Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-06-09 Board of Public Works Minutes June 9, 1958 Regular meeting of the Board opened at 7:30 P. M. ' Present were Chairman Donehue, Messrs. Harrison, Florence, Lanni, _Kilgore and Superintendent Putnam. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved. Letter received from Board of Selectmen expressing their apprecia- tion of the Reviewing Stand constructed by Department employees and used by the Board of Selectmen to review the Memorial Day Parade. Letter of appreciation noted . Reviewed .data from prior Board minutes regarding drainage in Joseph Way a road under development by Hillcrest Realty, Inc. Moved, seconded and voted to add approximately 300 lineal feet of 15" R. C. drain pipe and one man-hole to Joseph Way Drainage, at developers' expense, and to pipe at expense of the Town. some 26U feet of open drain ditch in a drain ease- ment between Joseph Way and Franklin Street storm drain. On recommendation of Superintendent, Moved, seconded and voted to award Jacob Way Type H-i Paving and Bituminous Concrete Berm Contract in place to Barrett Division, Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation, for the bid price of: Approximately 560 Tons Type H-1 Surfacing- 07,25 Ie r ton Approximately 2160 Lineal Feet Bit.Conc.Curb. .60 lineal foot On recommendation of Superintendent, moved, seconded and voted to award Jacob Way Type I-1 Sidewalk Paving contract, in place, to George Brox, Inc. for the bid price of: 114 Tons Bituminous Concrete Type I-1410.00 per ton. Met with Finance Committee, in Room 19, to discuss Articles in- serted by Board of Public Works in Warrant for the Special Town Meeting to be held June 23, 1958, namely: 1. Authority to Board of Selectmen to execute an Agreement of Indemnity regarding land damages as required by the Waterways Division, Massa- , chusetts Department of Public Works. 2. Appropriation of $20,000.00 as Towns' share of the estimated $4U,000. UO cost of Channel Improvements and Culvert Construction on the Aber- jona River, from Lowell Street to West-Willow Summer Avenue. At the request of the Finance Committee, the Board of Public Works agreed that, if possible, an understanding would be reached with the Water- ways Division, State Department of Public Works, that .if funds appropria- ted prove inadequate, the project will not be carried on. Also, that the Waterways Division be requested to divide the contract and bid Channel Improvements and Oulvert Construction separately; and to write Boston & Maine Rail Road authorities to ascertain if Federal funds can be secured by the rail road to assist in culvert construction. Received the following report from the Superintendent regarding ne- gotiations with Mr. Roderick Hogan, 2U Summer Avenue, regarding drain ease- ments for headwall construction and channel improvements on the Aberjona River, which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: NEGOTIATIONS - RODERICK HOGAN No. 7 Have again Conferred with Mr. Roderick Hogan, 20 Summer Avenue, relative to amount of land damages for culvert headwall and Aberjona River easements. After much discussion, Mr. Hogan agreed to sign an agreement giving all necessary releases for; 1. Headwall construction on the 72" Willow-West Street culvert, where it abuts his land on Willow Street. This Easement is necessary prior to 1958 Chapter 90 Construction at this location by the State. 2. Aberjona River relocation, channel improvements where it passes through his property. , Attention of the Board is directed to the 1958 survey of present and proposed Aberjona River locations. It will be observed that Lot 1 Is quite seriously effected by both the headwall and brook easements, and that Mr. Hogans back land will be divided laterally by a wide and deep brook channel. 3. Favorable consideration by the Board to his petition for sewer insta- lation in 1958 on Summer Avenue. Mr. Hogan alledges that two houses that would be serviced by this sewer are experiencing failed cesspool difficulties, and that prompt relief is needed. This sgwer would also service two other lots owned by Mr. Hogan on Summer Avenue, and abutting properties on the Southerly side of Simmer Avenue, Mr. Hogan states that while he was assessed 02295.18 for Willow Street Sewer, which he is paying, he still has no actual service from it. 4. Land Damage payments in the amount of $1500.00, for which he will sign all necessary releases for both easements. SUPERINTENDENT Moved, seconded and voted to tentatively approve Mr. Hogans' final proposition as contained in the pre ceding report of the Superintendent, subject to firming. of an agreement for land damages with Cyrus Brown, an abutting property owner in the same Aberjona River area. Received report from Superintendent