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Home My WebLink About1956-03-28 Board of Public Works Minutes 249 March 28, 1956 ' A special meeting of the Board opened at 7:30 P. M, Present were Chairman Johnson, Messrs. Hopkins , Zanni and Super- intendent Putnam. ef 11 o . a. Minutes, of previous meeting read and approved. Hearing opened at e:00 P. M. on Board of Public Works acceptance of Jacob Way, in Room 14 Municipal Building. Adjourned to Room 19 for Hearing. The Hearing was opened by Chairman Johnsonwhoread. a copy of the notice of the meeting to those present. : Superintendent Putnam then explained to those present the proposed layout of Jacob Way as shown on large blackboard in Room 19. The meeting was then opened, for a general question period. The following is a transcript of the questions asked and answers ' given: Harold Jones: What is the alternate solution, if Jacob Way is not accepted at the Town Meeting? Chairman Johnson: It will either be Englund Road or a 40 foot strip that Addison-Wesley now own as access to South Street. Mr. Jones: Would that necessitate widening South Street? Mr. Johnson: Yes, in time. No formal vote has been taken as yet. South Street as you know is very narrow. Mr.. Jones : Would the widening extend to Curtis Street? Mr. Johnson: That is not yet determined, it :might possibly be to Curtis Street. Mr. .tohnson: This Hearing will assist Board in determining the final decision on the acceptance of Jacob Way as a public way or access to the business C Zone dis- trict. Mr. Medlock: What plans have been made for traffic at Main Street and South Street? Selectmen Drew: We cannot install traffic lights at South and 250 Main Streets as yet. Mr. Jacob Way would solve the problem of residents , of South Street regarding traffic. Selectmen Drew: It. would also serve much of the vacant lend in that area as access road. Mr. Clinch: The Planning Board is recorded in.complate accord (Planning with plan of Jacob Way as shown. Board) Mr. Highgas: Attorney for Mr. Zeytoonian - Would Jacob Way lessen need for widening of South Street? Mr. Johnson: Not necessarily. Attorney Highgas: What does Wyman-Wesley intend to build on their property? Mr. Cummings: Representing Addison-Wesley - The Firm started out as Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. then changed to Wyman-Wesley. Spinnelli, a contractor will construct and own the building and lease •tom-�ngs to Wyman-Wesley. SAME Clifton. Englund: 12" water main would interest owners; could , be expense to owmers. Who pays for main: ex- tension? Chairman Johnson.: No action taken as yet. Attorney Highgas: At last meeting it was proposed that Englund Road be extended to Addison-Wesley property. Chairman Johnson: No action taken as yet. The Board now proposes Jacob Way as shown. Attorney Highgas: That type of -traffic is expected from the plan? Chairman Johnson: Mr. Cummings of Addison-Wesley can best answer that. Mr. Cummings: Addison-Wesley is composed of two concerns: a Printing .Corporation, as the industrial part; and a Printing and Processing part. The print- ing or industrial portion has been moved to Lexington, only the publishing part will be in Reading. There will be 200 employees eventually. At present there will b: 65. Traffic expected is daily delivery to the Post Office and a weekly ' delivery to the Plant. The hours are roughly from 8:40 A. M. to 4:40 P.M, in accord Ss W.rN train schedules. There will be no double shifts. 2 ,51 ' Attorhey Highgas: At the time Addison-Wesley purchased the land was traffic problem discussed? Mr. Clinch: - The traffic problem was discussed and it was intended to discuss additional access roads further. Attorney Highgas: Was there a public hearing at that time? Mr. Jones: Yes. There were two public hearings and a Town Meeting. At the Town Meeting residents ob- jected to the use of South Street for addi- tional traffic and also as to widening. No definite commitments were made. A statement was made that the 40 foot, strip over which Addison-Wesley do have access to South Street might be used. Attorney Highgas: I represent Mr. Zeytoonlan who objects to the road cutting through his property. It lessens the value of the property, : and he has had . several attractive offers for his land. Addison-Wesley should have made arrangements for access before building instead of taxpayers of Reading having to pay for:things. Addison- Wesley