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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-05-05 Board of Public Works Minutes May 5, 1958 Regular meeting of the Board opened at 7:30 P. M. Present were Chairman Donahue, Messrs, Harrison, Florence, Zanni and Superintendent Putnam. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved. Received letter from Veterans of Foreign Wars, Reading Post 685, signed by William A. Kinsley, Chairman of Carnival Committee, requesting permission to hold a Carnival Week at the John Street Dump, older filled section, from September 15-20, 1958, both dates inclusive. Moved, secon- ded and voted to grant permission as requested, subject to posting o£ pro- per Liability Policy for the protection of the Town of Reading, such pol- icy to be approved by Town Counsel Carl H. Amon Jr. On recommendation of the Superintendent, it was moved, seconded and voted to prepare a site for this and future Carnivals at the old John Street Dump site, immediately adjacent to John Street; and to property barricade and/or fence this area to prevent future promiscuous dumping of debris, Mr. Florence reported on a complaint from an abutting property owner on Sweetser Avenue regarding trespass of batted baseballs and driven golf balls on abutting property from Washington Street Ball Park-Superintendent instructed to prepare estimate of proper fencing at this location and re- port back to Board on May 12, 1958 regarding same. Received letter signed by Clifford A. Johnson, of Johnson Bros, Sewer Contractors, requesting payment for total width of surface repairs necessary on streets in which his firm installed sewer during the 1957 Sewer Contract, and citing several reasons for said additional trench width payments. Moved, seconded and voted to deny this request, and to hold to the terms of the contract. Examined Registry of Deeds Plan for approval abutting Robin Crest (Private) Road, owned by Wang Realty Trust, H. Kingman Abbott, Surveyor. Plan approved, subject to final approval of the Town Counsel and Building Inspector. Public Hearings held concurrently at 8:UO P. M , in Room 19 'regard- ing Sewer Extensions on Lowell Street, from Intervale Terrace to Willow y Street, and on .Willow Street, from Lowell Street to the Boston & Maine Rail Road tracks. The following abutting property owners were present, who, when polled as to their. wishes on sewer main extensions and sewer house connections, expressed their opinions as noted : NAME AND ADDRESS (Lowell Street) YES NO NON-COMM. YES NO T omas ar , 284 Lowell Street z z Mrs. Gladys V. Clark, 284 Lowell Street x x (Willow Street) Mrs. Helen Cashman, 59 Willow Street, x x Howard M. Crowe, 53 Willow Street x x Frederick S. McKinnon, 6U Willow Street x x Mrs. Lester Horton, 6 Willow Street x Mir. Robert Miles, 12 Willow Street x x Mrs. Robert Miles, 12 Willow Street x x Ruth Taylor, 8 Willow Street x x Agnes Gillis, 3 Willow Street x x Frank D. Gillis, 3 Willow Street x x Robert B. Taylor, 8 Willow Street x x. John Palumbo, x x L. A. Baccani, 34 Willow Street x x E. Anderson, 31 Willow Street x x Walter L. Bennett, 3U Willow Street x x J. H. Jagling, 41 Willow Street x x Harry E. Smith, 42 Willow Street x x Dorothy McCabe, 26 Willow Street x ,x Robert G. McCabe, 26 Willow Street, x x Thomas F. Hayes, 2U Willow Street x x Meryl A. Roony, 15 Willow Street x x John Light, 37 Willow Street x x Robert C. Roony, 15 Willow Street, x x Lois J. MCRell, 14 Willow Street, x Bernard S. Dickman, 22 Willow St., x x Public Hearings held concurrently at 9 :UO P. M. in Room 19, regard- ing Sewer Extensions at the following locations: Interceptor Sewer-High School Interceptor to Whittier Road Whittier Road - Entire Length Wadsworth Road - Entire Length Tennyson Road - Entire Length The following abutting property owners were present, who, when polled as to their wishes on sewer main extensions and sewer house connections, expressed their opinions as noted: (Whittier Road) Hubert C. Mathews, 39 Whittier Road x x Edward F. Hurley, Jr., 47 Whittier Road x x i 3 Mr. Frederick E. Livingston, 1 Whittier x x Mrs. Evelo N. Livingston, 1 Whittier x x Carleton Patriquin x x Richard H. Austin, 10 Whittier Rd, x x ' Dorothy W. Austin, 10 Whittier Rd. x x John J. Wegeebach, 11 Whittier Rd, x x Frederick E. Perry, 48 Whittier Rd, x x Robert M. Perham, 7 Whittier Road x x Thomas E. Magee, 55 Whittier Road x x William A. Brunswick, 51 Whittier Rd. x x Thomas McDonough, 34 Whittier Road x x John W. Kyle x Ralph J. Robinson, 17 Whittier Road x