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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-02-11 Board of Public Works Minutes February 11 , 1980 Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16, Muni- cipal Building at 7:30 P. M. Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Members DeHart, Wood and Fallon and Superintendent Louanis. It was moved, seconded and voted to table the minutes of the meeting of February 4th until later in the evening. Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to accept and sign the Agreement between the Town of Reading and City of Woburn as out- lined in the Agreement. At 7:35 P.M. Mr. Cowell read Notice of Public Hearing regard- ing the Petition of the Boston Gas Company for the installation of approximately 23 feet of 2-inch and 13 feet of 4-inch pipe in Willow Street. Three people attended the hearing. Mr. Wilson Wood repre- sented the Boston Gas Company and amended the petition stating that a more current plan had been prepared wherein it is proposed to in- stall 180 feet of 2-inch and 13-feet of 4-inch pipe necessitating 1 three cuts in the pavement on Willow Street. The first cut will be 41 x 81 on the easterly side of the railroad track, the second cut 41 x 81 approximately 501 westerly of the railroad track and a third cut approximately 1751 westerly of the second cut at the point where the pits will be located, the cut to be 5' x 61 . The remainder of the work will be accomplished off the travelled way. Mr. Wood answered the questions presented by the Board in detail and Chairman Price opened the meeting to questions from citizens. Mr. Fish who owns the property at 60 Willow Street was assured that there would be police protection when work was in progress and that the two-inch line as it goes under the railroad track, will be placed inside an exist- ing six inch steel line and will therefore be protected. Mr. Wood stated every effort will be made to complete the work to as short a time as possible and it will be scheduled during the week begin- ning February 18th when school will be closed. Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to approve the Boston Gas Company Peti- tion as amended and as on file in the Engineering Division for the installation of 1801 of 2" pipe and 13' of 4" pipe on Willow Street in order to service the Austin Preparatory School . The Board reviewed Town Counsel ' s bill of 35.80 hours for the month of November 1979. It was moved, seconded and voted to approve 35.80 hours at $45.00 per hour, or $1 ,611 .00. The Board also re- , viewed the December bill for legal services which included telephone calls on December 11 and 13 by R. MacDonald for a total of .50 hours. It was moved, seconded and voted to approve 9.9 hours at $45.00 per hour, or $445. 50 deducting the . 50 hours as it is in violation of the Law Committee rules and regulations. A citizen, Arthur Reynolds of Hillside Road, appeared before the Board to question whether the Board has considered a graduated scale when billing residents for water useage in an effort to en- courage conservation. Mr. Cowell indicated this would take time as it would require that the program for the computer be rewritten. Superintendent Louanis stated this had been discussed when the last change of rates was made but too many factors entered into the gradu- ated rate method of billing. Among other things, because of the different number of people living in different homes it would be difficult to determine the level where it would be right to start to charge more per cubic foot. Mr. Reynolds was also concerned with the condition of the Town owned land on Waverly Street and was assured the Department would continue to monitor the area. Mrs. Higgott of 532 Summer Avenue appeared before the Board and questioned why the water rates in Reading were higher than in some of the surrounding towns and cities. The Superintendent explained that the .Water Department in the Town of Reading is self- sustaining while in some .towns and cities the water department is partially sustained by the payment of water bills and the balance is supported by tax revenue. The Board met with Mr. Russ who represented Charles George Trucking Company, Inc. to review their proposal of January 30, 1980 (copy attached) concerning the Incinerator Site. Mr. Russ clarified some of the items of concern, as follows: 1 . Charles George is interested in purchasing the Incinerator site but has no interest in the incinerator. 2. They are interested in purchasing the scales. 3. They would lease but are not interested in purchasing the ' landfill site. 4. If the Town wished to continue its recycling program Charles George would provide a container or truck for the purpose but would not provide manpower. 