HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-12-03 Board of Public Works Minutes Or
December 3, 1979
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7:30 P. M.
Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Members
Testa, DeHart and Wood together with Superintendent Louanis and
Assistant Superintendent Bergeron.
It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the minutes of
the meeting of November 26th as presented.
The Board read letter from Carl J. Hedberg of the Reading
Clergy Association requesting that the closing of Salem Street
for the celebration of Christmas on the Common take place on De-
cember 23 as opposed to December 16th as voted by the Board on
November 26th. It was moved, seconded and voted to grant the re-
quest and closelowell Street from Woburn to Salem Streets on
December 23d subject to the standard restrictions.
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 P.M. and reconvened at 7:45 P. M.
following a meeting of the Board of Survey.
Read notice of public hearing at 7:45 P.M. regarding the
petition of the Boston Gas Company to install regulators and re-
lated piping at 59 Willow Street. The Boston Gas Company was
represented by Mr. Joseph Spencer, area supervisor, who reviewed
the plan with the Board. Mrs. Maureen O'Brien, owner of the pro-
perty at 59 Willow Street, appeared before the Board and stated
she objected to the installation of the control box as indicated
on the plan as it was too close to the street and presented too
much of a hazard. Mr. Cowell suggested Mr. Spencer take the
plan back to the Engineering Division of the Boston Gas stating
the Board can not accept the plan as it now is. Mr. Price requested
that the Boston Gas Company make an appointment with Mrs. O'Brien
to see if a compromise can be worked out. Mr. Cowell moved, Mr.
Testa seconded and it was voted to table the matter until the next
meeting and to keep the abutters informed of the schedule of events.
Mr. Price requested that Mr. Spencer check out a complaint
received by the Department concerning restoration work at 21 Wood-
ward Avenue following the installation of service pipes by Boston
Gas Company. Mr. Spencer agreed to follow through on this item.
Meeting adjourned to meet as the Board of Survey and reconvened
at 10: 15 P.M.
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The Board met at 10: 15 P.M. with John Willis and Paul Prendi-
ville of Camp, Dresser and McKee, consulting engineers, concerning
Contract 79-23 Water Treatment Plant Design. Mr. David Testa ,
abstained from any discussion and stated he would not vote on this
matter because of conflict of interest. Mr. Willis stated his firm
had reviewed the contract with the Town of Reading for the Water
Treatment Plant Design and found there were several items they could
not agree to as expressed in the terms of the contract.
The first area of concern was on page 5, section 1 .3.6. The
preparation or review of an environmental impact statement could
not be included in the contract because there was no way for his
firm to determine what the cost would be and therefore this require-
ment should be deleted from the contract and if it becomes necessary
to have an environmental assessment and impact study a separate
contract should be negotiated at that time. After considerable
discussion of this item it was agreed to delete the requirement
for the environmental assessment and impact study.
The next area of concern was on page 8, section 4.4. Mr. Willis
thought that this section was ambiguous and that his firm might not ,
be properly compensated for a delay beyond six months. Therefore,
he proposed new wording be drafted which allows a 5% increase on
the remaining balance agreed under the contract for delay up to
six months and if there was any delay greater than six months his
firm would prefer to renegotiate the upper limit of the contract.
After considerable discussion it was agreed to rewrite the section as
outlined by Mr. Willis. Under the same section Mr. Willis informed
the Board that if his firm could not live with the contract relating
to liquidated damages as his firm felt very strongly that they
could complete the contract. After considering this matter it was
agreed to delete the liquidated damages with the understanding that
Camp, Dresser and McKee would submit monthly progress reports so
that progress could be monitored closely.
The next area of concern was on page 9, section 5. 1 . 1 . 1 . Mr.
Willis assumed there had been a typographical error in the figure
inserted in the contract, "For the Basic Services performed under
Section 1 , the owner agrees to pay the engineer at the actual ,
out-of-pocket cost of services provided by engineers employees plus
15 percent" as the percent figure should have been 125 percent. After
considerable discussion and explanation by Mr. Willis as to what
the firms costs were the Board agreed to the 125 percent.
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Minutes - December 3, 1979 Continued
The next area of concern was section 5. 1 . 1 .2 - Mr. Willis stated
his firm felt the total fee outlined in this section was not sufficient
for them to properly perform the services outlined in the contract,
and that a fee more in keeping with the midway of their proposal should
be adopted. Mr. Price felt that the proposals even though they were
not bids indicated to the Board the fair cost of the services and were
one of the contributing factors in the selection of Camp, Dresser and
McKee for the project but the Board felt the lower limit was the proper
number to use and not the upper or the mid range figure. After consi-
derable discussion it was finally agreed that a total upset limit for
all services outlined in the contract would be $204,000. It was agreed
Camp, Dresser and McKee would rewrite the contract for submittal to the
Town of Reading Board of Public Works for its review.
The Board tabled action on discussion of the solid waste problem
until next week.
Mr. Price asked the Superintendent to report to the Board on the
progress of the drainage for the Atlantic Mall on Haven Street. The
Superintendent reported that the proposed drainage connection from the
drain in High Street up Haven Street from the Mall could not be con-
structed because the Reading Municipal Light ' s conduit in High Street and
Haven Street were obstructions to the proposed drains and would cause
Municipal Light to lower them so the drain could be put in. A rough
estimate from the Municipal Light Department indicated the cost would
be in the range of $100,000. Therefore the Atlantic Realty Trust had
Anderson Engineering redesign the drain connection in Chute Street and
Brande Court to the back of the Mall after test pits had been dug over
the utilities to be encountered. This design provides the connection
to the Mall and relieves the drainage problem related to the #2 park-
ing area. The project is now underway and the pavement area disturbed
on High and Chute Streets will be completely repaired and drain connec-
tion made to the Mall by the 7th of December. It was accepted as a
point of information.
Mr. Price asked for a roll call vote to go into Executive Session
for the purpose of discussion a matter of personnel . Vote, as follows:
Mrs. Wood - In favor. Mr. DeHart - In favor. Mr. Testa - In favor -
Mr. Cowell - In favor and Mr. Price - In favor.
Meeting adjourned for this date at 12. 12 A.M.
Respectfully submited, (j//�/�
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