HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-02-04 Board of Public Works Minutes February 4, 1957
The regular meeting of the Board opened at 7:30 P. M.
Pbesent were Chairman Johnson, Messrs. Donahue, Zaani and Super-
intendent Putnam.
Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.
Signed Vouchers and Payroll for payment.
Delegation from Catherine Avenue appeared before Board to request
a one week' s extension on the matter of Bituminous Concrete Sidewalk
construction on Catherine Avenue. Board agreed to grant a one week exten-
sion.
Hearing held at 8:U0 P. M. on the laying out as a Public Way under
the Betterment Act of a Private Way known as Juniper Circles which runs
from a Public. Town Way known as Wakefield Street in a Northerly direc-
tion a distance of 521.41 feet more or less to a dead and. Present at
1 the Hearing were the following listed abutting property owners who,
when polled by Secretary Donahue as to their preference of having the
street accepted with Bituminous Concrete Sidewalks, expressed their
opinions as noted:
R. Claire Canty, 127 Wakefield Street, No. S. W.
Richard J. Canty, 127 Wakefield Street, No. S. W.
- Luther A. Campbell, 30 Juniper Circle, No. S. W.
Harold W. Swanson, 113 Wakefield Street, No. S. W.
George Archibald, 13 Juniper Circle, No. S. W.
Estella Brown, 267 Summer Avenue, No. S. W.
Nelson S. Burbank, 24 Juniper Circle, No. S. W.
Hearing held at 8:30 P. M. on the laying out as a Public Way
under the Betterment Act of a Private Way known as Gleason Road, which
runs from a Public Town Way known as South Street in a Northerly direc-
tion a distance of 704.10 feet more or less to Gleason Road Extension.
LThe following listed abutting property owners were present at the bear-
Ing who, when polled by Secretary Donahue as to their preference of the
acceptance including Bituminous Concrete Sidewalks, expressed their
opinions as noted :
William H. Bourque, 36 Gleason Road-Y
Dante Moscone, 33 Gleason Road,-Y
Mr. R. B. Lawrence, 9 Gleason Road, -NC
Hubert F. Gent Jr., 21 Gleason Road,-NC
Ruth R. & Geo. B. Knight, 27 Gleason Road ,-NC
Secretary Donahue volunteered to assist the Superintendent in the
writing of a "Help Wanted" add for employees, which offer was accepted
by the Superintendent.
Received letter from Michael Z. Devaney, 44 Vine Street,. Reading,
requesting that some relief be given him regarding connection with the
Town Sewer System and stating that his cesspool has completly failed
and there is no way in which he can have it repaired. Letter noted and
Superintendent instructed to write Mr. Devaney advising him that the
requested sewer extension would be made when funds were available. J
Reviewed plans and estimated costs for the Bebruary 11, Hearings
under the Board of Survey and Board of Public Works of Irving Street,
which runs from Main Street to Pearl Street.
Received letter from Frank M. Merrill, requesting Board to reduce
the area of a drain easement on property formerly owned by Louis E.
Garono which runs from Intervale Terrace, Northerly to Birch Meadow in
the location of a street formerly xnown as Essex Street Extension which
has now been abandoned. The Board voted to request the Board of Sel-
ectmen to abandon the section of drain easement as requested by Mr.
Merrill. Mr. Merrill further agreed to relay the existing drain pipe
In the easement at his own expense.
Considered several requests for betterment abatements at various
locations. Superintendent instructed to prepare a list of proposed a-
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batements and present same to the Board at their meeting to be held
I. February 11, 1957.
Received preliminary report from Weston & Sampson, Consulting
Engineers, regarding the bids on Fluoridating Equipment recently re-
ceived and currently being reviewed by them. A written report is to
be presented to the Board on February 11, 1957. Preliminary report
noted.
Reviewed at some length the questionaires mailed to abutting
property owners on Knollwood Road and County Road relating to the
acceptance petitions received on the two streets. On each street
there were two petitioners. The following Tabulations show the num-
bers of abuttors and answers returned on each street : .
NUMBER ANSWERS NUMBER
STREET ABBUTTORS RETURNED YES NO PETITIONERS
A Knollwood Road 12 11 3 8 2
County Road 9 7 0 7 2
In view of the opposition to acceptance of both Knoalwood Road and
County Road by the abuttors it was moved, seconded and voted to in-
struct the Superintendent to write the abutting property owners on
both Knollwood Road and County Road .., and advise them no hearings
would be held for acceptance of either Street in 1957 .
Received letter from Personnel Board to the effect that the Per-
sonel Board has decided to maintain the minimum rate for Unclassified
Labor at 75¢ per hour. Letter noted.
On recommendation of Superintendent it was moved, seconded and
voted that $3,500.00 be released from the cash bond posted as surety
on Catherine Avenue Construction by Sohn E. Selfridge.
Al
Received request from Reading District Committee, Boy Scouts of
America for the use of Reading Common on Saturday February 9, 1957 for
observance of Boy Scout Anniversary Week, and on which they wish to set,
up a Winter Camp Site and demonstrate winter survival methods to the
Public. Moved, seconded and voted to grant the request.
Reviewed Special Articles to be inserted in the Warrant for the
Annual March Town Meeting at some length. With certain revisions it
was Moved, seconded and voted to instruct the Superintendent to file
the Articles with the Town Clerk for insertion in the Warrant.
Examined and reviewed the Annual Report of the Board of Public
Works and the Superintendent for the Town Report for the year 1956 at
some length. . With some minor revisionsSuperintendent was instruc-
ted to deliver the report as corrected to the Reading Chronicle for
publication.
Mr. George Millner, Chairman of the Board of Public Works Sub J
Comm. of the Finance Comm. appeared before Board to request a meeting
of his Sub. Comm. with the Board on Tuesday Evening, February 5, 1957
to discuss the Board of Public Works proposed 1957 Budget. It was
agreed that the meeting would be held at 7 :30 P. M. Tuesday evening,
February 5, 1957 as requested,
Board adjourned at 11:15 P . M.
Respectfully submitted: ^
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Secretary
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