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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-04-05 Board of Public Works Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of April S, 1982 Page t A meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Froom 16, Municipal Building at 7: 30 P.M. Present were Chairman Wood, Secretary Fallon, Board Members Cowell, Barker and Polychrones and Superintendent E. Roger Louanis. The meeting temporarily adjourned at 7:35 P.M. while the Board met with the Board of Selectmen in Room 2 regarding the property of Allan F. Kenney on Haverhill Street, Plat 214 Lot 1. Present at the meeting were the five-man Board of Selectmen, representatives of the Beard of Assessors, Treasurer Beth Klepeis and Benjamin Nichols and Henry Fienemann of the Reading Open Land Trust, Inc., as well as the Board of Public Warks. The Board of Selectmen did net accept the gift of this land on Haverhill Street from Mr. Kenney .n 1977 because the taxes were nat. paid. It was then turned over to the Treasurer's Office. I Treasurer K.lepeis stated the land is basically wetland. Back in 1975 the Wetlands Protection Act changed Mr. Kenney's mind. He therefore stopped paying his taxes. Mrs. Klepes received the case through the Tax Collector as a Tax Title property. It was then taken into Land Court. All legal fees were paid by the Town of Reading. In 1930 he offered the land to the Town as a gift, as he realized the land may have been taken from him because if non-payment of taxes. Mr. Kenney then presented the land to the Reading Open Land Trust, Inc. Me, Be, Nichols of the Open Land Trust, Inc. read a letter to the attendees statina his view of the circumstances. lie stated there is similar property directly acres, the street that was accepted by the Town at Town Meeting .in 1975. Board of Public. Works Meeting of April 5, L492 Page Mr. Henry Fienemann, Lhairman of the Open Land Trust stated he felt there were some abatements due to the Trust. He stated it doesn't seem fair that charges should be made on any property that can not be used for human habitation. - Chairman Rosenthal opened the meeting for discussion. Chairman Wood of the Board of Public Works and Chairman Sullivan of the Board of Assessors both stated they had no comments at the moment. , but were listening. Mr. Jack Russell of the Board of Selectmen felt that Mr. (enney got a tax write-off by giving the land to the Open Land Trust. Mrs. O'Brien of the Board of Selectmen felt the land could have been used for agriculture, and land that is in the flood plain and wetlands is not totally useless. Mr. Nichols stated this land in particular could not possibly be used because of the amount of flooding. Mr. Fienemann stated the Open Land Trust would rather not pay any betterments or taxes. Mrs. i'lepeis stated the case is still pending .in court. The case has been stayed until this matter is resolved. If the case went to court now, the land would be deeded to the Town. Chairman Rosenthal agreed that the Open Land Trust has the best interests of the Town at heart, however, he felt that the Open Land Trust should not have by-passed the Selectmen and accepted the land. In the future, the Selectmen would like an understanding with the Land Trust before an action like this. is taken. Board of Public Works Meeting of April 5. 1982 Page 3 Mr. Price of the Board of Selectmen questioned the amount of legal fees. Mrs. Klepeis stated #600.00. Mr. Louanis stated the assessments are in the amount. of $530. 10. Mr. Sullivan of the Board of Assessors stated taxes and interest due are $1,330.00. Mr. Price asked that the Open Land Trust never do this to the Town again. Mr. Cowell of the Board of Public Warks stated there were two issues involved: 1. The Open Land Trust has acquired the assets as well as the liabilities when they acquired this land. 2. There is a matter of good faith involved here regarding the land across the street vs. the Kenney property and his non-payment of back taxes. Mr. Nichols asked if it would be acceptable to the Board of Selectmen if •^ - the Open Land Trust agreed to pay $600.00 to the Town. Mr. Rosenthal stated no, they could not make that determination at this time, it now is up to the Assessors and the Board of Public Works. Mrs. Klepeis stated it would cost the Town virtually nothing to proceed through Land Court with this case now. The court fees have been paid up front. Chairman Rosenthal asked Mrs. Klepeis to hold up the proceedings on this case until some feedback is obtained from the Board of Public Works and the Assessors. I Board of Public. Works Meeting, of April 5, 1982 Page 4 Chairman Rosenthal asked that a report on this issue from both Boards be received by April 26, 1982. The Board of Public Works meeting resumed in Roam 16 at approximately 8: 45 P.M. . It was moved, seconded and voted 4;0: 1 (Mr. Fallon abstaining) to accept the minutes of the Board of Public Works meeting of March 25, 1962 as corrected. It was moved, seconded and voted 4: 0: 1 (Mr. Fallon abstaining) to accept the minutes of the Ocard of Public. Works meeting of March 29, 1982 as corrected. The Board met with Messrs. :ichcls and Fienemann of the Open Land Trust, Inc. + - ,stated he felt there are other rases in Town where abatement, mo made for parcels of property where back taxes were owed. Mr. " ,,Larones asked if Mr. Michels felt this kind of action was fair to people who own wetlands now, and are paying taxes and betterments on the land. Mr. Nichols replied that perhaps these people should go to the Assessors or the Board of Public Warks and get reassessed. I Mr. Cowell moved that an abatement in the amount of 4530.10 for Plat 214, Lot 1, be allowed on this property. It was seconded and defeated t: 4 lMrs. Wood, Mr. Cowell, Mr. Fallon and Mr. Barker opposed). The Board reviewed the Bids and Recommendations for Forestry and Park Materials. Also present at this meeting were Ted McIntire, Assistant Superintendent and Bud Dickey, Forestry & Parks Supervisor. Board of Public Works Meeting of April 5, 1982 Page 5 The first items discussed were Fertilizer, Grass Seed, etc, #}�* It was moved. seconded and voted 5: 0 that the bid for 4 Tons of Ground Limestone be awarded to Johnson Farm Supply, Inc, of Reading, Ma. in the amount of $160.00. It. was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 that the bid for 300 lbs. of Playfield Mix Grass Seed be awarded to John D. Lyon, Inc, of Cambridge, Ma. in the amount of $218.40. Mrs. Wood suggested that in the future the companies include the composition of the playfi.eld mix grass seed when they bid their prices and Mr. Barker concurred. ` was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 that the bid for 100 lbs. of 50%. Kent Bluegrass; 307.. Jamestown; 20" Regal Rye be awarded to ,John D. Lyon, Inc. of Cambridge, Ma. in the amount of $160.00. It was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 that the bid for 18-5-9 501. Organic Lawn Fertilizer in the amount of $1,045.00 and the bid for 10-6-4 501. Organic Lawn Fertilizer in the amount of $1,085.00, both be awarded to Richey & Clapper, Inc. of Natick, Ms. The Board next reviewed Pesticides, Herbicides, Fungicides and Fertilizer. It was moved, seconded and voted 5;0 that the bid for 3 1-gallon drums of Krenite in the amount of $188.50, and the bid for 2 1-gallon drums of Surfactant Will in the amount of $31.30, and the bid for 5 1-gallon drums of NuFilm 17 Spreader Sticker in the amount of $7.05,00, be awarded to Hartney Spray Corp. of Norwood, Ma. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 that the bid for 1 5-gallon drum of Sevin-4-Flowable be awarded to Baird & McGuire, Inc. of Holbrook, Ma. in the amount of $90.50. Board of Fuhlic Works Meet:inq of April 5, 198:= Page 6 , The Board next reviewed the bids for Trees and Shrubs. It was moved, seconded and voted S:0 that the bid for 5 ked Swamp Maples-Bare Root., S Linden - Bare Root, S Callery Pear -- Bare Root, 5 Pin Oak - Bare Root and 2 White Oak. - Ball and Burlap be awarded to Bigelow Nurseries, Inc., Northborouqh, Ma. in the total amount of $935.00. It was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 that the bid for 15 Sugar Maples - Bare Root, IS Norway Maples - Bare Root, 5 Schwedler Maples - Bare Root, and One Emerald Oueen Norway Maple - Ball & Burlap be awarded to Cherry Hill. Nurseries, Inc-. , West Newbury, Ma. in the total amount of $1, 143.00. The Board reviewed the Bid on One (1) New Truck Chassis & Cab. Assistant Superintendent McIntire stated that originally Automotive Truck IIS Center, Inc. of Arlington. Ma. was recommended as they were the lowest bid meeting the specifications. However, Mr. McIntire has since received a call from Mirak Chevrolet, Inc. of Arlington, Ma. , wherein Mirak informed him they would include in their bid a three spool valve, an 18" extension on the frame and an electric start motor, at the original bid price of $2e,53n. They also stated they would confiria this in writing. Mr. Fallon moved the bid for One (1) New Truck Chassis & Cab be awarded to Mirak Chevrolet, Inc. , 430 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, Ma. in the amount of $23,536.00, upon receipt of written confirmation as to the items they missed in their bid. It was seconded and voted 5:0. Superintendent. Louanis informed the Board he had spoken with Town Counsel re ardin the bids for One Naw Wheel. Type Tractor and Front End 9 9 p I Board of Public Works Meeting of April. 