HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-06-15 Board of Public Works Minutes June 15, 1981
i' Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7:30 P.M.
Present were Board Members DeHart, Fallon, Barker, and
Assistant Superintendent McIntire.
It was moved, seconded and voted 2:0: 1 to accept the minutes of
the meeting of June 4 as written. It was moved, seconded and voted
3:0 to accept the minutes of the meeting of June 8 as written.
Regarding the letter from Jean M. Mullins re: Block Party at
Hillside and Waverly Roads, Mr . McIntire informed the Board that
he had a conversation with Mrs . Mullins and she has withdrawn her
letter and has decided to change the date of the party to sometime
in September. She will inform the Board in writing of the new date.
It was moved that the Board approve the location of the pole for
Continental Cablevision at the intersection of Pleasant and Parker
Streets (Southwest corner) with the specification that it be located
as close up against the curb as possible, per Drawing 112-81 Sheet 1
of 1 . It was seconded and voted 3:0 to accept the location of the
pole.
Mrs. Wood and Chairman Cowell joined the meeting at 7:40 P.M.
Chairman Cowell requested that the sidewalk at 98 Lowell Street
be completed within six months from the date of approval by the Board
and that it be specified on the Petition and Agreement Form. The
Board signed the form and returned it to the Department for
correction of this item.
Regarding a request from the Board of Assessors to abate
betterments for land now owned by the Town, Chairman Cowell stated
that a similar request was made to the Board in 1975. The
difference in 1975 was that the property being taken over was for I
Conservation Land use. This year the property is to be taken over
for tax title. Mr . Cowell spoke with Mr . Cohen of Tyler and Reynolds
who stated that the property is owned by the Town and the assessment
should be abated as proceeds of the sale of the property will go to
the Town. It was moved that the following properties be abated:
1 . Carlton Luce, Colburn Rd. (Plat 154, Lots 24 & 29)
Assessment — $420.00
Comm. int. 49!j'
2. Pallotta & Son Development Inc. , Forest St.
(Plat 128, Lot 2)
Assessment — $ 39.60
Comm. int. 2.64 ,
2.2
3. Florence A. Darling, Causeway Rd. (Plat 119, Lot 11 )
Assessment — $678.08
Comm. int. 11
731 . 19
4. Anna T. Welin, Bay State Rd. (Plat 79, Lot 184)
Assessment — $192.00
Comm. int. 24.00
72-1=0
5. Robert L. Barton, Track Rd. (Plat 79, Lot 98)
Assessment — $137.55
Comm. int. go
$1413 05
Grand Total $1 ,602. 18
It was seconded and voted 5:0 to approve these abatements. Chairman
Cowell asked that the Superintendent send notice to the Tax Collector,
the Town Accountant and the Board. ,
Mr. Cowell requested that the Superintendent address the
I
Minutes Continued June 15, 1981
policy regarding water that does not enter the sewer system for the
use of swimming pools . Back in February, during the water and sewer
hearings, Mr . Santoro raised this issue feeling that he was being
discriminated against because his water bill was unnecessarily
inflated when he fills his pool . Various methods were discussed to
control this situation, i .e. , separate water meter, etc.
Mr . Fallon stated that having read the Superintendent's memo,
pool owners do not discharge the pool water in the spring of the year,
normally, in the fall the water is drained down below the drain lines
and the pool is then winterized and covered. The vast majority of
pool owners leave the water in the pool . There is actually very
1 little amount of water that is pumped out of the pool . He does not
agree with the second meter suggestion because that would be too
expensive. He also felt that perhaps they could recommend a figure
such as 3,000 gallons to be allocated off your sewer bill for a
certain pool capacity, 5,000 gallons for a higher capacity pool .
Proof of capacity would be up to the homeowner.
Mr . DeHart stated that the Superintendent had given good
examples, i .e. , gardens, sprinklers, etc. One area he felt an
abatement is justified is in the case of an emergency (flooded
basement) but as far as abatements for pools, he felt the present
procedure is acceptable.
Mr . Barker stated that he was under the impression that the sewer
rate was calculated taking into account such occurrences.
Mr. Fallon stated that he agreed with Mr. Barker 's statement.
