HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-08-04 Board of Public Works Minutes Reading, Mass., August 4,1952
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at
7:00 P.M.
Chairman Hopkins, Messrs. , Harrison, Walker, Kilgore and Assist-
ant Superintendent Putnam were present.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
Communication and bill for $10.00 membership fee received from
New England Water Works Association. Voted to pay membership fee.
Motion made, seconded and unanimously voted that in the future
all contractors working on Town projects be required to obtain from the
Superintendent plans of all underground structures in the location of
their contract before starting excavation. Also, all contractors shall
be held responsible for damages to public works property encountered in
their projects.
Communication received from State Department of Public Works
regarding Anthony Simeone & Son,Inc. , Charles Street Chapter 90 Const-
ruction. contract, recommending an extension^ their contract to
.4 4r
August 9, 1952. Board voted to exten ^contract to August 23, 1952.
Note from Superintendent Welch regarding the renting of a
mechanical street sweeper at an estimated total cost of 01,200.00 to
remove debris caused by gale and rain of Sunday July 27, 1952, read
and approved.
Hearing at 7:30 P.M. on installation of an underground conduit
for the New England Telephone and Telegbaph Co. , on High Street, South
of Lowell St. No abuttors appeared, and Mr. Wayland of the Telephone
Co. , appeared, to explain need for and purpose of proposed structure.
-2-
Voted to approve petition.
Mr. Kenneth Muise and Mr. Ira Gadbois of Maple Street appeared
before Board to request abatement of open drain ditch which they allege
overflows and erodes their property. Board voted to make survey study
of existing drain conditions in this location.
Yr. Edward Tarpin of 137 Main Street ap.)eared before Board to
obtain information regarding right-of-way widths on property owned by
his father on Main Street, and requested permission to lay out a right-
of-way thirty (30) feet in width to permit access to two proposed lots 'llNcl
in the rear of his fatherts property. Board suggested Mr. Tarpin pre-
pare a new plan, check same with Inspector of Buildings to ascertain
if it conforms with zoning and building laws and appear at next meeting
of Board for further debate on his request. /
Following Bituminous Concrete Sidewalk Application received,
approved and placed on file;
Sarah B. Morrison - 43 Weston Road /
Hugh H. Beaton and May E. Beaton - 55 Minot Street
Following Granite Curbing Application received, approved, and
placed on file:,
Albert C. Thomas - 87 John Street/"
Following Bituminous Concrete Sidewalk and Granite Curb appli-
cations received, approved, and placed on file:
James S.Cavanaugh. Jr, and Kathleen .(Cavanaugh -16 Elm St.
Josephine F. Costa, - 34 Longfellow Road. .
Received letter from Contributory Retirement Board regarding
application of retirement of Bartholemew T. McDonough for superannuation
on August 31, 1952. Board voted approval of application.
Letter of commendation received from Mr. Gilbert C. Adams, 83
Locust Street, regarding work accomplished on his premises by Water
Department employees. Board instructed the Assistant Superintendent to
-3-
have copy of same posted at Municipal .Garage.
Voted that new street betterment assessment regulation be
i
approved, with the provision that any lot or lots affected thereby
be brought to the attention of the Board before assessments are made.
The following regulations are hereby adopted;
Street betterment assessments shall be assessed as' follows;
1. For each particular street, the total cost of
construction shall be divided by the total
abutting frontage to derive a unit cost per
linear foot.
2. All lots, except corner lots, shall be assessed
at the rate of tbe . derived unit cost mentioned
in Section 1.
3. When improvements are made at different times corner
lots shall be assessed at the rate of the total '
derived unit cost per linear foot of abutting frontage
on the first side constructed, and at a rate of one
quarter the derived unit cost per linear foot for
each foot of abutting frontage on the second side
constructed, or as otherwise determined by the Board.
4- When all improvements are made simultaneouly corner lots
shall be assessed at the rate of the total derived -
unit cost per linear foot of abutting frontage on the
longest side or sides constructed, and at a rate of one
quarter the derived unit cost per linear foot for each
foot of abutting frontage on the shortest side constructed,
or as otherwise determined by the Board.
5. A corner lot shalA defined as s lot having two or
more sides on one or more streets, a deflection angle
of about forty five degrees or more between two of the
sides, or at the tangents thereof; and a total abutting
frontage on two or more sides of about 160 feet or more;
or as defined by the Board.
6. . Restriction on Size of Corner Lot.
A corner lot, in order to be assessed as above, shall
not be divisible into two or more lots under the appli-
cable Town Zoning Regulation, unless in the Judgement
of the Board the land is useless for division into two
or more lots. When a corner lot is divisible into two
or more lots, the ioard shall apportion the abatement
at its discretion. ,U.
Voted approval of pole locations abandonments and relocation
at corner of South and Curtis Streets.
-4-
Water supply conditions discussed at some length.
Board adjourned at 10:30 P. M.
Respectfully submitted: (�\\
Se r eryy \