5. The Town would realize $160,000 as the purchase price, royalty fee of 50C per tone the first year, increasing annually in accord- ance with the consumer price index, excise tax on trucks estim- ated value of which is $440,000 or approximately $11 ,616 per year, and real estate tax on an assessed property valuation of $500,000 to $600,000 per year. Mrs. Wood stated she would like to see the property sold to someone. Mr. Russ of Charles George Trucking Company indicated that time was not of the essence to his company because they were actively involved in baling and transferring in Boston. Mr. Price ird icated that the Board had other options to consider and that the Board should formu- late some definite plans by the November Town Meeting since our pre- sent rubbish disposal contract would terminate June 30, 1981 . This should give the Board ample time to meet with other Boards concern- ing the matter including the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board. Mr. Price thanked Mr. Russ for his input and stated the Board would get back to him in the near future. Meeting adjourned temporarily and following a meeting of the Board of Survey reconvened at 10:30 P. M. The Board discussed the Water Construction and Maintenance Account ' #4820 - Service Pipe Construction. It was moved, seconded and voted to accept Salaries at $17,235 and Expenses at $13,554 for a total of $30,789. Chairman Price asked if the Board wished to increase the water rates for the coming year. Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to continue with the present rates. The vote was unanimous. The Board then reviewed the Summary of the Water Department Budget, and it was moved, seconded and voted to approve $894,926 ( .74 over last year ' s total water budget) for FY-81 . It was raved, seconded and voted to approve the minut4s of the meeting of February 4, 1980. The Superintendent presented a proposed new sewer main plan for Cedar Glen to the Board. This plan is an amendment to the original plan which would have sewer Cedar Glen by the construction of a connector sewer parallel with Main Street to the Interceptor sewer running from Collins Avenue to Main Street. The proposed amended plan ' will now connect to a new interceptor sewer constructed from the end of Collins Avenue in a northeasterly direction to the Cedar Glen De- velopment. Mr. Cowell asked if this was a connection desired by the Board and the Superintendent stated it was. It was then moved, seconded and voted to approve the proposed amended sewer plan. The Board signed the payroll for the period ending February 8, 1980 and the Bill Roll dated February 15, 1980. Meeting adjourned at 11 : 20 P. M. L/= R�SpaG>;fully submitted, ecret 4e CHARLES GEORGE TRUCKING COMPANY INC. P.O. BOX 186 DUNSTABLE ROAD TVNGSBORO, MASSACHUSETTS 01879 Tel. 933-3483 T.I. 649-7564 January 30 , 1980 Board of Public Health Town Hall Reading , Massachusetts 01867 Re: Response to Questions Asked by Mr. Louani.s . and Mr. Bergeron during a Meeting on January 18, 1980. Attention : Mr. E. Roger Louanis Dear Mr. Louanis: During a meeting held at your office on January 18 , 1980 , attended by yourself, Mr. Bergeron , and Mr. Russ who was representing Charles George Trucking Company, Inc. , several questions were put forth by yourself and Mr. Bergeron regarding the proposed Transfer Station at the Incinerator Site. The purpose of this meeting was to clarify the position of Charles George Trucking Company, Inc . regarding the proposed Transfer Station. It was determined that the best method to address these questions was in a letter form. The following is our representative ' s interpretation of the questions asked and their answers : I . What are the financial benefits to the Town of Reading of a transfer station operated by a private company? Ans . There are immediate financial gains to be made by Town in the following way: A. Payment of $0. 50 per ton for all refuse leaving the site to a final solid waste deposition point (landfill , Incinerator, etc. ) . We quoted a minimum of $15 ,600. 00 per year. B. Excise taxes on trucks registered in the Town of Reading , This figure was given in our proposal as $11 ,616. 00 , based on just ten (10) trucks with an estimated average value of $44 ,000. 00 each . C. Taxable property and other taxable improvements will range in the area of $500,000. 00 to $600,000,00. DISPOSAL CONTRACTOR • MUNICIPAL • INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL V-7 • CHARLES GEORGE TRUCKING COMPANY, INC. Board of Public Health Reading , Massachusetts Page 2 January 30, 1980 D. Monies would also be paid to the Town in the form of purchase price and/or lease of the proposed site. (This is a change from our original proposal where we stated we had no interest in leasing the site. ) II . What is the expected time period to gear up to the minimum tonnage: Ans . A. The answer to this question at this time is , unfortunately, rather vague in that it will depend on the increase of business in the Greater Reading area and Route 128 areas . However, we feel we would be able to obtain enough tonnage through the site to meet our minimum quote of $15 ,600.00 on the $0. 