HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-01-21 Board of Public Works Minutes January 21 , 1980
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened at 7:30 P. M.
in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Mem-
bers DeHart, Wood and Fallon, Superintendent Louanis, Assistant
Superintendent Bergeron, Assistant Superintendent McIntire,
Finance Committee Member Linscott and Town Meeting Member Barker.
Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to table minutes
of previous meeting.
Read letter drafted by Weston and Sampson Engineers, Inc.
to be sent by the Board of Public Works to the E. P. A. A dis-
cussion ensued concerning as to whom within the E. P. A. the
letter should be directed. It was moved, seconded and voted
to direct the letter to Mr. Adams of the E. P. A. with carbon
copies sent to Mr. DePalma and Senator Kennedy.
The Board signed "Agreement between the Town of Reading and
Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc. for Professional Engineering Services"
Contract 79-23 to evaluate the existing water treatment facility
and water supply needs of the Town, and directed the Superinten-
dent to forward it to Town Counsel for approval as to form.
Mr. Price read letter from the Board of Health requesting
the forces employed by the Board of Public Works dig a trench
three feet wide, three feet deep and twenty to thirty feet in
length on Town land near Fox Run Lane to be used for the burial
of dead animals. Secretary Cowell moved that the Board give the
letter to the Superintendent and instruct the Superintendent to
confer with the Board of Health as it does not seem prudent to
leave a trench of this size open as serious problems could re-
sult. It was seconded and voted.
Mr. Price read letter received from the Finance Committee
stating that Mr. George Taylor would represent them at the
Public Works meetings. Mr. Taylor has informed the Chairman
Price he felt this was an error. However, until further notice
Mr. Price requested Mr. Taylor receive a copy of the Agenda.
Mr. Cowell read Notice of Preliminary Public Hearing con-
cerning the laying out as a public way, Dividence Road under the
Betterment Act. Chairman Price greeted the abutters and intro-
duced the Board stating that Assistant Superintendent would out-
line the work to be done to bring Dividence Road up to standard
in order that the Board could recommend to Town Meeting it be
accepted as a public way, questions would be presented by the
Board and then the meeting would be opened to questions from the
citizens. Mr. Bergeron stated that Dividence Road would be
brought up to standard from Franklin Street to Emerson Street
and approximately 728 feet of drainage would be installed and four
catch basins added. It is not planned to take any land by eminent
domain as it is expected that the abutters will grant easements
,
to the Town.
Trees shrubs and stone walls would have to be moved
back but a sixty day notice will be given to the abutters to
accomplish this and if the items are not moved the Town will do it
during the construction of the street. Mr. Bergeron stated the
construction. costs will be $60.69 per lineal foot. At this point
Chairman Price requested Superintendent Louanis explain the methods
of payment for the assessments that will be made available to the
abutters. Superintendent Louanis explained that this was merely
a preliminary hearing and that if the citizens were in favor of ,
the construction of the street an in depth engineering study would
be made and property owners would then be given a cost sheet in-
dicating an amount that would be assessed against each parcel of
land. The Superintendent explained the options available concern-
ing payment. Chairman Price opened the meeting to questions from
the Board. Mr. Cowell asked if any trees would have to come down.
Mr. Bergeron stated there were two or three trees that must be re-
moved and stated that there would be no formal sidew k. Mr. De-
Hart asked if the work would be done by Town forces or by contract
to which Mr. Bergeron responded, "by contract". The Town will
locate the bounds but the actual construction will be done by con-
tract. The meeting was then opened to questions from the citizens.
Mr. Bolton of 47 Emerson Street asked for an explanation of corner
lot assessments. Superintendent Louanis stated that since Mr.
Bolton lived on a corner lot involving two unaccepted streets he
would receive a one hundred percent assessment on Dividence Road ,
and then when Emerson Street became an accepted street he would
receive a corner lot exemption. The question was raised as to
how many people signed the petition to have the street accepted.
Minutes - continued January 21 , 1980
1 Chairman Price indicated that ten signatures were on the petition
and stated further that the Board now requests that each person
present cast a vote indicating his or her preference concerning
the acceptance of the street. It was moved, seconded and voted
to close the hearing. Ballots were cast with the following re-
sults:
1 - In favor
1 - Noncommittal
5 - Opposed
Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted not to pursue the
matter further. Mr. Cowell requested the abutters be advised
that the vote indicated an overwhelming opposition to the accept-
ance of the street therefore there would not be another hearing.
The Board, with the exception of Mr. Price who abstained,
signed the Bill Roll dated January 25, 1980 and the Pay Roll for
the period ending January 18, 1980.
Chairman Price called for a review of the Budget and dis-
cussion began starting with the accounts, as follows:
Account #4000 Administration - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $140,736 and Expenses at $3,482 for a total of $144, 218.
Account #4100 Engineering - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $140,736 and Expenses at $3,482 for a total of $144, 218.
Account #4200 Temporary Patch - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $19,530 and Expenses at $27,200 for a total of $46,730.
Account #4210 Chip Seal - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $22,770 and Expenses at $51 ,800 for a total of $74,570.
Account #4220 Bituminous Concrete Overlay. - Moved, seconded and
voted to approve Salaries at $1 ,800 and Expenses at $12,000 for a
total of $13,800.
Account #4230 Street Sweeping - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $18, 195 and Expenses at $16,285 for a total of $34,480.
Account #4240 Road Reconstruction - See Special Articles
Account #4250 Highway Maintenance - Moved, seconded and voted to
' approve Salaries at $156,300 and Expenses at $79,712 for a total
of $236,012.
Account 4300 Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance- Moved, seconded
and voted to approve Salaries at $14,570, Expenses at $6,525 for a
Total of $21 ,095.
Account 4310 Parking Area - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $6,065 and Expenses at $5,000 for a total of $11 ,065.
Account 4320 Storm Drains - Moved, seconded and voted to approve
Salaries at $33,211 and Expenses at $2,600 for a total of $35,811 .
Account 4330 Drain Construction - Moved, seconded and voted to
approve Salaries at $19,870 and Expenses at $13,330 for a total
of $43, 200.
Account #4400 Equipment Maintenance - Moved, seconded and voted
to approve Salaries at $72,083 and Expenses at $109,097 for a
total of $181 , 180.
Account #4500 Parks and Playgrounds - Moved, seconded and voted to
approve Salaries at $70,325 and Expenses at $21 ,362 for a total of
$91 ,687.
Account #4520 Forestry - Mr. McIntire reported that the current
proposed budget for the Forestry Division calls for the purchase
of two chain saws which will bring the total inventory to twelve
and it is expected that two years down the road it will be necessary
to purchase one saw per year. Mr. Fallon moved, it was seconded to
strike $920 from the budget request for the purchase of saws. The
vote: 1 in favor - 4 opposed. It was moved, seconded and voted
to approve Salaries at $90,721 and Expenses at $11 ,872 for a total
of $102,593.
Account #4600 Sewer Maintenance - Moved, seconded and voted to
reduce insurance expense to last year ' s level and approve Salaries
at $72,593 and Expenses at $56,881 for a total of $129,454.
Account #4620 - Sewer House Connections - Moved, seconded and voted
to approve Salaries at $94,652 and Expenses at $62,347 for a total
of $157,000.
Account #4800 - Water Construction and Maintenance - to be dis-
cussed January 28.
Account #4900 - Rubbish Collection - Moved, seconded and voted to
approve Salaries at $2, 100 and Expenses at $219,405 for a total
of $221 ,505.
Account 4950 and 4955 Landfill-Recycling - Moved, seconded and '
voted to reduce Account 4955-103 to $450 from $754 and moved,
seconded and voted to approve Salaries at $23,322 and Expenses at
$16,650 for a total of $39,972.
Minutes - continued January 21 , 1980
Account #4960 Equipment Replacement - It was moved, seconded and
voted to approve $90, 300 for Equipment Replacement.
Account #4970 Traffic Control Sign and Lines - Moved, seconded
and voted to approve Salaries at #3,600 and Expenses at $6.600
for a total of $10,200.
Account Special - State Road Construction - Moved, seconded and
voted to approve $49,728 to be spent for roadway construction to
be reimbursed by the State of Massachusetts upon completion of
work.
Road Reconstruction - Moved, seconded and voted to approve $243,500
for Special Article.
The Board agreed to meet Thursday, January 24, 1980 at 7: 15
P.M. for further work on the Budget.
fu11
submitt ,
Secretar C�
