HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-01-07 Board of Public Works Minutes January 7, 1980
' 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 Mem-
bers DeHart, Wood and Fallon, Superintendent Louanis, Assis-
tant Superintendent McIntire and Assistant Superintendent Bergeron.
It was moved, seconded and voted to accept the minutes of the
meeting of December 3d as written and the minutes of the meeting
of December 10th as amended.
The Board met with Mr. and Mrs. Herrick of 85 Vine Street
in order to discuss a health hazard currently being experienced
at their home. Mrs. Herrick displayed pictures taken of property
in her area indicating where the Forestry Division had completed
work on private and public trees and requested that a tree just
inside her property line be trimmed back thereby closing off an
avenue of entry into the house by squirrels. A lengthy discussion
ensued followed by a motion by Mrs. Wood to trim and spray the
I tree due to the health hazard involved provided Mr. and Mrs.
Herrick sign a release from damages. Mr. DeHart seconded the
motion and it was voted.
The Board recognized Mr. Williams who spoke for Mrs. Phyllis
Morand of 386 Summer Avenue. Mr. Williams stated a renewal of the
water line has been installed in Mrs. Morand' s house; that there has
been some discussion concerning the installation of a sewer house
connection; that Mrs. Morand is a widow on a limited income and he
questioned the amount charged for the water renewal and the infor-
mation given concerning the house connection. The Board requested
that Mrs. Morand hold up on the payment for the water renewal and
also requested that time be allowed to investigate the facts surround-
ing the proposed house connection. It was agreed that this be placed
on the Agenda at 7:35 P.M. on January 14th.
The Board reviewed report from the Department of Environmental
Quality Engineering dated November 27, 1979 concerning the Town
I wells. Superintendent Louanis stated that Mr. Silvia of the
Lawrence Experimental Station had collected samples of Reading' s
water supply from four well locations and the effluent of the Water
Treatment Plant and took a sample also from the Town Hall . The
four well locations indicated a nondetectable amount of the tri- ,
halomethane family. However, the effluent of the water treatment
plant and the Town Hall indicated that some of the trihalomethane
family had levels that may be over the proposed E.P.A. standards
now being promulgated. This is a new and very recent standard be-
ing developed and it is anticipated it will become a primary
standard for the State of Massachusetts and as such it will require
notification to the consumer similar to that required for the sodium
problem. However, this standard will allow a three year grace period
for communities who reach compliance and it is anticipated that the
Reading water supply will have those ramifications made in sufficient
time to comply with the E.P.A. requirements. Mr. Louanis stated
the Town' s consultant, Camp, Dresser and McKee, will begin immediately
on testing projects at the treatment plant to find a solution to
the problem. Mr. Linscott of the Finance Committee offered to re-
quest an associate affiliated with M. I.T. make similar tests and if
the results differ then the Board go back to the State and request
another reading. Mr. Cowell moved it .was seconded that the report ,
be accepted as a point of information and that our consultant, Camp
Dresser and McKee, be made aware of the report and the Board' s
action. It was voted.
The Board met with Jerome G. Russ of Charles George Land
Reclamation Trust to discuss the sale of the incinerator site
and the building of a transfer station on the site. Mr. Russ
stated that if the negotiations were postponed for a year his
concern would probably not beinterested in pursuing the matter.
Chairman Price stated that although it has been rumored that
the M.B.T.A, was going to take the land for parking facilities
nothing tangible has been received. Mr. Cowell indicated that
it was incumbent upon the Board to come up with some positive
recommendations as there is much to be done before any action
will be forthcoming from Town Meeting. Mr. Russ stated that if
the M. B. T. A. does want the incinerator site his concern would
be happy to negotiate for a portion of the property across the
street provided an area of approximately 4 acres is available. 11
Following further discussion it was agreed that the Board would
meet with Mr. Russ and other representatives from Charles George
Minutes - continued January 7, 1980
' Reclamation Trust during the month of February once the Board has
completed its work on the Budget for the ensuing fiscal year.
The Board read letter from Henry W. Fienemann of the Conser-
vation Commission requesting an abatement of the sewer frontage
bill for Lot 26, Plat 111 on Lowell Street as this land was a gift
to the Conservation Commission from F. Dicenzo and Sons, Inc. , 25
Valley Road, Medford, Me. on June 20, 1979. The new deed was
executed and filed on September 19, 1979. It was moved, seconded
and voted to abate the sewer frontage assessment of $172. 24 and the
interest charge of $8.61 totalling $180.85 on this property.
It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the charge for
38. 2 hours at forty-five dollars per hour or a total of $1 ,719.00
as submitted by Town Counsel , Tyler and Reynolds for the month of
October. The Board requested Superintendent Louanis inform the
Board of Selectmen of the action taken by the Board on this matter.
Letter from the Conservation Commission concerning the drive-
way to Bare Meadow and drainage problems in the area was reviewed
and it was decided to take this matter up during preparation of the
budget.
As requested by the Planning Board it was moved, seconded and
voted to provide the Planning Board with a copy of the Agenda and
the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Public Works.
Mr. Price reported to the Board that he had a meeting with the
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the Town Accountant and Town
Counsel on December 17, 1979 and at the advice of the Town Counsel
the proposed payment to Weston and Sampson was being held up pend-
ing further clarification from E.P.A. Further, Town Counsel was in
the process of reviewing Weston and Sampson' s proposed response
from the most recent letter from the E.P.A. regarding the amendment
of the engineering services contract. Town Counsel has not had an
opportunity to complete his review and has promised to have his
comments to the Board prior to the meeting of January 14th. At
the request of the Board of Selectmen Mr. Price retired from the
meeting and turned the Chair over to Mr. Cowell . Mr. Cowell said he
felt no action should be taken on this matter until the Chairman was
present and suggested the Board begin a review of the FY-81 Budget.
Prior to the discussion of the budget it was moved, seconded and
voted to sign letter committing charges for sewer house connec-
tions in the amount of $842.80 to the Tax Collector for collection.
The Superintendent gave an overview of the budget reviewing
Summary Sheets A, B, C, D, E. Also reviewed were the detailed
sheets for Administration and Engineering and because of the
lateness of the hour it was decided to postpone further discussion
until January 10th.
The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending January
4th and the Bill Roll dated January 11 , 1980.
It was moved, seconded and voted to adjourn at 11 :05 P.M.
ReqDactfully submitted,
Se ��