x E. R. McGrath, 63 Whittier Road x x Chester E. Oldmixon, 71 Whittier Road x x Anthony Catazanb, 67 Whittier Road x x Robert E. Bellman 74 Whittier Road x x Charles J. Roy, 76 Whittier Road x x, W. Mahler, 59 Whittier Road ' - x Carl T. Carey, 70 Whittier Road x x James A. Gorey, 52 Whittier Road x x Edward J. Murray, 14 Whittier Road x x Edward J. McGann, 75 Whittier Road x x Mildred J. Stowell, 3 Whittier Road x x George 0. Peehler, 66 Whittler Road x x Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell x x Tenn son Road) antes agel, 27 Tennyson x x A. M. Peckham, 1 Tennyson Road x x Eva Marie Yeo, 31 Tennyson Road x Edith C. Holmes, 44 Tennyson Road x x Mrs. E. Symonds, y. Tennyson Road x x Mr. G. Symonds, 4 Tennyson Road x x Mrs. Walter J. Duffy, 16 Tennyson Rd. x x E. J. DeBoise 9 Tennyson Road x x J. D.' Cook, 46 Tennyson Road x x John R. Keith, 36 Tennyson Road x x Philip A. Raker, 52 Tennyson Road x x George H. Sanford, 56 Tennyson Road x x Peter F. Simone, 19 Tennyson Road x x Eugene E. Martin, 55 Tennyson Road x Huber Higginbotham, 35 Tennyson Road x x Mrs. Harry J. Keefe, 47 Tennyson Rd, x x Frederick P. Chick, 43 Tennyson Road x x J. A. Hussen, 5 Tennyson Road x T. C. White 32 Te x Tennyson Road x x Warren Beaman, 13 Tennyson Road x x Mitchell x x Arthur T. Browes, Anne M.-23 Tennyson Rd, x nc Wadsworth Road) oro y Hutchinson, Lawrence W. Hutchinson, x u Following the Public Hearings, the Board returDai •to Executive - Session in Room 14, and individual motions being made thereon, each motion being seconded, it was moved, seconded •and voted to construct the follow- ing sewers in 1958: Lowell Street-Intervale Terrace to Willow Street Willow Street-Lowell Street to B & M R. R. tracks ' Interceptor Sewer-High School Interceptor to Whibtier Road Whittier Road-Entire length Wadsworth Road-Entire length Tennyson Road-Entire length (accepted) Board adjourned at 10:00 P. M. to sit as Board of Survey. Reconvened at 10:20 P. M. as Board of Public Works. Report received from Superintendent, as information to the Board re- garding recent $215,000.00 Water Bond Issue. Report noted by Board Reviewed Report to the Board, Suggested Revised Water Rates and Charges as recommended by the Superintendent, which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: NO. 14 April 21, 1958 REPORT TO THE BOARD SUGGESTED REVISED WATER RATES AND BHARGES In view of the improvements to the water collection and distribution, system proposed during the next ten year period, I have given much thought and study to possible sources of increased revenue of the water Division. Starting in 1959s the full impact of the 1958 Water Bond Issue of $215,000.00 will be experienced, with an estimated additional payment 'of Principal and Interest totaling approximately $21,000.00 duetn 1959. For the information of the Board, the following Sources of Revenue as they effect Water Division Financing are herein discussed: MAIN PIPE CONSTRUCTION By vote of the Board on March 1, 1958 the petitioner for a main pipe exten- sion is required to purchase all pipe, fittings, valves, and hydrants to Town specifications. The petitioner is also required to deposit a sum of money sufficient to cover the cost of trench excavation, laying pipe and fittings, tapping mains, setting hydrants, by Water Division personnel and equipment. Expenditures balance receipts in this Account. SERVICE PIPE CONSTRUCTION Petitioner s charged or all time, material and equipment used on service pipe construction, plus a $75.00 Entrance Fee for each water service, which pays cost of new water meter and nominal future maintenance of service. Receipts and Expenditures balance in this Account. SERVICE PIPE RENEWALS Petitioner is ch arge for renewing existing water service pipes as follows; 50¢ per lineal foot on private property only, palus a $10.00 Entrance Fee, for replacing a 3/4" existing service with a 1 cement lined service; 75� per lineal foot on private property only, plus a $IU.UO Entrance Fee, for replacing a 3/4" or 1" existing service with a 1*" cement lined service. STATISTICES REGARDING SERVICE PIPE RENEWAL-195 Services renewed in Gross Cost of Renewal to Water Division-$17,841.47 Changed to Petitioners for Renewals-$2,697.79 Loss of Revenue to Water Division-615,143.68 Average Gross Cost per Service Renewed218.00 Average Charge per Service to Petitioners-$33.00 Average Revenue Loss per Service-$185.00 Estimated Number Services to be renewed-1500 Actual Number Renewal Applications on file-22 Hale inquired of other Water Departments as to method used in charging for service pipe renewals. Each Town varies, although the majority charge full tlite and material for renewals. Service renewals are normally more expensive than original service pipe con- struction, as established Yawns must be loamed 'and seeded, shrubs and flower gardens replaced, bituminous concrete driveways re-patched. Many of the ser- vices replaced were originally installed over 40 years ago. It is estimated that at least $15,000.00 revenue is lost annually by the present system of service renewal charges. I recommend that, effective May 1, 1958, the $10.00 entrance fee be eliminated, and that all service pipe renewals be charged on the basis of time, material and equipment used, plus 10,A for overhead costs, thus balancing this Account. SERVICE PIPE MAINTENANCE All ery ce ripe Mainteilance. costs on Private Property-repairing leaks, re- placing defective pipes through cellar walls, installing new cellar shut-offs- are charged the Petitioner on the time, material and equipment basis. No charges are made for repairs made in the street. No Charges are made for rodding clogged water services. No charges are made for repairing and/or replacing defective water meters, unless the meter is damaged through fault of the owner, such as by hot water, freezing etc. This is basically a Service Account, and the preseht method of charges seems fair and just. Some additional revenue could be realized by charging for leaks repaired in services in the street. 'However, believe this shiuld not be done, as many such leaks are caused by heavy traffic in streets causing service failure. METERED WATER RATES The present Metered Water Rates became effective on January 1, 1949 and have not since been revised. : The previous rate "change to 1949 became effec- tive in 1936. Despite constantly increasing costs of labor, material and electric power, no change in the Water Rate Structure has been made since January 1, 1949- Improvements to a municipal water system are of value to all consumers, who should bear a part of the cost thereof, hence, an increase in metered water rates i-s justified. A recent survey by Water Works Engineering (April, 1958) a water works trade journal, cites the fact that metered water rates and other charges should be reviewed and, if necessary revised, every five years, to keep pace with the rapidly changing economy. 4 In an effort to present a realistic revised Water Rate Structure, geared to known and estimated future capital expenditure needs of the Water Division, I have prepared A Proposed .Water Rate Schedule, and for the purpose of com- parison, show the rates as they were in 1936, in 1949, and Proposed 1958, If rate changes are made, they should go in effect as of July 1, 1958, for tyro reasons: - 1. As bills are issued semi-annually, January-July; April-October; a rate change effective July 1, 1958 would give each series of consumers one bill- ing at the present rate and one billing at the new rate in 1958, 2. It would increase the water revenue in 1958 to meet added 1958 Bond Issue payments in 1959. COMPARISON OF 1936, 1949 AND PROPOSED 1958 WATER RATES ACTUAL ACTUAL PRORPBSED ITEM19• 1949 P 1958 Minimm=emi-Annual Rate (1000 cu.ft.allowed) First 3,000 Cubic Feet, per 100 cu, ft. .333 .40 .5o Next 3,000 " .30 .35 Next 4,000 " n n n u n ,25 .30 .40 Next 10, 000 " ft it .20 ,25 .35 Next 10,000 " " " " it .15 .20 .30 All in excess of 30,000 cu* ft. per 100 cu, ft. .12 .15 .25 As a further comparison, for the information of the Board, a study has been made of typical water bills and a rough estimate made of the percentage of bills of different amounts issued, to show more clearly the effect of the proposed 1958 rates on consumers water bills: PRESENT CUBIC FEET • ESTIMATED % PROPOSED PERCENTWATER , WATER WED TOT 195INT47M-� T0 .00S8.00 2000 15% 10,00 25% 12.00 3000 25% 15.00 25% 19.00 5000 35% 30.50 27% Z4.00 6500 40:00 12200 50 52.20 28% 50.00 16200• 5% 66.20 j2 There are certain consumers-Goodall-Sanford, the Nike base, greenhouses, large stores who would be appreciably affected by the increase in water rates. As an example, Goodall-Sanford, the largest single constant user, is used, GOO DALL-ANFORD WATER BILL-JANUARY 1 19$8 BT OF BILL PERCENT BILLED PRESENT RATES PROPOSED RATES INCREASE 1,950,400 $2,960.10 04,910,50 66% With the apparent rapid increase of indubtrial users of water in the distri- bution system, and the constant addition of air-conditioning units by water users, I believe that these proposed rates are justified, to force industry to pay a proportionate share of water Improvements. The Town of Wakefield in 1957 floated a Bond Issue of $685,000.00 for water improvements, and adjusted their water rates as shown below: TOWN OF WAKEFIELD WATER RATES OLD RATES S nate 6 $$,40 Minimum Rate 1500 cu, ft, each Zos, 1500 cu, ft, each 6 mos, up to Next 15000 cu. £t. ,36 135oo cu, ft, ,60 10000 " .32 10000 ..�.54 75000 " " .24 75000 " " .48 Thereafter ,16 thereafter .36 Other Town of Reading water rate charges are: Sprinkler Charges are $4.00 each six months. No charge is made for 'water used for sprinkler tests. Suggest this charge be increased to $10.00 each six months, HYDRANT RENTALS Hydrant en Fee are raised from the Tax Levy at the Rate of $15.00 per hydrant. For 1958, revenue received will be 464 hydrants x $15.00 - $6960,00. In 1894, there ware 111 fire hydrants in the Water Distribution System, for which the water Department received $3330.00, or $30.00 per hydrin t, This $30.00 per hydrant rate was reduced by the Finance Committee in the 1930' s to the pre- sent $15.00 per hydrant. A major portion of water supply, storage and distribution improvements are directly . chargeable to fire-flow requirements, and, as' the entire Town bene- fits from said improvements, Hydrant Rentals paid from the Tax Levy should be raised to more realistic levels. I recommend that the Finance Committee be requested to riase the Hydrant Rental rate to $40,00 per hydrant, DRINKING FOUNTAINS ' The Water Divis on maintains six (6) Public Drinking Fountains, one on Read- ing Common, the other five in parks and playgrounds. The sum of $100.00 is received annually from the Tax Levy, I recommend that the sum of $$00.00 annually be requested from the Finance Committee. RECAPITULATION recap at on of sources of Water Division revenue and my recoimnendations as to their present adequacy follows: SOURCE OF REVENUE RECOMMENDATION ON ADEQIIACY main pe ons ruction Present charges a aqua e Service Pipe Construction Present charges adequate Service Pipe Renewals Charges inadequate-should be fully charged for Service Pipe Maintenance Could revise in street section of service Metered Water Rates Should be raised-see text of report Hydrant Rentals Inadequage-should be raised Drinking Fountains Inadequate-should be raised. It is estimated that Water Revenue in°1959 would be increased by the amounts shown in the following tabulation, IS the recommendations contained herein were accepted ; ITEM ESTIMATED INCREASED REVENUE bervice Pipe Renews a Metered Water Rates 34,000,00 Hydrant Rentals 12,000.00 Drinking Fountains00.00 ESTIMATED TOTAL $61,400,00 In 1959, the following Bond and Interest payments will be due and payable; Principle and Interest-Outstanding Bond Issues - - - - - - $18,750,00 1958 Bond Issue-Principle and Interest (Estimated) ,- - - - -z1,OQO.00+r *Estimated at 2.90 p interest rate ESTIMATED TOTAL - - - $39,750.00 In Town of Reading municipal financing, the Water Division is self-support ing. Any surplus of receipts over expenditures goes into the Water Avail- able Surplus Adcount, for future use (by vote ofthe Town Meeting) of the Water Division; Bond Issue payments, both Principal and Interest, are paid from water revenue. There is now a balance in Water Available Surplus of $541.06. Respectfully submitted ( signed) James T. Putnain James T. Pu nam, Superintendeni Report noted and bblefly discussed, and it was moved, seconded and voted to place said Report as No. 1 on the agenda for the Board Meeting of May 12, 1958, for a more complbte review. Received Progress Report on Water Supply Dilprovement Program from the Superintendent. Report noted. Moved, seconded and voted to include in contract for construction of the water mains in the water improvement program a clause to the effect that the contracts shall furnish and lay all materials, including pipe, fittings, hydrants, gates and miscellaneous. Superintendent 'instructed to investigate the use of n*p2E_QN" pipe Jointing gaskets in water main installations. Received letter from E. J. Noel & Sons, Inc., signed by William C. Noel, requesting a hearing before the Board to discuss re-employment of Earle B. Noel, a former employee of the Water Division. Moved, seconded and voted to deny request for a hearing. Signed petition for relocation of jointly owned New England Tele- phone & Telegraph Co.-Reading Municipal Light Dept. Pole No. 70/33 on Pearl Street, Easterly side, Northerly of Putnam (Private) Road. Board adjourned at 12;25 A. M. Respectfully submitted; pgcretary