HomeMy WebLinkAbout1954-11-22 Board of Public Works Minutes November 22, 1954
The regular meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at
7:30 P.M.
Present were Chairman Kilgore, Messers. Donahue, Zanni and Assist-
ant Superintendent Putnam.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
Voted to insert folbwing announcement in The Reading Chronicle
issue of November 24, 1954:
ANNOUNCEMENT
As of November 24, 1954 and until further notice, no
applications for sidewalk construction under the Betterment
Act will be accepted by the Board of Public Works.
James T. Putnam
Clerk of Board
Voted to approve underground conduit and manhole location in
1 Municipal Parking Area No. 1 for Reading Municipal Light Dept. , from
Woburn Street Southerly to the new block of stores being erected on the
site of the old Chamberlain block.
Temporarily adjourned to meet as Board of Survey at 8:00 P.M.
Reconvened at 8:15 P.M. as Board of Public Works.
Received petition from citizens on Tennyson Road and Forest Street
regarding drainage conditions in Birch Meadow and vicinity.
Instructed Assist. Supt. to answer petition, advising petitioners
of planned program by Special Birch Meadow Development Committee regarding
Birch Meadow Drainage.
Chairman Kilgore, as representative of Board on Birch Meadow Commit-
tee, assured Board that said Committee is definitely recommending to the
Town that Birch Meadow ground water table be drained, by an extensive
long-range drainage program. Board discussed this program at some
length.
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Received letter from Town Counsel advising Board that Betterment
Assessments could not be levied against Town-owned properties.
Representative Frank D. Tanner visited Board and stated that the
deadline for filing bills for the next session of the General Court
would be December 1, 1954.
Received letter from Town Counsel advising Board that developers
employing Departmental employees on week-ends should be required to
carry Workmen' s Compensation-Public Liability coverage on said employees.
Board voted this ruling must be complied with on all private work
affecting Departmental employees.
Signed 1954 Chapter 90 Maintenance statement of expenditures for
State Department of Public Works.
Received letter from Whitman & Howard, Consulting Engineers,
enclosing Certificate No.12 (final) for work done by Bagarella Conti
truction 'Company on High School Sewer Construction, also enclosing a
certificate of completion, by letter dated Nov. 18, 1954, stating that
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Bagarella Const. Co. , contract was completed on June, 8 I954.
' Received letter from Bagarella Const., Co., requesting immediate
payment of all monies due him as per contract ( dated July 21, 1953) for
Sewerage Works in the Town of Reading.
Due to the fact that claims against Bagarella Const., Co. , are
filed and outstanding with the Town Clerk 'of Reading, Assist. Supt.
was instructed to obtain advice from Town Counsel as to payments to
Bagarella, and to notify Bagarella of legal technicalities which are
holding up his payments.
Received note from Assistant Supt, advising Board that, in company
with Mr. Roger Pearson of Whitman & Howard he visited sewer easement
through property of Harry Smith, and had decided to recommend payment
to Smith of 4200.00 by Bagarella, if agreeable to all interested* partie s,
and allow Smith to accomplish the necessary work on the easement with his
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own personnel.
Received letter from Prentiss & Parker, Insurance agents for the
Town, to the effect that the insurance adjuster had agreed to pay
$670.00 of the $720.00 bid by Atlantic Flag Pole Co. , for resetting
the Reading Common Flag Pole.
Voted to accept bid of Atlantic Flag Pole Co., and to pay the
$50.00 balance from Park Department Funds.
Board discussed revised 1955 salary schedule submitted by Assist-
ant Supt, and agreed- on final draft of same to submit to Personnel
Board.
Board discussed certain proposed transfers of funds from Salary
to Expense Accounts in Sidewalk, Sewer Maintenance and Park balances,
and voted to insert articles in warrant for Special Town Meeting
December 6, 1954.
Received letter from Personnel Board stating that approval had
been given for salary increases to two employees, as follows:
Richard Hume to $1,60 per hour, or $64.00 per week.
William M.MacBrien to 1.51 " " or 60.40 " it
Discussed two-way radio installation in Public Works equipment
as a joint Civilian Defense-Public Works project. Assistant Supt.
authorized to obtain facts and figures relevant to this matter, and
report back to Board.
Board adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Secretary
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