HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956-10-08 Board of Public Works Minutes 1 October 8, 1956
The regular meeting of the Board opened at 7 :30 P. M.
Present were Chairman Johnson, Messrs. Donahue, Hopkins, Kilgore
and Superintendent Putnam.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved as corrected.
Signed vouchers and payroll for payment.
Received letter, requested by Secretary Donahue, from Amen Esper,
Jr., Assistant District Maintenance Engineer, District 3, State Depart-
ment of Public Works, titled 'Maintenance Grader Method of Bituminous
Concrete Resurfacing", defining, in complete detail, the method, employed
by the State Department of Public Works in the resurfacing of Bituminous
Concrete Type I or oiled gravel surfaced streats with a motor grader.
Letter noted, and Superintendent instructed to adknowledge receipt of
letter, with appreciation.
Mr. Robert Parker, 22 Mt. Vernon Street, appeared before Board
to request a sewer house connection, as an emergency measure, as soon
as the ,Mt. Vernon Street sewer is completed. Mr. Parker was assured
by Superintendent that his request would be granted .
Received letter from He
,Vmond J. White, 75 County Road, requesting
.an abatement of his sewer house connection charge. After a review of
the facts of the matter, it was moved, seconded and voted to deny the
request for abatement.
Received letter signed by C. Sumner Teel, Trustee of The Sturges
Trust, enclosing copies of letters sent by him and Allan H. Sturges to
William McLaughlin, Samuel Williams, and Hallet Howe, owners of land
J
. necessary to be acquired by the Sturges Trust for the Board of Survey ,
approval of Hemlock . (Proposed) Road and Ash Hill (Proposed) Road.
Letter and copies noted, and placed on file for future reference.
Discussed the .technical aspects of fluoridation of the munic-
ipal water supply. Superintendent instructed to write Dr. Kenneth
Holbrook, Chairman of the Fluoridation Committee, advising him of the
technical problems which must be resolved prior to fluoridation.
Received report from Superintendent regarding an access road
to the Business C Zoned Area Southerly of South Street. The report
. delineated work recently accomplished, and stated that Appraiser
Horanst report should be submitted within two weeks from this date. .
Received letter fron Town Counsel corraborating essence of -
Superintendents report of access road subject.
Received report from Superintendent regarding his recent appear-
ance at the 1957 Chapter 90 Construction program hearing with the com-
missioner of the State Department of Public Works and the Middlesex
County Commissioners, also a recommendation regarding possible Federal
Aid to Secondary Roads, which might possibly obtain funds for the re-
construction of Summer Avenue, which is a County Layout. Superintendent
instructed to follow through on this matter.
Received report from Superintendent stating that the new ice
skating area in Birch Meadow Playground, called "Area 2" on the Birch "
Meadow Study Committee Report, has been cleared, excavated and will be
ready for use this Winter, but will have no access until the construc-
tion of the extension Birch Meadow Drive, scheduled for 1957 construc-
tion, is completed . Access is blocked by the main drainage open ditch,
and would require either temporary wooden foot-bridges, or a piped cut-
vert. Superintendent instructed to prepare estimate of cost of culvert
to be installed at the end of John Carver Road; also to investigate poss-
ible sources of necessary funds for said culvert construction.
Received report from Superintendent regarding necessary resurfac-
ing of West Street, in locus of sewer construction by Garden Construction,
Inc. Moved, seconded and voted to instruct Superintendent to effect the
necessary repairs on West Street, at his estimated cost .of $800.00 to
01,00o.00.
Discussed the water supply, storage, and distribution problem at
some length. Superintendent instructed to prepare data for a further
discussion and study of the water system, from material on hand .
Received report from Superintendent regarding method of setting
water meters, and discussed same at some length.
Selectmen Latham, Drew and Lothrop; Planning Board members Clinch
and Batten; and Town Counsel Amon met with Board to .discuss two separate
items.
Item 1. Some inquiries have been received from an industry which may
wish to locate a $5,000,000.00 industrial plant employing
500 employees in Reading. As no data was available at this
time regarding requirements of the plant for necessary acre-
age, quantity of water, etc.., it was decided to request fur-
ther information before discussing the matter further. All
Boards agreed to fully cooperate on this item.
' Item 2. A prolonged and detailed consultation ensued regarding an
access road to the Business C Toned area situated Southerly
of South Street, and presently solely occupied by Addison-
Wesley Publishing Co., who have no suitable access road to
their property. The pros and cons of several possible
access road routes were fully discussed, and it was agreed
' by all present that, with Winter fast approaching, time was
of the essence.
Therefore, it was unanimously agreed by all Boards present that
the following proceedure would be followed:
(a) Advertise Jacob (Proposed) Way in its entirely as originally pro-
posed, from South Street to its Westerly terminous, for a Board
of Survey Hearing to oe held October 22, 1956.
(b) Advertise a portion of Jacob (Proposed) Way, from Englund (Pri-
vate) Road to .its Westerly terminous, on the same date.
(c) Consider the promised report regarding land damages from AI%pra-
sier Horan at a joint meeting of the Boards the night of the
Board of Survey Hearings.
(d) Advertise Englund Road and/or all or part of Jacob (Proposed)
Way for Board of Public Works acceptance hearings on October 29,
1956.
(e) Hold Special Town Meeting on November 5, 1956 and recommend to
the Town Meeting Members what route the access road shall follow,
dep9ndent on several matters which it is hoped will be resolved
in the near future, such as land damages appraisals, reaction of
owners of land effected by the takings, etc.
(f) Attempt to construct a suitable access road prior to the advent
of WinterA y,
Board Adjourned at 12:18 A. M .
Respectfully sybmitted : clotaz Q J
Secretary