HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-10-26 Board of Public Works Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 1
A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7:32 P.M. Present were Chairman Cowell, Board
Members DeHart, Fallon and Barker and Superintendent E. Roger Louanis and
Assistant Superintendent William R. Bergeron.
Mrs. Wood joined the meeting at 7: 35 P.M.
It was moved, seconded and voted 5; 0 to accept the minutes of the
Board of Public Works meeting of October 19, 1981 as corrected.
Scheduled for 7:40 P.M. was a meeting with Ray McDonald, Town
Accountant, for the purpose of discussing the Water Surplus Account. Mr.
McDonald could not attend the Board of Public Works meeting, however, he
spoke with Chairman Cowell on Monday, October 26th. Mr. McDonald informed
the Chairman that there had been a changeover in the accounting procedure
by the State Department of Accounts which requires that the accounts begin
on July 1, 1981 and be completed by July 1, 1982. This new method of
accounting by the Town submitted to the State is called an "Enterprise"
account. Mr. McDonald will give the Board a report at the end of December
indicating the exact level this funding has reached. Chairman Cowell read
the letter from Mr. McDonald confirming that the Water Enterprise Fund is
in effect as of July 1, 1981 and any surplus or deficiency arising out of
the operation of the Water Department will not be included in other Town
funds.
At 8:00 P.M. Mrs. Wood read the Notice of the Public Hearing
regarding the Sanitary Landfill Fee Schedule. There were several Reading
businesspeople present who use the landfill regularly.
! Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 2
Mr. Fallon moved that the Fee Schedule be set as follows:
9. Fee Schedule
A. Commercial establishments will be required to obtain a
dumping permit for an annual fee of $50.00 plus the
following charge:
1. A fee based on the actual measured capacity as deter-
mined by the Superintendent of Public Works or his
authorized agent of each vehicle in cubic yards times
$1.00 per cubic yard for loose rubbish. The above
calculated fee shall be based on full loads and
charged for each dumping.
B. Commercial Rubbish Disposal Haulers depositing acceptable
material will be required to obtain a dumping permit for
an annual fee of $200.00 per vehicle plus the following
charge:
1. A fee based on the actual measured capacity as
determined by the Superintendent of Public Works
or his authorized agent of each vehicle in cubic
yards times $1.00 per cubic yard for loose rubbish.
The above calculated fee shall be based on full
loads and charged for each dumping.
IL
Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 3
2. A fee based on the rated capacity as determined by
the Superintendent of Public Works or his authorized
agent of a packer type rubbish truck in cubic yards
times $3.25 per cubic yard of compacted rubbish.
The above calculated fee shall be based on full loads
and charged for each dumping.
It was seconded. There was a general discussion between the
Board and the businesspeople.
Mrs. Wood moved to amend the Fee Schedule Section 9.A.1. to read
except when the load is clearly 1/2 or less, in which case, the fee
shall be based on 1/2 capacity. It was seconded and defeated 2:3.
The main motion carried 4: 1.
It was moved and seconded that these Rules and Regulations be
effective November 9, 1981.
Mr. Fallon moved to amend this motion that the Rules and
Regulations be effective October 1, 1981, it was seconded and defeated
2:3.
The main motion carried 4: 1.
Chairman Cowell instructed the Department to notify those people
who have paid their bills to file for an abatement and those that have not
paid their bills should also file for an abatement and the Board will make
a blanket decision.
It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to close the hearing at 8:55
P.M.
Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 4
Next discussed were the Rules and Regulations for Rubbish
Collection. Two representatives from the contracting company, BFI, were
present. Mr. Barker discussed his recommendations regarding containers to
be used by residents with the Board.
Mr. Barker moved that the Containers Section of the Rules and
Regulations be amended as follows:
CONTAINERS
1. Approved containers are "wet strength" two ply 50 lb. kraft paper
sacks on 30 gallon capacity; 1.5 mil thickness plastic bags of 30
gallon capacity; or 30 gallon capacity regulation barrels with
handles.
Residents using barrels are cautioned that sub-zero temperatures
and icing will result in the barrel having to be banged on the
steel hopper of the truck which will probably result in split or
dented barrels.
2. Residents who use non-regulation barrels or other unapproved
containers should realize that these containers will be treated
as a bulk item and disposed of as such.
3. The Town discourages the use of any cardboard barrels or cardboard
boxes since once they become wet, they lose much of their strength.
The Town of Reading and the Contractor will not be responsible for
any damage to barrels. People who use barrels are doing so knowing
that the above damage will probably occur.
4. If a container "falls apart" during collection, then any rubbish
left need not be picked up by the contractor.
Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 5
S. Unlimited approved containers and one (1) bulk item will be
picked up per week per residence. Any container that can not be
handled by one man and weighs over 80 pounds will not be
collected.
6. Any wood, brush cuttings or branches tied securely and bundled under
three feet long and 18 inches in diameter and under 80 pounds will
be collected. Leaves and lawn clippings are also considered as
household rubbish and will be collected.
It was seconded.
Mr. Barker accepted the inclusion of "wood" under item #6 as an
addition to his motion.
It was suggested that BFI attach a sticker to any non-regulation
barrels stating that the barrels will not be accepted and will be disposed
of as a bulk item if they are used again. The new container regulations
were approved 5:0.
It was moved, seconded and voted 5;0 that these Rules and
Regulations be accepted on October 26, 1981 and will be effective November
9, 1981.
Next discussed was the letter from the Executive Office of
Transportation and Construction regarding the reduction by the State in
the following areas:
1. Department design including survey, of State Aid work
(Force Account and Advertised Projects),
2. the advertising, awarding, and constructing of State
Aid projects.
3. our in-depth association with you on Force Account
Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 6
work, and
4. providing materials control or inspection at isolated
locations upon request.
The Superintendent informed the Board that the Chapter 90
Projects would not be severely affected. The Board accepted this letter
as a point of information.
Mr. Cowell reported to the Board that he had several calls during
the week regarding the Board's position on Article 23 and the subsequent
Town Meeting regarding the NESWC Contract. All of the callers wanted to
know the reason for the Board's decision not to go forward with the
Contract and requested an opportunity to come before the Board prior to
the Town Meeting to be given an opportunity to answer any questions and
concerns the Board may have regarding the matter. Mr. Cowell informed the
Board he had agreed to allow the U0P representative, John Phillips, to
appear before the Board on November 2, 1981 to answer any questions the
Board may have regarding the project. The Board also reviewed a memo from
Mr. Bergeron posing several questions regarding the project. Mr. DeHart
felt that the Contract was one-sided and that it favored UOP's subsidiary,
Massachusetts Refuse, Inc. It was agreed that the Board would grant Mr.
Phillips an opportunity to answer questions an November 2 at which time
the Board may reconsider it's position if appropriate.
The Board reviewed a letter from Barry P. Jenkins, Commissioner
of Reading Softball League expressing his appreciation to the Department
of Public Works for their cooperation over the years of his involvement in
the Reading Softball League. It was accepted as a point of information.
Mr. Barker requested that a copy of the letter be sent to the appropriate
divisions of the department and the Board concurred.
Board of Public Works Meeting of October 26, 1981 Page 7
The Board also reviewed a letter from Herbert Baron,
Principal of Killam Elementary School urging the construction of a
sidewalk on the easterly side of Charles Street from Wakefield Street to
the Killam School. The Board instructed the Superintendent to notify Mr.
Baron that it would be considered by the Board during the budget
preparation for FY83.
The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending October 23,
1981.
The Board signed the Billroll for the period ending October 23,
1901.
Mr. Fallon moved that the Board go into Executive Session to
discuss personnel matters not to reconvene in open session, and Chairman
Cowell polled the Board as follows:
Mr. Barker - aye
Mr. Fallon - aye
Mr. DeHart - aye
Mrs. Wood - aye
Mr. Cowell - aye
The meeting adjourned at 11: 10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
ecretary