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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957-09-23 Board of Public Works Minutes September 23, 1957 Regular meeting of the Board opened at 7 :30 P. M. Present were Chairman Johnson, Messrs. Donahue, Hopkins, Zanni, Kilgore and Superintendent Putnam. - Minutes of previous meeting read, with one omission noted regard- ing the possible installation of a water main in the new section of South Street Easterly of New Route 28. Otherwise, minutes approved as read. Superintendent instructed to write letter to proper State Depart- fient of Public Works authorities requesting that a water main be instal- led in that section of South Street Easterly of New Route 28 from South Street to West Street. Signed vouchers and payroll for payment. Received petition, signed by 7 abutting property owners, request- ing acceptance of William (Private) Road under Betterment Act. PetLtion accepted, and filed for processing in usual manner. Received letter from Board of Selectmen enclosing letter to them signed by George M. Sharp, 63 Howard Street, Reading, Mass., requesting that an open ditch between their respective properties be filled in. Superintendent reported that this is an active storm water drain. Super- intendent instructed to prepare an engineering study of ditch in question for further consideration of the request, and to advise the petitioners of said action. Reviewed the following Sewer Extension and Sewer Easement Public Hearings to be held Monday evening, September 30, 1957: BOCATION SECTION TIME ROOM TYPE Brame Court Chu7e Sr Estly. 80U-P, M.=9 Sewer Extension Pleasant St. Ext, Manning St, " 8:00 P. M . 19 " it ® Mi Lane Washington St.Sthly. 8 :00 P. M. 19 Pierce St. Organ Factory Nthly 8:00 P. M. 19 Lowell St, Middlesex Ave. East 8:00 P. M. 19 and West Pleasant St. Ext. Manning St. Estly 8:00 P. M. 19 Easement MSchelini Lane Washington St. Sthly. 8 :0o P. M. 19 " Summer Avenue Knollwood Rd. Sthly. 8 :3U P. M. 19 Sewer Extension Virginia Rd. Ext. Summer Ave. Wstly. 8:30 P. M. 19 Ordway Terrace Chapin Ave . Nthly. 8:30 P. M. 19 Ordway Terrace Chapin Ave. Nthly. 8:30 P. M. 19 Halement West Street Willow St. Nthly. 9 :00 P. M. 19 Sewer Extension Moved, seconded and voted to approve Board of Survey layout of F (Private) Street, from Libby Avenue Easterly 200.00 feet, without actual physical road construction or building, for the gxpressO purpose of Instal- ling a water main to the property of Mr. Charles W. Heinstrom on F (Pri- vate) Street, provided Mr. Heinstrom presents a Board of Survey plan in proper form to the Board of Survey. Said water main to be installed in the usual manner, is, cash in advance payment of the estimated cost of water main construction. Received letter from Reading Fire Chtdf Hugh L. Eames regarding anticipated inadequate funds for payment of 6" water connection to Fire - Station No. 2 on Woburn Street. Moved, seconded and voted to defer send- ing construction bill until more exact financial data is received. Moved, seconded and voted to rescind partial abatement of water bill voted to Isabel Price, 43 Auburn Street, on September 9, 1957 and to make the following abatements: Bill of April 1, 1955 - X612.00 Abate 0 6.4U Bill of April 1, 1956 - 612.00 Abate 6.0 Total amount abated - Received the following report from the Superintendent regarding the Ili progress of the Water Adequacy Study, which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: NO, 10 Sept. 23, 1957 REPORT ON PROGRESS OF WATER ADEQUACY STUDY Have conferred with Mr. Sampson and Mr. Bogren of Weston & Samp- son, Consulting Engineers, regarding the water adequacy study. They are currently preparing the application for an advance of funds for said study to the Federal Housing and 'Home Agency, have consul- ted with Lester Hill, the Federal agency official, and have also recomm- ended immediate test well installation adjacent to Pumping Station Nos. 2 and 3, to ascertain ground water levels. In the budget; there is an unexpended balance of $262.62 for New Well Construction, which, with well pipe available in stock, would pay for this work. The prices quoted to Weston & Sampson from several well driving firms