5, 1952 page 7 Loader. Town Counsel felt the safest route was to reject all bids received on February 16. It was so moved, seconded and voted 5, 0. This item now has to be rebid. The Board reviewed the Request from Wilmington to connect to the West Street Sewer Pumping Station. Superintendent Louanis informed the Board there is some land an West Street an the Reading-Wilmington line, most of the land in Wilmington and a small portion in Reading, they are interested in developing. The developer would like to construct a commercial-type building of about 60,000 square feet. The developer would also like to connect to our sanitary sewer. Wilmington does not have sanitary sewer in that area. The Department referred the developer to Wilmington so that we could deal I directly with the Town and not a private company. The Town of Reading would not gain any taxes. The sewer lines and the pumping station in that area were designed strictly for residential use. Mr. Barker felt that perhaps there would be sewerage problems from this building because the sewer is designed for residential use. Superintendent Louanis suggested the Board state they are not ready to allow connection to our sewer system until a plan is developed and presented by the developer outlining exactly what would be installed there. It was moved, seconded and voted 510 that the Board accept the Superintendent's recommendations and that the Clerk of the Board write a letter accordingly. The letter from Herbert Converse, President of United Church Homes of Reading, Inc. to Chairman Wood regarding Final Flans and a Specification Manual was accepted as a point of information. I Board of Public Works Meeting of April 5, 1982 Page 8 �. The Board reviewed the memorandum from William R. Bergeron regarding the Request for Modification of driveways at the greenhouse near South Street on West Street, #40-42 West Street for a new building. This request was forwarded to the D.P.W. from the Building Inspector. Mr. Polychrones inspected the area and he felt that Mr. Bergeron's recommendations are correct and concise and that. the Board should comply with them. It was moved, seconded and voted 5: 0 that the Clerk of the Board write a letter to the Building Inspector citing the problems discussed and suggest they draw up appropriate plans for this Boards' approval and review. The Board also requested a more up-to-date traffic count than the 1972 traffic study done by the M.A.P.C. I The Board reviewed the letter from the residents of D Street East to have their roadway paved. Apparently, these residents spoke with Ray McDonald, Town Accountant, and he informed them at this point the interest rate as set by the Selectmen is 7.2%. Mr. Fallon moved that the Board reconsider their vote of February 22, 1982 regarding D Street East street acceptance. It was seconded and defeated 2:3 (Mrs. Wood, Mr. Cowell, Mr. Barker opposed). Mr. Barker requested the Clerk of the Board speak with Town Counsel as to the rate of interest to be charged. The Board requested the Clerk schedule at an appropriate time a Hearing with the residents of D Street who have requested this action, I The Board generally concurred that we get Town Counsels' opinion, before a hearing is scheduled. The Board adjourned temporarily at 10: 15 P.M. to meet as the III Board of Public Works Meeting of April 5, 1982 Page 9 Board of Survey. The meeting reconvened at 10:20 P.M. The Board reviewed the letter from the State Department. of Public. Health regarding the Fluoride Testing Results of Readings' water. The Superintendent informed the Board that he spoke with the Fluoridation Engineer and was informed that we presently have a good level of fluoride in our water and our new equipment will bring the levels up even higher. The Educational Reimbursement Guidelines were accepted as a Point of Information. Mr. Fallon thanked the Superintendent for the preparation of these guidelines. Mrs. Wood assigned motions under Article 19 to all Board Members. under Old & New Business: Mr. Cowell suggested a progress report be given on the Water Treatment Plant at Town Meeting. The Board reviewed the letter from The First Baptist Church requesting the use of Memorial Park on Saturday, August 14, 1982 from 1: 00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. It was moved, seconded and voted 4: 0: 1 (Mr. Fallon abstaining) to grant permission to The First Baptist Chruch to use Memorial Park an Saturday, August 14, 1982 from 1.100 P.M. - 4: 00 P.M. for their "Celebration 150" subject to the usual stipulations: 1. No alcoholic beverages may be served in the public way. 2. Proper police and insurance protection must be procured. 3. The area must be broom-clean at the conclusion of the e Board of Public Works Meeting of April 5, 1992 Page. 10 event. 4. Our contract. with B.F. I. for rubbish collection includes a provision that the park barrels be emptied by them. We ask that you remove any trash generated by this group in order to leave the barrels free fro the normal weekly accumulation. The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending 4-11-82. The Board signed the Bill. Roll for the period ending 4-2-82. The meeting adjourned at 11;00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, ✓'Secretary