50 per ton almost immediately , and increase it steadily to our maximum quote within a year. This , obviously, could be sooner if certain municipal bids and private companies come our way. B. There will obviously be a certain amount of time needed to construct the transfer station and get all the necessary approvals from the appropriate departments . There is no telling how long this may take especially if there is a problem in the assigning process on Section 150A of Chapter 111 of the General Laws . III . What is the financial status of Charles George Trucking Company , Inc. and providing a financial statement? A. At this time, Charles George is reluctant to provide a financial statement only because the nature of the company ' s financial business is a private matter. However, should negotiations with the Town proceed further we would be pleased to provide a statement of the financial stability of the company. B. The Town of Reading should be appraised that this company has the financial resources available to it to construct and operate efficiently the proposed project. We have never had a problem with putting together monies for any large capital outlay. C . Our bank , The First National Bank of Boston , has indicated that it will look favorably on this project and preliminary figures on costs and profits show it will be financially stable with just a minimum amount of rubbish coming into the station. In fact, the station would function effec- tively for us without the Town of Reading ' s rubbish. This is plus for the Town in that the station will be available to them when and If they choose to utilize it. f -3 CHARLES GEORGE TRUCKING COMPANY, INC. Board of Public Health IReading , Massachusetts Page 3 January 30, 1980 . IV . How would the Transfer Station effect the long term solid waste needs of the Town of Reading? Ans . A. Although a transfer station is not an ultimate disposal site, it provides a great deal of flexibility in the choice of a final disposal site. It allows the operator to choose any final disposal site within a 100 mile radius of the station and, therefore, pick the best financial and environmental solution to its problems . B. A transfer station will provide ultimate savings to the Town in trucking costs as the disposal sites go further out from the Metropolitan Boston Area. It is an expected fact that several existing commercial landfills in the Greater Boston Area are going to be shutting down shortly for various reasons . Therefore, the trucking distance will soon be going beyond the effective range of small packer trucks . V . What is the legal status of the Tyngsboro Sanitary Landfill ? Ans. A. The Charles George Land Reclamation Trust, the operator of the Tyngsboro sanitary landfill , has been involved in two major legal problems , one with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the other with the Town of Tyngsboro . Both of these cases have now been resolved separately by the signing of Consent Judgments with the appropriate parties . There does not appear to be any threat to the operation of the landfill as long as the Trust continues its current compliance schedule at the landfill . B. There are also two minor civil suits against the Landfill by abutters . One of these has been effectively eliminated by the Consent Judgment signed with the Town of Tyngsboro. The other is yet to be resolved as of this date. However , it does not pose a major financial or operational problem to the landfill . ' C. It is expected that the Tyngsboro landfill has at least Eight (81 years of life with a mdximum range of Twelve (12) years, depending on the incoming tonnage. It is the immediate pian to keep the landfill open as long as possible to obtain the most effective use of the site. VI . What is the advantage to the Town of Reading of the use of the landfill site as a transfer station location? A. The most obvious advantage to the Town is to help it cap the existing landfill site. We have available to us the following equipment: V-4- CHARLES -4CHARLES GEORGE TRUCKING COMPANY, INC. Board of Public Health Reading, Massachusetts Page 4 January 30 , 1980 1 . A Cat. D8K bulldozer with ripper. 2 . A Cat. D9G bulldozer. 3. A Cat. D8H bulldozer. 4. Two (2) Cat. -988 front-end loaders . 5. A Cat. 955K shovel dozer. 6. A Case-Drotte 40. E .C. backhoe. 7 . A Euclid dump truck. 8. Two (2) Brockway dump trucks . 9. A Cat. D-3 bulldozer for slope work. 10. Miscellaneous equipment and trucks are available to us at our request from other contractors . B. All of the above equipment would be available to us and through us to the Town of Reading for a negotiated price. Obviously, portions of the landfill would have to be pre- pared by us for use as a transfer station site. Thus resulting in a savings to the Town for whatever portions they choose to sell or lease. C. We could provide advice , machinery and other help in your operation of the current landfill . We have been involved in the active operation of a commercial landfill since 1967 and have learned many things by both past errors and by correct practice in effective use of machinery and men. We are willing and able to help you in any way we can . If you have any other questions or desire further information please feel free to contact Mr. Russ of this company. Very truly yours , CHARLES GEORGE TRUCKING CO. , INC. k Ya Charles George , r. President b