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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-02-27 Board of Public Works Minutes 234 February 27, 1956 Regular meeting of the Board opened at 7:30 P. M. ' Present were Chairman Kilgore, Messrs. Hopkins, Donahue, Johnson, 'Lanni and Superintendent Putnam. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved. Hearing held at 8:00 P. M. on Betterment Acceptance of Martin Road . Present were the following listed abuttors, who expressed their opinion on the acceptance as noted: NAME ADDRESS ' W. E. MacBrien 273 Franklin Street NC (Reading,Mass.) C. J. MacLean 14 Martin Road Y R. E. Bede 25 Martin Road YY Mrs. R. E. MacBrien 213 Forest Street NC Mary L. Rees 21 Martin Road Y Marjorie Pearson 25 Martin Road Y Mrs. R. E. Rede 25 Martin Road Y Dexter W. Jacobs 203 Forest Street N for J.J.J. _ Dorothy M. Fowler 22 Martin Road Y Sarah J. Jacobs 203 Forest Street N William H. Rees '21 Martin Road Y Mrs. Dorothy B. Powell 13 Martin Road Y Albert W. Powell 13 Martin Road Y - Mr & Mrs. F.J. Armstrong 43 Martin Road YY Mrs. Barbara F. Brown 28 Martin Road Y Mr. William Brown 28 Martin Road Y Mr. Eugene W. Smith Jr.44 Martin Road Y John J. Nitchie 236 Chestnut Street Y (Wilmington,Mass. ) Acceptance taken under advisement. Hearing held at 8:30 P. M. on relocation of corner of Vine Street and Middlesex Avenue. Present were the owners of the property effected, Richard and Marjorie Holmes, who agreed to the taking for corner relocation and signed the necessary release from damages. Relocation taken under advisement. Hearing held at 8:45 P. M, on relocation of North-West corner of Pleasant and Eaton Streets. Present was the owner of the property 23 ' effected, Victor E. Cullington, who agreed to the taking for corner relocation and signed the necessary release from damages. Relocation taken under advisement. Preliminary layout hearing of Woodland Street Extension held at 9:U0 P. M. Present was the owner, Richard E. Merrill, who explained the proposed development. Matter taken under advisement for study by the Superintendent. Received letter from Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., discussing methods of payment for access roads, water mains and other problems regarding their proposed new building. Said letter is hereby made a part of the minutes of this meeting, and is as follows: ADDISON-WESLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. Cambridge 42, Massachusetts. February 24th, 1956 Mr. James T. Putnam Superintendent of Public Works Town of Reading Reading, Massachusetts Dear Mr. 'Putnam: Ism addressing this communication to you, .but with the thought that copies will be distributed to members of the Finance Committee, the Board of Public Works, the Board of Selectmen, and the Planning Board. First, I would like to take up the question of the water supply for our building (which is to be ready for occupancy on June 'lat) . The • tests conducted by the FIA during the past two weeks indicate that the pressure in the 6" water main on Englund Road and on South Street is so low as to be inadequate for tying into a pumping system to serve the sprinkler needs for our building. We do not have the official reports, which are now being prepared, but our understanding is that the South Street area is practically devoid of fire protec- tion facilities. It has been recommended that our minimum requirements demand a 10" main to replace the present 6" main from the intersection of Hopkins and Main Streets to the intersection of Englund Road and South Street. ThIM would allow an increase of pressure in the 6" main on Englund Road. An 8" main from Englund Road to our property line and a 6" main from the property line to our building should take care of our needs. However, if the land adjacent to us, which includes the Englund and Zatoonian properties, is later developed for industrial or commercial use, and a tie-in is made into the present 6" main on Englund Road, we would undoubtedly be left without sufficient pressure for our needs. It is our feeling that the chief problem is the inadequate pressure in the South Street main. If no con- sideration were given to our own needs, it seems that the situa- tion on South Street is so serious that something should be done. You have a rough estimate of $11,000 for the cost of installing a 1U" main from Hopkins Street to Englund Road, and about "000. for bringing an 8" main from Englund Road to our property line and a 6" main from there to our building. We certainly feel that we should contribute the full cost of the 8" and 6" mains from Englund Road to our building. Beyond this, we feel that any payment toward the cost of bringing the 10" main to Englund Road should warrant consideration on the part of the Town