HomeMy WebLinkAbout1964-02-24 Board of Public Works Minutes 2 t
' February 24, 1964
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30
P.M. in the Auditorium of the Community Center, 52 Sanborn
Street.
Present were Secretary Kenney, Board Members Florence
and Leonard and Superintendent Welch.
Hearing was held regarding the proposed extension of
the Main Trunk Sanitary Sewer in the following locations: -
1. ASH STREET - Main Street to Municipal Light Plant
2. NTERCEPTOR No. 1 - High School Sewer to Hunt Street
3. HUNT STREET - Interceptor No. 1 to near Vine Street
4. INTERCEPTOR No. 2 - Hunt Street to Lee Street
5. LEE STREET - Vini; Street to dead end
6. RCE TOR & MAIN STREET - Charles Street to Main
Street to Federal Street
7. FEDERAL STREET - Main Street to Highland Street
6. VINE SUiEET - High Street to Mineral Street
9. MILTON ROAD - Wescroft Road to Howard Street
10. ELLS V20E - Summer Avenue to Hillcrest Road
11. H LI_CREST READ - No. 49 Hillcrest Road to No. 55
Hillcrest Road
Sixty-one persons attended the hearing. A general
discussion was held and questions were asked of and answered by
Board Members and the Superintendent. A record of the vote fol-
lows: -
In Favor Opposed Non-Committal
Ash Street 1 1 3
Federal Street 12 1 1
Hillcrest Road 0 0 2
Hunt Street 8 0 0
Lee Street 6 0 0
Interceptor & Main Street 5 0 0
Vine Street 2 0 2
L Milton Road 7 0 1
Ellis Avenue 0 0 0
1 2 _7_
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Persons in attendance were invited to view the plans and ask
technical questions of the engineering staff.
The Board convened in Room 16, Municipal Building,
where Mr. Watt joined the meeting.
Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved as
amended.
Read note from the Superintendent in regard to recent
check for permits and stickers made at the Dump. Mr. Leonard
moved that the data be placed in the active Dump file for future
reference; Mr. Florence seconded and it was voted.
Read report from the Superintendent on the rodding of
a storm drain on private property at 62-66 Sturges Road and the
inability of the Department to use the power driven bucket ma-
chine cleaner due to the curve, tree root growth and poorly
built manhole.
The Board discussed the taking of an easement through
the property in the event a new pipe is installed; also better-
ment assessments to cover payment by the abuttors.
Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and the motion
carried to obtain an estimate for removing the old pipe and lay-
ing an 18" pipe. This project will be included in next year's
storm drain program. It will be reviewed in the light of a bet-
terment assessment.
Public hearing was held at 8:30 P.M. for the purpose
of taking an easement for drainage and sewerage purposes easterly
of Haverhill Street through private property. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin
r
Belzer, 60 Haverhill Street, attended the hearing. Mr. Belzer
r questioned drainage in that area and the maintenance thereof.
!` Mr. and Mrs. Belzer will secure legal advice before signing Re-
lease from Damages.
The Board discussed at length the installation of
storm drains on private property and the assessment of better-
ment charges; also increase in sewer rental rates and sewer front-
age charges to become effective in 1965. Mr. Leonard moved that
studies be made on the aforementioned items, Mr. Kenney seconded
and the motion carried.
Read note from the Superintendent with reference to re-
filing of petitions for channel improvements to the Aberjona
River from Lowell Street to West Street prior to March 3, 1961}.
The authority was requested originally in 1958 and an appropria-
tion of $20,000 was voted to be used in conjunction with $20,000
of State funds under Chapter 91.
Mr. Leonard moved that the petitions be refiled, Mr.
Kenney seconded and it was voted. It was suggested that the data
on Aberjona River be placed in the active file and be reviewed in
six months providing the Town of Reading is granted the $20,000.
Read letter from Mrs. Edward J. Perry, 69 Hopkins Street,
requesting that a sidewalk be plowed on Hopkins Street to Summer
Avenue to accommodate the many small children attending the
Joshua Eaton School.
Mr. Welch informed the Board that the sidewalk in its
C present condition could not be plowed and suggested installation
of a bituminous concrete sidewalk on the easterly side of Hopkins
Street from Sumner Avenue to Main Street. Mr. Florence moved that
Hopkins Street be included in the sidewalk program, Mr.
Leonard seconded and the motion carried.
Read letter from Carl H. Amon, Jr. , representing Mr.
and Mrs. John Jordan, 7 Hillcrest Avenue, and requesting abate-
ment of a $12.00 sewer rental bill. Twice recently there has
been a blockage in the sewer on Hillcrest Road near Prescott
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Street, and sewer has backed into the cellar of the residence.
Mr. Leonard moved that the sewer rental bill in the amount of
$12.00 be abated, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted.
Read petition signed by seven residents from 22$-249
Forest Street requesting that study be made of the Westerly and
of Forest Street to determine what might be done to alleviate
the storm water problem. Mr. Florence moved, it was seconded
and voted to process the request in the usual manner and the
first signer of the petition, Reginald Steeves, be so advised.
The Superintendent presented to the Board proposed
Sewer Construction Program. Mr. Kenney moved, Mr. Florence
seconded and it was voted to accept the data as a point of in-
formation to be discussed at the March 2 meeting.
Read note from the Superintendent regarding trouble
with parked cars on travelled ways and sidewalks during the
last two large snowstorms. Also presented to the Board was copy
of Paragraph 22D - Vehicles parked in violation of law - removal.
Mr. Leonard moved, Mr. Florence seconded and it was
voted that the Superintendent write a letter, to be signed by
the Chairman, advising the Selectmen of the problem and attach
a copy of the law as a possible solution.
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Mr. Kenney moved, Mr. Florence seconded and it was
voted that Item #15 - Short reports on the Sewer, Rubbish Dis-
posal and Garage Studies for Regular Town Meeting be accepted
for future consideration and study and be reviewed at the March
2 meeting.
The Board took up the subject of sewer extensions.
Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted that
the Sanitary Sewer be installed in the locations as outlined at
the hearing held previously, with the exception of Hillcrest
Road, from No. 49 to No. 55.
The Board signed Order of Taking - Easement for Drain
and Sewerage - Hunt and Lee Streets (see Plan #500-S-123)-
Board also signed Billroll dated February 21, 1961.}.
Mr. Watt reported on the meeting with the Finance Board
and William F. Murphy, Chairman of the Personnel Board. Mr.Watt
explained that meetings were informal and that no specific agree-
ments were made but that certain proposals were to be carried
back to regular Boards for consideration. A proposal was made at
the Finance Committee meeting to eliminate the $10,000 expendi-
ture on Birch Meadow this year. ( A proposal was made at the con- �y
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ference with Mr. Murphy to reduce the requests for salary in-
creases to about 70% of the original requests. ;
Mr. Kenney moved, Mr. Florence seconded and it was
voted to accept the schedule of salary increases proposed by the
C Personnel Board, Mr. Leonard wished to be recorded as opposed.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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