However, the pool owner is being penalized because quite obviously
a great amount of his water is not going through the sewer system.
Mr. Cowell stated that his position on this subject is that
certainly on the pools other than waders, there is a substantial
amount of water used when they initially fill that pool . He would
be inclined to grant some kind of an abatement for the initial
filling. However, the other items listed in the Superintendent's
memo do not use a vast quantity of water.
Mrs . Wood moved and it was seconded that it will be the policy
of this Board to consider that upon application and written proof of
capacity, an abatement be granted for initial filling of a swimming
pool .
Mr . Barker requested a dollar value at today's rate for the
initial filling of a swimming pool . ,
Mr. McIntire stated that a gentleman with whom he spoke
recently had a pool with a capacity of 20,000 gallons. The sewerage
charge would have been approximately $21 .00 to fill it. Effective
July 1 with the new rates, it would be $28.00. There are also
private companies that have tank trucks that will fill pools so it
is not necessary to use domestic water from our system to fill the
pool . However, he did not know the cost of this .
Mr . Fallon moved and it was seconded that an annual abatement
be considered for any pools with a capacity of 12,000 or more that
the annual abatement would be 3,000 gallons and that any pool with
a capacity of 20,000 gallons be abated for 5,000 gallons. '
Therefore, the amendment to the main motion was voted upon
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Minutes Continued June 15, 1981
wherein an annual abatement be granted to a pool owner depending
on the capacity of his pool . The amendment was defeated 1 :4.
Mrs. Wood's motion was passed 3:2.
Mr. Barker wanted to be sure that a copy of that motion goes to
the press correctly, and accurately.
The Board discussed the request from Mrs. Elsie Saunders for a
second water meter . The Department was instructed to write to Mrs.
Saunders and thank her for her letter, indicate that we find her
letter to be not explicit enough, and advise her that it is not our
policy to have more than one meter installed on residential property,
and to invite her to a Board Meeting if she wishes to discuss it
further.
The Board instructed the Department to provide information on
the cost of distributing by mail and hand delivery, copies of the new
Rubbish Collection Rules and Regulations to all residents of the Town
prior to July 1 , 1981 .
Mr. Barker would like to request that the Superintendent forward
the job description of the pumping station engineer to the Personnel
Board for their review together with a request that they sample
surrounding towns . Mr . Cowell stated that there has been a meeting
and this is being taken care of.
Mr. Barker stated that he would like to request that on next
week's agenda the department present a status report on the FY 181
Budget together with recommendations for expenditures which might
need some action by the Board, any recommendations for any excess
monies left in accounts.
Mr. Barker stated that it has been brought to his attention by a
member of the Finance Committee that his observation of the recently
sodded field at Birch Meadow is that the field is being cut too
closely and not being watered.
Mr. McIntire stated that the Parks Department was watering
the field when they can. Regarding the cutting, it may have been
cut too short, but if they keep watering it, it should grow all
right.
Mr . Fallon stated he would like a progress report on the
expected arrival of the usage of the lighted field. Mr . McIntire
stated the lighted field would be ready for use on July 1st. Mr .
Fallon asked if the relamping on the bulbs and cleaning would be
done before July 1st, and the answer was no. '
Mr. Fallon stated he heard we were bidding the Water Treatment
Plant. It was reported that the Contract has been advertised.
Mr . Fallon submitted a letter to the Board from the First
Baptist Church of Reading requesting permission to have a picnic
at Memorial Park on June 28, 1981 . Permission was granted by the
Board in a vote of 5:0 to use the park with the usual stipulations:
1 . No alcoholic beverages consumed on public property. , 2. Proper
police and insurance protection be obtained, 3. The area be broom-
clean at the conclusion of the event.
Mr . Cowell stated the Board would take up the Board of Survey
Rules and Regulations at the next meeting. However, next week at
his request, the Board will have Executive Session and it should be ,
posted, to consider salaries of non-union personnel .
Minutes Continued June 15, 1981
The Board signed the following:
Billroll for period ending June 12.
Payroll for period ending June 12.
Meeting adjourned at 9:04.
Respectfully submitted,
SecrA