average $3.00 per foot for wells driven and withdrawn, and $5,00 per foot for wells left in place. Each well would be approximately forty (40) feet in depth. John J. Boyle, 55 Centre St. Dorchester, Mass, is the well driller recommended. I recommend this work be started at once. Superintendent Moved, seconded and voted to authorize driving ,test wells as reco- mmended by Superintendent, using pipe and fittings in stock at the Pumping Station for the test wells. Received report from Superintendent concerning 's single water con- nection presently servicing two houses at 22 and 24 Elliott Street. Moved seconded and voted to require the owners of No, 24 Elliott St. , James P, Malley Jr, at ux, to install a separate water service connection through an easement over property at No. 22 Elliott Street owned by Joseph Cormier at ux, if said Joseph Cormier at ux sign the necessary releases, and also moved, seconded and voted to charge for the new service to No.24 Elliott St. on the basis of a renewal service, not subject to the usual $75.00 entrance fee. Received the following report from the Superintendent regarding re- cent fires at the Wakefield Town Dump on North Avenue, Wakefield, which was noted by the Board and moved, seconded and .voted to incorporate as a part of these minutes: i No. 12 Sept. 23, 1957 WAMPIELD TOWN DUMP FIRES SEPT. 13, 18-19, 1957 A rash of dump fires have recently been experienced at the Wake- field Town Dump on North Avenue, Wakefield, This report is to advise the Board of said fires. FRIDAY. SEPT. 13. 1957 At 2:30 P. M. this date, 'a fire in the Wakefield Dump started, requiring the Wakefield Fire Department' s services. As no water was available, -the Wakefield pumper drew water from the newly excavated area Southerly of the Reading Town Dump for several hours,, to exting- uish the Blaze, n To quote from the Wakefield Daily Item, Monday Sept, 16, 1957; The• dumpp fire Friday afternoon and evening poured. thick smoke across Route 12d and caused somewhat hazardous driving, conditions there, State Troopers aided in keeping the traffic 'slowed as it passed the dump site, ' Troopers definite cause of the fire was found,' although it was believed some- thing dumped or someone dumping rubbish had been the cause", The Wakefield Fire Department visited the Wakefield Dump dally on successive days, and finally succeeded in draining the water from the Reading dump site, WEDNESDAY. SEPT. 18 1957 IF At 1:15 P. M. on Wednesday Sept. 18 a tremendous fire occurred at the Wakefield Dump, I personally arrived at the scene prior to the arrival of the Wakefield and Reading Fire Departments, and standing on the exca- vated material on the Reading Dump, took the attached photographs of the fire. Several reputable witnesses will testify, if necessary, that the pictures were taken by me at the time stated. The entire Easterly and Nortnerlyperimeter of the Wakefield Dump apparently ignited spontaneously, and for a time was out of control:, The Wakefield pumper shown in the picture again pumped from the Reading dump excavation,. until it was again drained. Wakefield then ran several hun- dred feet of hose line from North Avenue Southerly of Route 128 to boo- ster pumpers at the dump, and left same in place for several days, in• an attempt to wet down th91r dump. A brisk South-East wind drove the fire over the Reading-Wakefield Town Line, in the marshy area, and Chief Eames called in North Reading, Stoneham, etc Fire Departments. The hydrant in the Reading dump was used for several hours to wet down this blaze and extinguish the peat. During all events previously described, no fires were burning in the Reading Dump that could possibly have caused any trouble, The Reading Dump was wet down Wednesday night before the Dump caretaker went Off duty, r Thursday, Septl 19, 1957 Sometime after Wednesday midnight, the Wakefield Dump apparently started burning again, and hazardous driving conditions occurred on Route 128, causing a traffic tie-up and several serious motor vehicle collisions. The Wakefield Item of Thursday, September 19, 1957 describes the cause of the "smog" quite vividly, as usual placing the blame on Reading. On Thursday evening, September 