regarding progress of various contract jobs, which was noted by the Board. (.Received the following report from the Superintendent regarding . Revay Brook Well No. 1, which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: No. 12 REVAY BROOK - WELL NO. 1. Revay Brook Gravel Well No. 1 has now been completed by D.L. Maher. The Well is 50f 3" in depth, has a 15 foot screen at the bottom of the well and a 15 foot concrete seal casing at the top. It was pumped at the rate of NO G.P.M. for 48 hours with a total drawdown of 10 feet. Readings were also obtained during the pumping test from observation wells driven at strategic points in Revay Brook area to record draw-down and recovery, which was satisfactory in all instances, from preliminary re- ports. It is evident that, with the cessation of rains and the advent of anticipated hot, dry weather, the water distribution situation will again become critical. Weston & Sampson have Booster Pumping Station plans and specifications for Lothrop Road nearly ready for bidding, and are working on other phases of the over-all water improvement schedule. L' However, I believe that more water will be needed before the West- erly Loop Main is completed . With the completion of Revay Brook Well No. 1, I recommend that an immediate connection be made from -the well to Low- ell Street 6" Main. Although the Pumping Station will not be ready, an emergency pumping unit could be used temporarily, if necessary. The survey of the Relay Brook area was completed on Friday, June 6, by H. Kingman Abbott, and land takings from Sanborn and Roxbee could be made at once. The well is on the Sanborn property, and the access road to Lowell Street will be through the Roxbee property and Beverly (Private) Road. Have discussed this matter with Mr. George Bogren, of Weston and Sampson, who concurs with the recommendation contained herein. SUPERINTENDENTS Examined and approved for signature of Superintendent, the follow- ing::Registry of Deeds Plans; OWNER LOCATION SURVEYOR Lir G. Howard, Trustavlf en—Street ==—MUott Horace D. Zimmer Timberneck Dr. Dana Perkins Simon D. & Mary Hubbard Bolton Street H. K. Abbott Received report from Superintendent regarding equipment purchases, which was approved by the Boatd. Received letter from Weston & $a-pson regarding power requirements at the proposed Revay Brook Pumping Station, which was noted by the Board. Moved, seconded and voted to request Weston & Sampson, Consulting Engineers, to prepare a time schedule for the information of the Board . listing approximate dates of bidding the several phases of the water supply improvement projects. Received report from Superintendent regarding payment to Johnson Bros., Inc. , of work done recently under the 1957 Sewer Contract, amount- ing to 61939.32. Moved, Seconded and voted to approve payment of this ' - amount. On recommendation of Superintendent it was moved, seconded and voted to permit Superintendent to engage D. L. Maher of Woburn, Mass. to clean the gravel-wall well on Suction Line B in the usual manner. Reviewed and discussed 1958 Sewer Construction Contract. Received the following report from the Superintendent; which hereby becomes a part of these minutes: No. 18 1958 SEWER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT The 1958 Sewer Construction Contract is herewith presented for review by the Board. If the Board approves, the Proposal for�Bids will be advertized June 10-11-12, and the Bids opened Friday, June 2U, 1958 at 8 :00 P. M. A decision is required by the Board on one particular problem in the 1958 sewer construction program, which must be decided eh at once. I refer to Willow Street, from the B & M R. R. to the proposed summit man- hole near No. 54 Willow Street. Reference is made to several plans and Profiles for a more detailed description. The importance of this sewer outfall is emphasized by the fact that the Report of the Sewer Study Com- mittee dated March, 1957, Appendix I, shows this sewer as serving Area D2, Northerly of Willow and Grove Streets. This shows an Interceptor Sewer running parallel to and Easterly of the B & M R. R. track, along Bradford ' (Proposed) Road, then through an easement, crossing Willow Street, again through an easement, with a final outfall in the High School sewer, still on the Easterly side of the rail-road tracks. While the Norttferl'y section of Area D2 will not be serviced for some years, it is imperative that pro- visions be made in 1958 to keep the Willow Street Sewer at a proper eleva- tion for future use. The design in the Sewer Study Committee Report, if followed, would require a cut of up to 27 feet for a distance of approximately 350 feet. Due to its proximity to the rail-road , a 10" steel high-pressure natural gas main, and a proposed 10" cast