HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-04-10 Board of Public Works Minutes April 10, 1972
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7: 30
P.M. in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman White, Secretary Watt, Board
Members Blood and Reed and Superintendent Louanis.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
Read letter from Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. to Metropolitan
Boston Air Pollution Control District regarding stack emission
tests that will be made on the Incinerator . It was accepted as
a point of information.
Read petition signed by eleven persons residing on
Criterion Street requesting acceptance of the street as a Public
' Way, and note from the Superintendent recommending that the Board
vote to accept the petition and proceed in the usual manner . Mr.
Watt moved, it was seconded and voted to come up with an order of
magnitude before the Department proceeds in the usual manner .
Read letter from Gerald Borgal , Co-Chairman, Reading
Clean-up Day (Reading Jaycees) requesting that the Department of
Public Works cooperate in this project by providing trucks and
drivers to haul trash to the Dumpon April 29, 1972. It was moved,
seconded and voted to authorize the use of four trucks, front-end
loader and drivers to assist in the program.
The Board held an informal hearing with 16 residents of
Willow Street and Summer Avenue regarding installation of a side-
walk on the south side of Willow Street from the railroad tracks
to the intersection of Summer Avenue and West Street. Mr. White
explained the betterment and the procedure which is followed by
the Board if the abutters wish the sidewalk. At this point, Mrs. '
William Keefe presented a petition for curbed sidewalks which was
accepted by the Board. Also discussed were drainage and recon-
struction of Willow Street. The abutters were advised that there
would be no major reconstruction of Willow Street this year . It
was agreed that the Board will proceed in the usual manner and
hold a hearing on the installation of sidewalks and sloped curb-
ing on Willow Street from the railroad tracks to the intersection
of West Street and Summer Avenue.
Read letter from the Board of Selectmen and note from
the Superintendent regarding letter received from Bruce Campbell ,
Commissioner of the State Department of Public Works regarding the '
possibility of transferring the title and control of all vehicular
bridges carrying public ways over tracks and rights-of-way over
the railroad. According to the Superintendent, this would mean
the possibility of transferring the title and all maintenance of
the Mineral Street Bridge to the State Department of Public Works
which he thought to be a worthwhile objective. He requested the
Board 's authorization to enter into negotiations to this end. The
Board Members saw no particular benefits in turning it over to the
State. It was moved, seconded and voted not to turn the Mineral
Street Bridge over to the State Department of Public Works.
Read letter from Mrs. Donald Vacon of Revere, Massa-
chusetts who owns property off Governors Drive on a paper Street ,
known as Pleasant Road, and requests permission to connect to the
\ , proposed sewer in Governors Drive; and the Superintendent's com-
ments in relation thereto. Mr . Watt moved that the petition be
denied; there was no second. After a detailed discussion, it was
agreed that Mrs . Vacon had two options - process Pleasant Road
through the Board of Survey and build the road complete at her
expense, or obtain an easement through private property, all ex-
penses to be borne by Mrs. Vacon.
The Board discussed Motion under Article 3 of the Annual
Town Meeting that the Board of Public Works provide for , in addi-
tion to the present hours, additional weekend and/or evening
dumping hours to accommodate the dumping of leaves, rubbish, etc.
during the spring and fall clean-up seasons . According to the
Superintendent, the budget was figured on curtailing the hours .
It was suggested that the Dump be open on Saturdays through May
from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. A notice will be posted the middle
of May to the effect that the Dump will no longer be open for
ordinary household rubbish. The Board was in agreement that a
collection bin is necessary in the area of the Incinerator . Mr .
Louanis was authorized to request Mr. Blaine to present a plan
to the Board for its consideration. Mr. Blood questioned the use
of plastic sacks and Mr . Reed the use of barrels for the collec-
tion of rubbish. The Board was in agreement that there was no
change in the definition of refuse.
The Board reviewed bids taken on various materials to
date. Mr . Watt moved that the Board accept the low bids with the
exception of the clay washings; Mr. Blood seconded and it was
voted. Mr . Blood moved that the bid for street sweeping of '
$18.00 per hour submitted by William E. O'Brien and Sons be ac- I
cepted, it was seconded and voted.
The proposed 1972 Sidewalk and Curb Construction pro-
gram which was presented to the Board will be revised to include
Slope Curbing on Willow Street from the railroad tracks to West
Street and Summer Avenue.
Read letter from Fred Ward, Auction Chairman, request-
ing permission to erect a sign 2 feet x 4 feet on the Reading
Common advertising auction to be held at the Church of the Good
Shepherd on April 29 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. -
Bill Willson, Auctioneer. It was moved, seconded and voted to '
grant permission subject to the provision that no individual 's
name be included on the sign.
The Board signed the following:
Orders of Taking - Osborne Avenue
Spruce Road
Billroll dated April 14, 1972
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M.
Respectfully submi �ted,
Secretary