19, I happened to be on an inspec- tion trip to the Reading dump at about 8 :UO P. M. , and found a State Trooper there on an inspection tour. He assurred me that everything was in proper form, and he would so report. The Wakefield Dump is still smouldering, despite daily drenching by the Wakefield Fire Dept. and attempts to bulldoze the debris apart by the Wakefield Highway Dept. Wakefield is now in the process of moving their dump back to Saugus, but they still have a major problem with tks it present dump, which, rumor has it, must be completely burned out before they abandon it according to the terms of their lease with Walker of Wakefield. Superintendent Moved, seconded and voted to obtain from logs of Reading and Wake- field Fire Departments a record of calls made by them to the Wakefield and Reading Town Dump, and to obtain an estimate of the amount of water used from the Reading dump excavation to quell the Wakefield Town Dump fires. The following Registry of Deeds Plans were presented for approval under the Subdivision Control Law, and were approved as noted: OWNER LOCATION I SURVEYOR ACTION ngal can Churchlain St. C.-r._k1utnam Approved Carl Olson Charles St. D. F. Perkins " Harold White High Street D. F. Perktns " Leslie Jollymore Mark Avenue F. R. Bean " Frank Bronk Franklin St. F. R. Bean " Received petition signed by four property owners on Dividence (Private) Road, requesting installation of a water main, to be installed under the Water Main Betterment Act, from Emerson (private) Road Easterly. Petition accepted and Superintendent instructed to advertize for Public Hearing on this requested extension to be held Monday evening, September 30, 1957 at 9:30 P. M. Proposed Chapter 718 Summer Avenue reconstruction plans examined . by Board, Superintendent requested to exhibit cross sections of Summer Avenue plans for examination by the Board. Discussed construction phases of Summer Avenue, Moved, secondedand voted. to instruct Superintendent to prepare bid specifications on Summer Avenue reconstruction with three (3) alternate bid specifications, as follows:. Alternate No, 1: To conform to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works Standard Specifications for Highways and Bridges-A6,21 (Bank) Gravel Borrow 12 inches in depth, penetrated with 3/4 gallons of T-4per square yard of surface, than surfaced with a Bituminous Concrete Type I-1 two course 2,'-z" surface, Alternate No. 2: To consist of 12" depth of bank run gravel borrow conforming to within specified A6.21 Gravel Bourow, topped with 3" of crusher run �gravel, then surfaced with Bituminous Cncrete Type I-1 as specified in Alternate 1, PdL^��,7rd i,.,, ° ,3/ � Ty S T Alternate No, 3: / y To consist of 12" depth of bank run gravel borrow conforming to within specified A6,21 Gravel Borrow, topped with 3f" layer of No. •2 p� \broken stone layed to State Specifications, penetrated with 1-3/4 gallons ;e�d-o -per square yard of surface, and surfaced with Bituminous Con- crete Type I-1 as specified in Alternate 1. Received letter from Ralph P. Hall dated September 16, 1957 inform- ing the Board that delivery of machinery from Builders Iron Foundry nec- essary for completion of the Fluoridation Contract should be made within ten days. Letter noted, Received letter from Middlesex County Commissioners advising Board of the annual public hearing on Chapter 90 Construction and Maintenance projects for the coming calendar year. Letter noted, and Superintendent instructed to attend said public hearing and request the following funds for 1958: CHAPTER 90 CONSTRUCTION STREET STATE COUNTY T WN TOTAL we=treat $I77So.00 47-,5=00 $77"Sc 6.00 $77MO.00 Haverhill St. 2,750.00 1,375.00 1,375.00 5,500,00 CHAPTER 90 MAINTENANCE Haverhill St. §1,500.00 §1,50U.00 011500.00 $ 4,500.00 Received report from Superintendent regarding course of Hurricane "Frieda" , Report noted. Moved, seconded and voted to grant request of Mrs. Hilda Woodland of Baptist Church Fair Committee to close Linden Street from Woburn Street to Mt. Vernon Street on Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28, 1957 between the hours of 10:00 A. M. and 8:00 P. M. for the purpose of holding a Street Fair, Received petition signed by four property owners on Knollwood (Pri- vate) Road requesting acceptance of Knollwood (Private) Road as a Public Town Way under the Betterment Act, Petition accepted, and filed for proce- ssing in the usual manner. Moved, seconded and voted to re-appoint James T. Putnam as Super- intendent until such time as the Board re-organizes following the March 1958 Town Election. It was further requested that the vote for reappoin- tment be recorded as three in favor, two opposed. Respectfully adjourned at ted: Y . M. ^ Respectfully submitted: ecretary ��tc.fure .