordstrand regarding a proposed concert to be
held on July 3 from 12 noon to 11 :00 P.M. at Birch Meadow. Mr .
Weed outlined the program to be followed. Mr . Cochrane moved
that the Board approve the use of Birch Meadow for a concert by '
the youth of Reading if they obtain the backing of some finan-
' cially responsible group who is able to obtain insurance or a
bond to protect the Town. This does not include the authority
to serve liquor on Town property; Mr. Watt seconded and it was
voted.
Mr. Florence left the meeting.
Read letters to and from the Personnel Board regarding
approval of new employees. They were accepted as a pointofin-
formation.
Read letter to the Personnel Board regarding the pro-
motion of five Laborers to Semi-skilled Laborers . It was accepted
as a point of information.
Read note from the Superintendent regarding the inability
' of Union Camp, low bidder on Paper Refuse Sacks, to meet the speci-
fications and deliver the sacks on or before July 2. Upon receipt
of this information, the Superintendent contacted Mr . White and
the decision was made to place the order with Carter, Rice. Mr.
Cochrane moved, Mr . Watt seconded and it was voted to confirm that
the contract for 155,000 Paper Refuse Sacks be awarded to Carter,
Rice, Storrs & Bement, Inc. at $97.00 per M delivered.
The Board removed from the table the taking of Slope
Easements on Haverhill Street. Mr . Cochrane moved that public
convenience and necessity require the Taking of Slope Easements for
the protection of the reconstructed public way known as Haverhill
' Street within the Town, and such taking is hereby ordered upon
parcels numbered 1 through 12, and the area to be subject to ease-
ment more particularly described and shown on Plan entitled '
"Slope Easements, Haverhill Street, dated June 1971 " .
The Board signed the Billroll dated June 25•
Meeting adjourned at 11 :20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary