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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1930-02-14 Board of Public Works Minutes Reading, Mass. Feb. 14, 1930 A meeting of the Board of Public Works was held this day at 7:30 P.M. Present were: Samuel H. Davis Miles C. Higgins Martin B. Hartshorn Wm. T. Fairclough Harold W. Putnam and the Superintendent A Letter was received from Ammidon and Bickwell regarding the widening of the Square and was referred to the Planning Board. A Hearing on a petition of residents of School St. for a sewer was held at 8 o'clock. Appearing in favor were Mrs . Keel, Frank Stevens, Willard Bailey, John Leighton, Mr. Goosh, Mrs. Goosh, Mrs. Stevens, Frank Merrill, Mr. Irwin, Mrs Driver, Clifton Nichols , Against; John D. Gun,116 High St. because of assesment and his inability to enter on High St. 1 W. B. Nelson anpeared before the Board to request water on Haverhill St. Letter received from Metcalf & Eddy advising that water has been located on Bear Meadow. A petition was received asking that Third St. be accepted at Town Meeting. Supt. is to advise what work is necessary. A hearing was held on a petition of the '.'.E.Tel. & Tel. Co. to erect poles on Pleasant St. and the permit was granted. i The (gas) Malden and Melrose Gas Lt. Co. asked for permission to lay pipes in Longview Rd. , Borrows Rd . , John St. and Haven St. and it was granted. A True Record:- Harold W. Putnam SECRETARY -1- To the Citizens of Reading: ' The Board of Public Works reorganized on March 6, 1929 and elected Mr. Samuel H. Davis, Chairman; and Mr. Harold W. Putnam, Secretary, after which preparation was made for the Annual Town Meeting. The Board advised that an additional Standpipe of 1,000,000 gallons capacity costing about $35,000.00 was necessary to insure a proper reserve and to give adequate fire protection. After a very thorough discussion, a majority of those present voted in favor of the appropriation, but as the expense was to be carried by a Bond issue a two-thirds vote was necessary and the motion was lost. However, after the extremely dry weather of 1929 the Board realizes more than ever the urgency of the matter of sufficient supply and storage capacity, and with that in mind has engaged the ' services of the firm of Metcalf and Eddy, Engineers, to make a thorough investigation and report as to the possibility of increasing the water supply from within the town and as to the best location for the additional Standpipe. During the year the surface drainage system was enlarged very materially by the construction of the drain from the corner of Mt. Vernon and High Sts . to Washington St. with two new concrete culverts, one in Cross St. and one in Ash St. A Section of permanent street construction was laid on High St. from Mt. Vernon to Woburn Sts. and it is hoped that more permanent work may be done during the coming year, so that the cost of yearly maintenance may be reduced accordingly. ' Some granolithic sidewalks were laid upon application of the abuttors, but the Board is of the opinion that the most satisfactory way to make such improvements is under the Betterment Act, whereby the abuttor has about ten years in which to pay his half of the -2- cost, of construction, instead of paying one-half before the construction is started. The Board feels that work should be started in the Souare and gradually radiate on the most important streets. Good sidewalks are of great importance to the proper growth of our town. A considerable amount of new drainage work is planned, during the coming year, which will afford relief to areas which heretofore have been greatly troubled by sisface water. Our Common, Parks and Playgrounds need to have considerable work done upon them to bring them to anything like a respectable condition. New loam, reseeding and rolling is necessary for a good growth of grass and then proper cutting and rolling to maintain the lawn. The Board has asked for money to purchase a motor mower to do this work properly and intends to assign one man to have charge of this work and to devote his whole time to it. If the Town does not vote to accept the Planning Board's recommendations with regard to the Square,------the Board feels that it must give special attention to beautifying and improving the appearance , of the Common. In its present condition it is a disgrace to the Town.