iron water main, this design does not appear to be feasible. The design of F. A. Barbour in 1916 shows this same area serviced by an interceptor sewer crossing under the rail-road at apoint opposite Dustin Road, thence running Southerly through an easement to the Willow Street Sewer Pumping Station, with cuts of less than 8 feet except at the rail-road crossing. F. A. Barbour also intended a second rail-road crossing at the Willow Street grade crossing, to service the section of Willow Street included in the 1958 Sewer Contract. While rail-road cros- sings are expensive, it is anticipated, from remarks made at the Public Sewer Hearings, that the owner of land situated Southerly of Willow Street will demand land damages for the proposed sewer easement. Also, a rail- road crossing will be necessary in the future, at the Willow Street grade crossing, for a 12" water main. There is no reason why both the sewer and water could not be laid in the same trench, at different elevations, with the sewer below the water for safety, and cast iron pipe being used for the sewer main. ' Therefore, I recommend that: 1. Area D2 be re-designed to follow, in general, the 1916 F. A. Barbour design. 2. That Willow Street Sewer, from No. 54 Willow Street Westerly be rede- signed to cross the railroad at Willow Street grade crossing and out- fall in the Willow Street High School Sewer Manhole with a drop man- hole, and that 8" cast iron pipe be installed under the railroad right- of way. SUPERINTENDENT Approved recommendations contained in report of Superintendent re- garding re-design of Willow Street Sewer at the B & M R. R. track. Moved, seconded and voted to include, as an Addeqda in the 1958 Sewer Contract, the following: Sewer Contractor to install 12" Water Main in sewer trench in Willow Street from Lowell Street to the proposed sewer manhole Easterly of the B & M R. R. Track, subject to approval of State Board of Health, Town to make connections to 12" main at Lowell Street and necessary service con- nections. It was also moved, seconded and voted to include in the Westerly Loop Main Contract an item whereby the water main contractor will be re- quired to lay the Willow Street Sewer under the Willow Street Railroad Grade Crossing, at the same time the 12" water main is laid, from the sewer manhole Easterly of the crossing to the existing sewer manhole at the Willow Street Sewer Pumping Station. Approved written' request from Mrs. Robert M. Collins, of the C.F.M. Group of St. Agnes Parish, to use the recreational area at Birch Meadow Playground on Sunday, June 22, 1958 from 1:U0 P. M. to 6:00 P. M. ' I 7 I Moved, by Mr. Kilgore, seconded by Mr. Florence that the Board de- clare position open and advertize for a Superintendent of Public Works. The following Statement was then read by Mr. Kilgore: ' STAThMENT Mr. James T. Putnam has served the Town of Reading in various capacities, including that of Superintendent of Public Works, loyally and faithfully for a long period of time. The Board of Public Works wishes to express publicly its appreciation for Mr. Putnam' s diligence and for the long hours that he has spent in the service of the Town of Reading. All citizens of Reading must recognize that Lhe growth of our town over the recent years has occurred at a greatly accellerated pace. There is every indication that this trend will continue in the years to come. The growth of the town has resulted in a commensurate expansion of the Dept, of Public Works, bringing with it increasing complexities both in the fields of engineering and administration of the department. Under the circumstances, the Board believes that the demands upon the position of the Superintendent of Public Works have increased in scope, complexity, and need for technical Knowledge to a point where it becomes mandatory for the Board to seek for the position of Superintendent a per- son of an educational, technical, and administrative background in keep- ing with the vastly expanded operation of the Department of Public Works. 1 54e Board of Public Works would like to publicly express its appreciation to Mr. Putnam for his expressed willingness to serve as Acting Superintend- ent until a qualified successor can be appointed. The Board would further like to assure Mr. Putnam and his family and friends, that the door to a responsible position within the Department will be open to him in the fut- ure. Dominick 'Lanni, Jr. Donald E. Florence Lloyd W. Harrison Voted ; !} in favor; 1 opposed. Harold D. Kilgore, Jr. Moved by Mr. Kilgore, seconded by Mr. Florence, that Mr. Putnam be offered position of Acting Superintendent until a new Superintendent is appointed. Voted : 4 in favor, 1 opposed, Board adjourned at 12:3$ A. M. M V% a W� Respectfully submitted : �/ecretary