HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-29 Board of Public Works Minutes January 29, 1981
' Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 17,
Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street at 7:40 P . M.
Present were Chairman Cowell , Secretary Wood, Board Members
DeHart , Fallon, Barker , Superintendent Louanis, Assistant Super-
intendent Bergeron and Assistant Superintendent McIntire .
At 7:45 P . M. Secretary Wood read Notice of Public Hearing
regarding the change in the water and sewer rates.
The following people attended the hearing: Edward Colette
of the Reading Daily Times and Chronicle , John W. Santoro of 62
King Street , Newell H. Morton of 198 Woburn Street and Edward J.
D' Arcy of 195 Summer Avenue. Chairman Cowell greeted those in
attendance explaining the rates voted by the Board of Public Works
on January 14, 1981 for both water and sewer pointing out the major
reason for the water rate increase was to cover the cost of the
improvements and expansion of the water treatment plant to meet
' the requirements of the state and federal laws as pertaining to
quality and to provide adequate water supply for the Town until
the turn of the century . Increasing the sewer rete was necessary
because of additional operating costs and increased payments to
the M. D. C . for pumping costs. The Board of Public Works had
reviewed four options for increasing the rates and selected the
option which required that increased rate for water be set at
$1.50 per hundred cubic feet with a minimum bill of $15 .00, with
a 10% discount when the bill is paid in 30 days; and the sewer rates were
increased to 80¢ per hundred cubic feet with a 10% discount if the
bill is paid in 30 days. Also, the Board had voted to bill water
and sewer quarterly instead of semi annually as is the present prac-
tice . It is hoped these rates will be fixed for the next three
years. The Chairman opened the hearing to questions from the
audience and Mr . John W. Santoro of 52 King Street stated he was
not opposed to the proposed rates but he was looking for some re-
lief for those people who filled their pools and did not discharge
that water down the sewer . He hoped the Board would consider some
kind of an abatement or credit for the sewer bill to offset that
cost to the homeowner . The Superintendent responded to the question
by stating that since there is no practical way to meter the sewage
the practice of using the water meter readings to establish the
sewer rates seemed to be the only practical way to meter the ,
flow involved . The problem of special usage of water that did
not go down the sewer had been looked into in the past and it
was found more costly to install additional meters than would
be realized in savings by the homeowner. Mr. Fallon stated he
had asked the Superintendent approximately five years ago this
same question and had received the same answer . He recommended
the department look into the problem and report back to the Board
before the first of May. Mr. Edward D' Arcy asked the Board what
an average water bill might be because his water bill for a year
was over $400 and he did not have a large family at this point
in time. It was suggested to him that an average bill might be
in the vicinity of $120 a year and he should check to determine
whether or not he had a leak in his house . A simple way to do
this would be to read the meter at night and read it again the
next morning and if it had advanced substantially he could be
assured he had a leak. It was also suggested that if he did not
resolve his problem he could call the office and make arrangements '
to have the meter tested . It was moved , seconded and voted to close
the hearing.
Chairman Cowell called for a review of the budget , as follows:
Sheet 16 Sewer Maintenance Superintendent Louanis indicated the
following changes: operational salaries $51,288 .90, postage
$2, 903, chemicals $1,460 , supplies $4, 183, contract payments
$17, 521. Total salaries $81 ,508 - expenses $63,632 for a total
of $145, 140. It was moved , seconded and voted 5:0 :0 to appropriate
$81,508 for salaries, $63,632 for expenses for a total of $145, 140.
Sheet 17 - Water General Superintendent Louania indicated the
following changes: postage $5,241, printing $3,055, salaries
$82 ,970 , expenses $39,047 for a total of $122 ,017 . It was moved,
seconded and voted 5:0:0 to appropriate $62,970 for salaries and
$39 ,047 for expenses for a total of $122,017.
Sheet 16 - Main Pipe Maintenance It was moved , seconded and
voted 3:2:0 to appropriate $14, 589 for salaries, $12,659 for ,
expenses for a total of $27, 248 .
Sheet 20 - Service Pipe Construction It was moved, seconded and
voted 5 :0 to appropriate $19,955 for salaries, $16, 165 for expenses
for a total of $35, 120.
Sheet 21 - Service Pipe Maintenance It was moved and seconded
' to appropriate $64,502 for salaries , $22,040 for expenses for a
total of $86,542. Mr . Fallon moved , it was seconded and voted
4 :1:0 to reduce account 4840-355 to $1,000. Mr. Fallon moved,
it was seconded and voted 5:O :O to reduce account 4840-201 to
zero . It was voted 5:0 :0 to accept the main motion as amended:
a total of $64,502 for salaries, $21 ,093 for expenses for a total
of $65,595.
Sheet 22 - Meter Maintenance It was moved , seconded and voted
5:0:0 to appropriate $89,865 for salaries; $7,057 for expenses for
a total of $46,922.
Sheet 23 Hydrant Maintenance It was moved , seconded and voted
5:0 to appropriate $6 ,322 for salaries; $7,022 for expenses for a
total of $13 ,344.
Sheet 24 Filter Plant It was moved , seconded and voted 5 :0:0 to
appropriate $67, 923 for salaries; $339,235 for expenses for a
total of $407, 158 .
Sheet 25 - Well Fields It was moved , seconded and voted 5 :0 :0
' to appropriate zero for salaries; $20, 000 for expenses for a
total of $20,000.
Assistant Superintendent Bergeron informed the Board it
will cost $122,000 to close and fill the sanitary landfill. ,
Chairman Cowell requested information on when building can take
place after the closing of the landfill and a detailed sketch
as to what work is necessary to close it for discussion on
February 2, 1981 .
Superintendent Louanis informed the Board that an electric
motor at the Town Forest Well burned out Sunday morning and the
pump is now operating by a diesel engine which is located in
the building . D . L . Maher removed the motor and is having it
repaired which will take approximately six weeks. They are also
searching for a fifty horse power motor that we may use until our
motor is repaired and returned .
Meeting adjourned at 10:26 P.M.
Respbetfully submitted ,
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