�jl�ia Pram h'e��/iral' �T�/ia .�� d��✓s��i Tr�ic°�.��r-�.�,�st�ia`1 7,-,W,7 of on fi11"e ��•d'irrr�ij' W�vi'e`r fra c xc=4V r F; P k TO 3r Aid �h g � � UTG 7,1i9crsr7 fJ� c iia 1�ICI,- aate// 2 2C c"11 I-CO crura G��of� rimer-s' l CI,-Cr P f 0 � / cl- �sr7G 4 ` pl4la/-o s la�J7` loch-l' 5�ae sAry /C4// 0f'7 c% 15 '117 C /C- Jl C-1 74�7,7117 5 vv � wry-- r.� �; / ©6''/-7 ��'c��/i7 j� /U'GA/r.✓ �G//?� ��''C_��L''��C�G1' err ca`� I � C74r z� �h 4 P1710 TO / I .5%7 c �, C7�� �Cf/r� c�f�'� .�c��✓a'c's° Ufa l/i/���� . 7/7W C70/7717 ,yfi 11phoho 10" 10017-11,251 /al � �C-�C�C/ff7� !�°�.fff� G✓Lf//�7Q '_ � M ,z. ,. zzv 1`C? W12 112 'd c 76-6117-7 Vis' �''i✓c�7 .1C�, �opii7� vr�� lC-'�'��i r 117 -h, 117 Mort Anal 13' Ala,.2 %may�rc/&..sr'v e tv&r� We have not been able to contact D. L. Maher Company to find the length of screen in each well, but we assume that at both stations the screens would be submerged during static conditions and from the measure- ments made on September 27th, we feel that both wells would profit by a cleaning with Calgon or a mixture of Calgon and hypochlorite. We enclose a computation sheet showing diagramitically the results of the September 27th test. Time did not permit having a more finished sketch made for your meeting tonight . Yours very truly, GGB/rw WESTON & SAMPSON In duplicate Enclosure (Signed) By George G. Bogham Moved, seconded and voted that Superintendent be instructed to con- tact Weston & Sampson immediately and take proper steps to clean gravel- packed wells at Station No. 2 and 3 with Calgon or a mixture of Calgon and hypochlorite, at once. Moved, seconded and voted to instruct Superintendent to secure quo- tations from two or more well drilling firms for the purpose of driving 22" test wells, conducting pumping tests on same, and developing an additonal gravel-packed well, as an emergency measure to increase the water supply at Hundred Acres Well Field, or at other location if deemed necessary. The Superintendent is to report his findings to Chairman Johnson, and proceed with the work of developing an additional gravel-packed well immediately. Received letter from Victor H. Davis, 16 Arlington Street, Reading, Mass. advising Board that he had conducted certain investigations at the Town Forest by means of a divining or dowsing rod, and had determined that a considerable amount of ground water, not presently included in Hundred Acres Well Field, was available in the Town Forest. Letter noted by Board, and Superintendent instructed to confer with Mr. Davis regarding this matter. At the request of the Superintendent, who reported that certain water consumers have recently been using Town water in violation of the August 22, 1957 water restriction order, it was moved, seconded and voted , to authorize the Superintendent to enforce the said August 22, 1957 water usage restriction order to the extreme of shutting off the water services of the offending water users. At the request of John E. Selfridge, it was moved, seconded and voted to permit partial cash bonding of Batchelder (Proposed) Road Exten- sion, and, when proper legal requirements have been fulfilled, to permit recording of the entire proposed street under a conveyance agreement. The following letter was received from the School Committee: September 25, 1957 Mr, James Putnam, Superintendent Board of Public Works Reading, Massachusetts Dear Mr. Putnam: This is to inform you that the School Committee, at its meeting on September 23rd, voted to grant permission to the Board of Public Works to dump fill on the property owned by the Town of Reading in the Glen Meadow Area, providing this area is