to reimbursing us at some future date for at least a portion of the cost - perhaps an acceptable arrangement would be full credit against the water used for a certain period of time. In making. the above suggestions and the following, we have tried _ to arrive at an arrangement that will be fair to all concerned; the Town, the residents of South Street, and the company and its stockholders whom I represent. '.. The road to our property is quite a different problem. I would like to discuss this in three steps: (1) Our immediate need is for a road from Englund Road to our property line. You have already made a tentative layout for such a road. As I remember, it is a distance of about 3UO feet, and is a comparatively simple job of construction. The estimated cost is about $22 per running foot, or an over-all cost of about , $6600. Of this amount we have already paid for the survey supp- lied by Dana F. Perkins ($TUU, approximately) . We would feel that an additional contribution of $6000 would be reasonable and fair. (2) If we were to continue to use South Street and Englund Road as an entrance to our property, we would also feel it necessary to spend a reasonable amount for resurfacing Englund Road, but . ' this should not be a sizeable item. e (3) The possibility of a road coming in near the entrance of South Street at Route 28, through and along the property of Zatoonian and Englund, to route traffic away from South Street, should, I believe, please the residents of the area. I should like to suggest, if this road is built, that Englund Road be either closed entirely or made a private way, to avoid use of this .alternate route. 'My feeling about this road is that it will serve three main purposes: (a) it will eliminate traffic on South Street, {b) it will open up for future development the Zatoonian and Englund properties, which accrues to their benefit as well as to the benefit of the Town, and (c) it will overcome a hazardous con- dition due to the narrowness of South Street. As you know, construction has already been started on our proper- ty, and we are becoming increasingly 'concerned about the plans for access. We will be greatly handicapped if plans cannot be crystallized to a point where we can use the right-of-way from EnSjundRoad to our property within the. 3U to 60 days. This is necessary not only to allow bringing in materials and equipmenV, but the Municipal Light Board .needs to know what the location of the power lines is to be, so that it can order the necessary materials. ' We have earnestly tried to comply with all of the wishes of in- dividuals and the governing boards of the Town, and we are most appreciative of the cooperation and assistance that we have re- ceived. I do feel now that time is getting short, and it is necessary not only to finalize the plans, but to actually take steps to secure final approval and to get the work started. Thank you again for your cooperation. Very truly yours, (Signed) Melbourne W. Cummings President MWC:A Received report from Superintendent regarding Addison-Wesley matter, including three proposed layouts lettered "A", "B" and "C" for access road through lands of Zeytoonian, Englund, at al. After some discussion and study of the three proposals it was moved, seconded and voted to approve Plan "A" plus reasonable extension of access road Westerly of Addison-Wesley property for future use of Business C area. Superintendent instructed to advertize Board of Survey hearing for the 238 access road on March 8, 1956 with the hearing to be held March 20, 1956; ' and to held an.acceptance hearing by the Board of Public Works on March 27, 1956 to enable the article for said acceptance to be included in the warrant for a Special Town Meeting to be held on April 2, 1956. Voted also to instruct Superintendent to further discuss water main costa plus road costs with Melbounne Cummings of Addison-Wesley, also to further discuss method of time payment by Addison-Wesley as mentioned in preceding letter. Moved, Seconded and voted to approve acceptance under Better- ment Act of Martin Road. - Moved, seconded and voted to approve corner relocation of Vine Street and Middlesex Avenue. Moved, seconded and voted to-approve corner relocation of Eaton , andPleasantStreets. Moved, seconded and voted to approve acceptance under Better- ment Act of Grant Street. Moved, seconded and voted to hold public hearing and change name of Grant Street to "GRANTLAND TERRACE". Met with full roster of Finance Committee to discuss the 1956 Budget of the Board of Public Works. Discussed budget at great length, and agreed to meet again with Finance Committee on 4%ftredey-evening February f5mY 1956 for a further 7`iF 6S. budget review. ZS Board Adjourned at 12:15 A. M. Respectfully Submitted: Secretary tp