will be only people benefitted by Jacob Way. Mr. Zeytoonian: What was Addison-Wesley told would be their access road? Attorney Highgas: Because of extra traffic on South Street a 40 foot strip would not be advisable. Mr. ,Clinch: Planning Board did not have much to do with the acquisition of the Addison-Wesley land. Mr. Zeytoonian: What did the Planning %ard. do? Mr. Clinch: Rezone land to business C and recommended same to Town Meeting. Mr. Sones: Land was rezoned .for:Insurance Company. All of land thenwould have been inoluded to South St. Mr. Burnham: If Jacob Way prevails, would Englund Road be dissolved? Chairman Johnson: . That has not been voted yet but would be logical solution to aid the owners. ' Clifton Englund: Will this be the last meeting prior to the Town Mebting? 252 Y Chairman Johnson: Yes. Board will vote on layout then the Town will vote on Board's report, , Clifton Englund: Will damages be awarded then? Mr. Medlock: Will access to Jacob. Way be' available? Chairman Johnson: Yes. Mr. Medlock: Why should abuttors be forced to pay for building road on land taken from them? Mr. Johnson: Maybe token charge only. Board has not voted ! as yet. Road construction and water main installation will raise value of land, Mr. Medlock: This Is an academic question, who pays for the road?. Chairman Johnson: the taxpayers eventually. Mr. Medlock: , the road is for Addison-Wesley only at present. Other abuttors benefit. Wkly not assess abuttors? Mr. Jones: Town instructed Selectmen to invite industry to Town at a town meeting; should take that , in consideration. Can not say that we would like industry in there. Clifton Englund: Have no particular objections cc Jacob Way construction. Have Englund Road with main, water main, etc. Do not want to pay any more. Medlock: Jacob Way does not appear to be a public way for the use of Addison-Wesley only. - The Superintendent then polled people present. As to their feelings inthe metter.. NAME ADDRESS Albert M. Duarte 291 South Street - Y ,Wm. J. Cavanaugh 55 Curtis " - N.C. . Charles N. Chase 333 South " - N L. Leroy Fitz 336 South " - Y Eleanor Nordstrom! 332 South " - Y Huth B. Fitz 336 South " - Y John Zeyroonian 72 Main St. - N Jacob N. Zeytoonian 72 Main St . : - N H. H. Medlock 84 Curtis St; - N , William Highgas,�'r. 422 Wash. St . Woburn - K. T. Sullivan 340 South St. - Y Robert Lipsett 343 South St. - Y J. J. Chisholm 345 South St. - Y 253 Harold L. Jones 348 South St. - Y Francis X Jones. 337 South St. - Y Edward D. McIntire 362 South St. - Y Doris Zeytoonian 72 Main St. - N Haig J. Zeytoonian 72 Main St. - N Clifton P. Englund 397 South St. - Y (regarding betts- * n n Carl Englund 397 South St. - Y if done fairly) Florence E. Gonnam . 24 Englund Road - N (use Englund Road) Richard W. Gonnan 24 Englund Road - Y Lawrence Drew 103 Scotland Road - Y John H. Kay 50 Grand Street - N.0 W. Franklin Burnham,Jr. 166 Oak St. - Y Benjamin •M. Hartshorn, Jr. 236 High St. - Y R. G. Clinch 4 Perkins Ave; - Y Edw. W. Batten 1 Lewis St. - Y Melbourne W. Cummings Melrose, Maes. the meeting then adjourned to Room 14. Was moved, seconded and unanimously voted to remommend acceptance Of Jacob Way to the Special Town Meeting to be held April 2, and ad- journed to April 9th, and assess betterments therefore. ' Signed report of Laying out of Jacob Way for presentation to Town Meeting. Signed plans of Jaoob Way for filing with the Town Clerk. Moved, seconded and voted to reject all sewer bids and resubmit and rebid sewer bidsiw W;(f• w Voted meeting at 7:30 P. M. April 3 , 1956 to discuss Addison- wesley access road and water main problem. Voted to hold meeting for bid opening 'Tuesday April 10, 1956, at 8:00 P. M. en iJ. 110 u) Si. Received letter from Board of Selectmen requesting opinion as to whether or not the Board wish to retain town land on Pearl . Street, north- erly of bunker Ave. , between the old section of Pearl Street and the Pearl Street cut-off so called. 254 Voted to inform Selectmen that land should be retained for , the 'lawn. Discussion of Article 38 for the Annual Town Meeting discussed at some length. On recommendation of Superintendent, it was voted to petition the Personnel•Board for a 5c per hour increase for Ralpyi Nickerson of the Water Department, to•take effect April , #, when the general pay raise increase takes place. Board adjourned at 11: 05 P. M. Respectfully submitted: Secreta ,2't