HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-05-03 Board of Public Works Minutes ' May 3, 1965
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:45
P.M. in Room 2, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Cochrane, Board Member Kenney
and Superintendent Welch.
Public hearing was held regarding the construction
under the Betterment Act of a Bituminous Concrete sidewalk on
the Westerly side of West Street from Wescroft Road to No.490
West Street; also sloped curb. The abuttors will be assessed
25% of the cost and the Town 75%.
Nineteen persons attended the Hearing. Those in at-
tendance were informed that the Hearing was not called because
' of a petition. The Board has a sidewalk program throughout the
Town. In reviewing the program this past winter, it was de-
cided that West Street was one of the most important areas. Mr.
David Walsh of 352 West Street stated that he had paid for a
sidewalk when he purchased his home some years ago from Realty
Engineering. The money was available but Town permission was
lacking for installation of a sidewalk in that area. Abuttors
questioned the removal of trees and shrubs.
The Superintendent was also questioned about the re-
moval of snow from the area. Mr. Welch stated that 1£ the Town
proceeds with the program of putting in sidewalks on major
streets, then the Department will be faced with the task of
' adding equipment.
The abuttors were polled as follows: - In favor - 9;
Opposed - 6; Non-cormdttal - 3. The matter was taken under ad- ,
visement.
The Board moved to Room 16 where Secretary Watt and
Board Members Florence and Leonard joined the meeting.
Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved.
Read letter from the Reading Art Association request-
ing permission for the use of the Reading Common to hold the
Annual Spring Art Festival on June 5; alternate date in case of
rain June 12.
Mr. Watt moved that the request be granted provided
suitable insurance is carried; Mr. Kenney seconded and it was
voted.
The Board adjourned temporarily at 9:20 P.M. to meet J
as the Board of Survey.
The Board reconvened at 9:50 P.M.
Public hearing was held for the purpose of taking
easements for drainage and sewerage purposes - Colonial Estates.
(See Plans #500-5-131 through 133). Sydney M. Hodson attended
the meeting. Mr. Hodson informed the Board that he was unable
to obtain the necessary signatures and the Releases were not
available for presentation to the Board.
Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was
voted to approve taking of the easements contingent upon the
obtaining of signatures on the Releases and to proceed with the
preparatory work pertaining to the taking of the easements.
Read note from the Superintendent relative to openings
in the Engineering Division and his recommendation that the pres-
ent Land Surveyor, Edward Blaine, be promoted to Assistant Civil
i
Engineer at a salary of $120.00 per week, an increase of $10.00
iover his present salary, subject to the approval of the Person-
nel Board.
Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Leonard seconded and it was
voted that the recommendation be approved.
Read letter from Harold E. Seaward, 368 Pearl Street,
requesting a reduction in house connection assessment on his
property. According to Mr. Seaward, the assessment included
cost of replacing concrete stairs and landing which had to be
done through no fault of his. It was allegedly due to the fact
that the men performing the Job neglected to properly shore the
stairs while tunneling alongside them.
According to the Superintendent, Mr. Seaward chose
the location of the house connection against the advice of the
foreman.
Mr. Florence moved the abatement be denied, Mr. Kenney
seconded. A discussion followed. The motion carried; Mr.
Leonard was opposed.
Read series of letters from R. C. Evans, Chairman,
Recreation Committee, in regard to the cleaning and opening of
the Swimming Pool in conjunction with employees of the Paddock
' Pool Company.
Mr. Kenney moved that the data be accepted as a point
of information, Mr. Florence seconded and it was voted.
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Read letter from Daniel Medio, Temporary Chairman,
Building Site Committee, First Baptist Church, Reading, in re-
gard to a possible building site in the Birch Meadow area. The
area includes two tracts of land - one owned by D. Higgins on
Grove Street, Reading, and the other owned by W. Carter of
Franklin Street, Reading. The two tracts are separated from
each other but abut a Town-owned tract which parallels Birch
Meadow Drive. The purpose of the letter is to inquire into the
possibility of, first, purchasing this Town-owned tract in
order to consolidate the other two tracts under consideration,
or secondly, to determine the probability of a right of way
through the Town-owned land to each of these locations, and
thirdly, the possibility of two short roads through the Town- ■
owned land to the two sites under consideration. J
Mr. Leonard was of the opinion that a lot of work
went into the procuring of the land and it should not be sold.
Mr. Kenney moved that a representative of the Church
be invited to confer with the Board, Mr. Watt seconded, and it
was voted.
Read note from the Superintendent with reference to
retaining a Consulting Engineer for the sewer extension to
Addison-Wesley. A completion date of July 15, 1965 was recom-
mended by the Superintendent. The firma of Whitman & Howard
and Cleverdon, Varney & Pike were suggested.
Mr. Leonard moved that the Superintendent be author- '
ized to procure a firm who can complete the work by July 15,
1965; Mr. Florence seconded and it was voted.
' The Board signed the following: -
Order of Assessment - Laying of Water Pipes in Charles
Street from the present dead and
in a Northerly direction
Order of Assessment - Laying of Water Pipes in Haver-
hill Street from the present dead
end in a Northerly direction
Garage Contract - T. F. McCarthy
Payroll for the period April 24 through April 30, 1965
Billroll dated April 30, 1965
Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
odd
Secretary