HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-03-13 Board of Public Works Minutes March 13, 1972
' Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7: 30
P.M. in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Board Members White, Florence, Watt, Blood
and Reed and Superintendent Louanis .
Mr. Louanis assumed the Chair for reorganization of
the Board. The Board Members voted by ballot. Nathan C. White
was reelected Chairman and William H. Watt was elected Secretary
on the second ballot. Mr . White assumed the Chair .
Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Watt seconded and it was voted
unanimously that E. Roger Louanis be appointed Superintendent and
Clerk of the Board of Public Works for a period of one year .
' Malcolm Reed was appointed Member to the School Building
Committee and Lawrence Blood to the Recreation Committee.
Lawrence Blood requested that the records show that he
would disqualify himself on any items coming before the Board re-
garding activities of the New England Telephone b Telegraph
Company.
The Board met with Mrs. Nancy Anderson, Chairman of the
Conservation Commission and Members of the Commission to discuss
Conservation Articles 7 through 19, 73 and 74. Articles 8 through
15 will be indefinitely postponed. These Articles have been in-
serted in the Warrant through an error between the Town Counsel
and the Tax Collector , and were parcels of property that should
not be acquired by the Conservation Commission.
Articles 7, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 73 are parcels of land '
in swampy areas which the Conservation Commission wishes to ob-
tain and requests the Board of Public Works ' support.
Article 74 - Mrs. Anderson stated that the Conserva-
tion Commission wishes to obtain 18.5 acres of land northerly of
Pearl Street and abutting Conservation property in Bear Meadow.
The land is owned by Mrs . Corey. Some of the land is high and
dry and the Conservation Commission could obtain 50% of the cost
under self-help from the State and 25% of the cost from the
Federal Government. However, the funds from the Federal Govern-
ment have restrictive regulations as to use of the land.
Mrs. Anderson pointed out that this would provide a
buffer zone between the high land and a possible future water '
supply site. The Board agreed to support the requests of the
Conservation Commission at the Town Meeting.
The Chairman reported the Board 's progress on the
labor negotiations with the Department 's employees and stated
that an agreement had not been reached to date.
The Board reviewed the proposed salary increases for
the non-union employees. Mr. Blood questioned the procedure of
moving from minimum to maximum and how merit increases would be
applied. It was moved, seconded and voted to follow the
Superintendent ' s recommendation and grant a 5 1/2% increase
across the Board and forward to the Personnel Board for its
approval . ,
' Mr . Florence left the meeting.
The Chairman assigned Motions for the Town Meeting.
The Board discussed in detail Article 58 which requests $13,000.00
for Consulting Engineering services to design additions and modi-
fications to the Board of Public Works Garage. The Finance
Committee would not recommend the funds. Mr. Louanis stated that
the electric power was inadequate; also the heating equipment. it
was finally agreed that Article 58 would be indefinitely postponed
but the Board would request an additional $2,000.00 on Highway
Maintenance to be used for Garage Maintenance. An area plan will
be prepared by the Engineering Division which will provide a basis
for the Consulting Engineer to work on at the proper time.
It was also agreed that the Department would request
an additional $24,000.00 for Snow and Ice Removal .
Read letter from the Board of Selectmen stating that
the Board voted to grant emergency approval to incur additional
liabilities for the removal of snow and ice in the amount not to
exceed $24,000.00 for salaries and $24,000.00 for expenses. It
was accepted as a point of information.
Read letter from Milton F. Iwen, 25 Tamarack Road,
voicing his displeasure at the inconsideration or harrassment
which he experienced on February 19; that is, the bulldozing of
snow onto a person's land. The letter was accepted as a point of
information. The Superintendent was instructed to write Mr. lwen
and acknowledge receipt of his letter .
Read petition signed by six persons regarding the plow-
ing technique on the upper part of Hillside Road. The Superin-
tendent was instructed to write Mr. English acknowledging receipt
i
of the letter and state that the Board appreciates the problem
and is attempting to come up with a solution.
Read note from the Superintendent regarding the voting
at the Sewer Hearings held February 28 and March 1 . The Board
discussed the inclusion of Tanglewood Circle, Margaret Road,
Beverly Road and Reading Terrace in the programs . Mr . Watt moved,
Mr . Blood seconded and it was voted that Sanitary Sewer be in-
stalled in the streets as programmed with the exception of Reading
Terrace, and proceed with the assessment of betterments. The
abutters of Reading Terrace will be so notified. ,
Read report on the meetings held March 1 and 2 regard-
ing the Incinerator . A brief Progress Report of three or four
paragraphs will be prepared for presentation at the Town Meeting.
Figures will be available if requested.
The Board signed Payroll for the period March 6 through
March 12, and Billroll dated March 17, 1972.
Meeting adjourned at 10: 15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary