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Home My WebLink About1958-05-12 Board of Public Works Minutes May 12, 1958 Regular meeting of the Board opened at 7 :3U P. M. Present were Chairman Donahue, Messrs. Harrison, Florence, Zanni, 1 Kilgore and Superintendent Putnam. Minutes of previous meeting read- and approved. Received report from Superintendent regarding cost of Jackson Vib- ratory Compactor. Superintendent instructed to further investigate terms of possible rental-purchase agreemtne with Hedge & Mathies Co. , the local distributor of this item, and to report back to Board. Received petition signed by seven citizens representing six proper- ties on Virginia Road, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Indiana Avenue, re- questing that the Board reconsider its decision relative to sewer extension in Virginia Road, and further guaranteeing that the six properties repre- sented on said petition will be connected forthwith with the common sewer. All circumstances concerning this matter were reviewed by the Board, and it was then moved, seconded and voted to install a sanitary sewer in Vir- ginia Road in the 1958 sewer construction program. Received revised specifications from the Superintendent of equipment purchases for 1958. Specifications noted. Received letter from Board of Selectmen requesting that a reviewing stand be constructed, to be erected in front of the Municipal Building for the use at the Memorial Day Parade in 1958. Superintendent instructed to design a reviewing stand capable of supporting eight persons, and to report back to Board. Received letter from Board of Selectmen requesting Board 'to consider Inclusion of a meter room in the Municipal Garage Addition, so that the pre- sent meter room in the basement of the Municipal Building could be used for other purposes. Superintendent instructed to investigate cost of inclusion of meter room in garage addition, and to report back to Board. i Reviewed Suggested Revised Water Rates and Charges as proposed by Superintendent at some length. Following a discussion of several phases of the proposed rate and charge increases, it was moved, seconded and voted to lay on table for action by the Board at a later Board meeting. Moved, seconded and voted to use Type K Copper Tubing on all new water servicesup to 12' inch Iron Pipe Size, after present stock of cement lined wrought iron service pipe is exhausted. Received letter from John J. Callahan, Jr. , 12 Avon Street, Reading, regarding the matter of financial and legal responsibility for any property or bodily damage resulting from the use of Fluorine in tare public water system, also. inquiring if any liability insurance is in effect to cover any suit„which may arise in the future. Subject matter of Mr. Callahan, Jra, letter referred to Town Counsel. Received notification from the Finance Committee that the sum of FIVE HUNDRED (0500.00) DOLLARS had been transferred from the Reserve Fund to the Snow and Ice Salaries Account. Received report from the Superintendent regarding the apparent ter- mination of negotiation between Brodie Industrial Bodies Inc, and Wang Realty Trust for a building site in the Industrial Zoned area Southerly of Route 128 on the former Larson farm property. Report noted, and Superin- tendent instructed to advise Board of Selectmen of this latest development. Received letter from Weston & Sampson, Consulting Engineers, concer- ning use of "TYTON" joints for bell-and-spigot cast iron water mains, which letter hereby becomes a part of these minutes. May 9, 1958 Board of Public Works , Mr. James T. Putnam, Supt. Municipal Building, Reading, Masa. Gentelemen: This is in response to your request for our opinion of Tyton joints for bell-and-spigot. cast iron water mains. We are just about to use it for the first time in Braintree, and be- lieve it has some advantages over poured joints, among which are avoidance of bacterially contaminated jute, and the ease of laying ine s. The principal pipe manufacturers furnish pipe with bells forWthisrtype joint, so competitive bids are possible, as with plain bell and spigot pipee,. oint, We suggest that proposals for furnishing and laying pipe contain alternate prices for Tyton and Leadite type joints. Yours very truly, WESTON & SAMPSON GGB/rw (Signed) By George G. Bogran Moved, seconded and voted to instruct Weston & Sampson to write pro- posals for furnishing and laying water mains so that alternate bids may be secured for Tyton and Leadite joints. Received the following report from the Superintendent concerning Johnson Bros.-Sewer Contractors, which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: NO. 12 (Report) May 12, 1958 JOHNSON BROS.A SEWER CONTRACTORS On Tuesday, May 7, 1958 I personally delivered in hand to Ernest Johnson, partner, Johnson Bros. , the original of the attached letter, as all sewer trenches in the 1957 contract with the exeeption of High and Lowell Streets had been excavated and gravel filled, and no arrangements had been made by Johnson Bros, for final trench patching. On Wednesday, May 89 Clifford Johnson visited this Office, and made ' several suggestions as to final trench patching: L. To have the Town take over all final patching. 2. To permit over-lapping patching with no trench cutting. 3. To place a one (1) inch layer of Type I over entire street surface with no trench cutting. Mr. Johnson promised a letter to the Board stating the- above, which had not been received at the time of writing this report. Johnson Bros, have had three prices from sub-contracbbrs on trench patching, none of which have been acceptable to them. Understand, from two of the sub-contractors, that Johnson Bros., do not wish to ay more than $8.00 per ton, in place. Their bid price to the Town was 10.00 per ton. Meanwhile the rains have pot-holed the graveled trenches, the gravel has been displaced by traffic, and a dust condition is developing. Immedi- ate action is recommended to cause completion of Johnson Bros, contract. Superintendent I� (Letter) May 6, 1958 Johnson Bros., d/b/a C1lfford and Ernest Johnson 542 Southbridge Street, Auburn, Mass. Gentlemen: You are hereby ordered to abstain from excavating sewer trenches in High Street and Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts, until such time as a conference is held between the Superintendent of Public Works of the Town of Reading and Clifford Johnson, of Johnson Bros. (Signed) James T. Putnam Superintendent, Board of Public Works Reading, Mass. Moved, seconded and voted to instruct the Superintendent to write, Johnson Bros. , registered mail return receipt requested, to the effect that the terms of the sewer contract awarded to and accepted by Johnson Bros. on July 10, 1957 would be followed regarding the matter of final patching of sewer trenches, and tnat said trenches• must be final patched by Jane 21, 1958. Received letter from Recreation Committee requesting use of Wanhing-� ton Street Ball Park, Memorial Park and Birch Meadow Playground, including all facilities, for the usual Summer Supervised Plan Program, from June 24, 1958 for a continuing period of nine (9) weeks. Moved, seconded and voted to grant request. Received report from the Superintendent regarding mechanical condi- tion of the four (4) remaining Sterling Trucks, and a report of major engine overhaul necessary on Sterling Truck No. 7. Moved, seconded and voted to authorize Superintendent to have Ster- ling Truck No. 7 overhauled by The White Motor Company for the estimated cost of $975.60, and to revise Equipment Replacement program in such a manner as to retain Sterling Truck No. 7 until 1960 or 1961. Board adjourned at 11:15 P . M. ' Respectfully submitted: ys 'retoarjy I= l