left in a suitable and presentable condition for use by the School Department and possibly the Recreation Department. Very truly yours, (Signed) Robert Perry RFP:T Secretary Reading School Committee In reference to the preceding letter from the School Committee, the fol- lowing report was received from the Superintendent: GLIO MEADOW SCHOOL SITE On Sunday, September , accompan ed by Messrs. Walter S. Hop- kins Jr., School Committee Member Philip White, and Superintendent of Schools Robert Perry, I visited the Glen Meadow School Site and designated the area 1 ORDWAY TERRACE Hannah B. Ferrick, S even t. x x Mae Jackson, 10 Ordway Terrace x x Clearence T. Burbine, 22 Chapin Ave, x x ORDWAY TERRACE Hannah B. Ferrick, even x Mae L. Jackson, 10 Ordway Terrace x Public Hearings held at 9:00 P . M . in Room 19, Municipal Building, regarding the extension of a sanitary sewer in West Street, from the exist- ing sewer at West-Willow-Summer Ave. intersection Northeasterly. The fol- lowing persons were present or represented at the Hearing, who when polled by Secretary Donahue, expressed their opinions as noted: WEST STREET Bertha I. Pratt, 12 Avon—St'. 'Tomerville x Lewis A. Pratt, 12 Aveon St. Somerville a Frank G. DeNauw, 431 West Street x x Public Hearing held at 9:30 P. M. in Room 19, Municipal Building, on petition of several abutting property owners on Dividence (Private) Road, for an extension of the municipal water mains From Emerson (Private) Road to Franklin Street, under the provisions of Chapter 40, Section 42G, 42H and 421, General Laws, known as the Water Main Betterment Act. The petitioners, who are presently serviced from private wells, stated that several of their wells had gone dry, others were rapidly going dry, due to the prolonged severe drouth. The following property owners on Dividence (Private) Road were either present or represented, and, .wh en polled by Secretary Donahue, expressed their opinions as noted: . NAME AND ADDRESS. IN FAVOR OPPOSED NON-CONN. r ur oucette, 38 Dividence Road x Eugene Bangs, 33 Dividence Road --- �C '�of Joseph Ceccacci, 27 Dividence Road x Margit' Ceccacci, 27 Dividence Road x Alice Corrado,, 223 Franklin Street (left prior to poll) Joseph Corrado, 223 Franklin Street (left prior to poll) Ernest R. Priebe, 21S Franklin Street x William Doucette, (E.Doucette)unnumbered lot x Russell H. Stone, 47 Emerson Street UVirginia S. Stone, x arold I. Metcalf, (by elegramStoeSupt. ) x All decisions on Hearings listed herein taken under advisement by Board. At request of the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Public Works met with the Board of Selectmen in the Sel"ectmens' office at 10:00 P.M. to discuss the increasingly serious municipal water supply situation and the feasibility of calling a Special Town Meeting on October 26, 1957 for the purpose of securing funds for a Water Adequacy Study in lieu of applying to the Housing and Home Financing Administration of the Federal Government for same. Board of Public Works then reconvened In Room 14 to continue regular Board meeting. Received the following letter from Weston & Sampson, Consulting Engineers: September 3U, 1957 Mr. James Putnam, Supt. Board of Public Works Municipal Building Reading, Mass. Dear Mr. Atnam: On September 27th draw-down tests were made at Stations No. 2 and No. 3 to determine if indications pointed to the desirability of cleaning the screens and gravel-packing to increase the yield of the wells. Station No. 2 - Static water level was 10.0 feet below the top of the 24' we casing. After pumping 4-1/2 nours at 300 GPM, the water level in the gravel-packed well was 18.0 feet below the top of the well, or a draw-down of 8.0 feet. During the same period the draw-down in the 2" obser- vation well 8 feet from the gravel-packed well was 0.7 feet. Station No. 3 - Static water level was 9.4 feet below the top of the 24 well casing. This well had been out of service since August 29th.After Pumping 1-1/4 hours at 120 GPM, the water level in the gravel-packed well was 20.1 feet below the top of the well, or a draw-down of 10.7 feet. During the same period the drawdown in the 2" observation well, 6.9 feet from the gravel-packed well, was 2.8 feet.