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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-06-09 Board of Public Works Minutes June 9, 1980 Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16, Municipal Building at 7:30 P . M. Present were Chairman Cowell, Secretary Wood, Board Mem- bers DeHart , Fallon, Barker , Superintendent Louanis and Assis- tant Superintendent Bergeron . It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to accept the minutes of the meeting of June 2, 1980 as amended. It was moved to accept the minutes of the Executive Session and hold them under executive privilege until July 1, 1980 when at the discretion of the Board they may be removed from execu- tive privilege . This was seconded and voted 5: 0 . Superintendent Louanis reported Addison and Wesley and Tasc have been concerned for some time about traffic entering Route 28 from South Street. These organizations have been working with the Chief of Police and the Board of Selectmen in an effort to resolve the problem. The Superintendent felt the ' Board should be aware of the ground work underway , traffic counts , surveys, etc . , before the issue of the installation of traffic signals at the corner of South and Main Street appears in the local newspaper . When questioned , the Superintendent stated he felt the lights at this location would be a major improvement . It was moved , seconded and voted 5:0 to accept the report as a point of information . Chairman Cowell requested the Board to direct their atten- tion to Salary Reduction Options I through IV as proposed by the Superintendent totalling $65 ,426 as mandated by the Finance Committee together with backup information describing the areas to be affected by the proposed cuts (copy appended hereto) . Following a review of the entire report the Chairman took a vote on each item, as follows: It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to make a zero cut in the Administration Account . It was moved , seconded and votedto reduce the Highway Mainten- ance Salary Account by R21 000 as follows: Temporary Patch - Move to reduce by $5 000 seconded, voted 5:0 Chip Sael. etc. - Move to reduce by 3,000 - no second Move to reduce by zero - seconded , voted 3:2 Bit . Conc. Overlay - Move to reduce by $1 .800 - seconded and voted 3:2 Street Sweeping - Move to reduce by $10.000 - seconded and , voted 4:1 General - Move to reduce by zero - no second. Move to reduce by $4, 200 seconded for discussion . Mr. Fallon suggested follow- ing Superintendent ' s recommendation of a zero reduction . Mr. DeHart moved to reduce the account by $1 ,200 - it was seconded and voted 2:3 . The Chairman then asked for a vote on the original motion of $4, 200 - vote . 3: 2 - motion carried . Sidewalk Maint . Move to reduce by $5.000, seconded and voted , 5:0. Parking Lot Maint . Move to reduce by $5, 100, seconded and voted, 5 :0. Storm Drain Maint , Move to reduce by zero - seconded and voted, 5:0 . Drain Construction Move to reduce by $10,500 (see Option I ) it was seconded and voted 4: 1. Equipment Maint. Mrs. Wood moved to reduce by $5,400, it was seconded. Mr . Fallon moved to reduce the account by $2,700 suggesting that mainten- ance of plows, installation and repairs to plow equipment could be properly charged to Snow and Ice - it was seconded . Mr . , Barker moved a zero reduction - it was seconded. Chairman Cowell polled the Board as follows: Zero reduction 2: 3 - motion lost $2, 700 - vote 5:0 - motion carried. Park-Playground Move to reduce by $9,000 - seconded. Mr. Fallon moved to reduce by $5,000 and continue maintenance of equipment, fences and diamonds once a week but cease to maintain school fields, the depot area, War Memorial , Donegan Park , move voting booths and assist in the preparation and cleanup of the annual recreation carnival . It was seconded. Chairman Cowell asked for a vote : Reduce by $5 000 - voted 5:0. Forestry Move to re uute by $5,000 - seconded. Mr. Fallon moved to reduce by $2,800 - seconded : Chairman Cowell asked for a vote: $2,800 reduction - vote 3: 2 motion carried. Sewer Maintenance Moved to reduce by $2,570 - seconded and voted . Sewer House Conn. Moved to reduce this account by $6 ,274 - it was seconded . Mr . DeHart moved to reduce the account by $8 ,850 - it was seconded. , Mr. Fallon moved to reduce the account by $7,356 - it was seconded Mr . Cowell polled the Board on the three motions as follows: $6, 274 1:4 the motion last $7, 356 2: 3 the motion lost . - $8 ,850 2: 3 the motion lost Mrs. Wood moved to reconsider the vote concerning the Forestry Division - it was seconded and voted 1:4 - motion lost. Mr . Fallon moved to reconsider .the vote on Sewer House Connections - it was seconded and voted 5:0 Mr. Fallon moved to reduce Sewer House Connections $7, 356 - it was seconded. Mrs. Wood moved to reduce Sewer House Connections by $8,850. It was seconded . Chairman Cowell polled the Board on reducing Sewer House Connections as follows: 7,356 vote 1:4 - motion lost $8 ,850 vote 4: 1 - motion carried Street Sweeping: It was moved , seconded and voted to recon- sider Street Sweeping under the Highway Main- tenance budget 5:0 . It was moved , seconded and votedtoreduce this account by $8 .506 rather than $10,000 as pre- viously voted - the vote 5:0. This alters the total Hiahwav Maintenance Salary reduction to read $19.506 rather than $21,000 as originally voted . The Board signed the following: Pay Roll for the period ending June 6 , 1960 Bill Roll dated June 13, 1980 Contract 80-6B Stone Chip Seal - Bell and Flynn , Inc. Contract 60-6A Stone Chip Seal - Able Bituminous The Chairman informed the Board he had two subcommittees which he wished to form: one to deal with personnel to investigate the concerns of the non-union employees . Mr . Fallon and Mr. Barker accepted the appointment to this committee. The Chairman inform- ed the Board he asked Mr . DeHart to serve on the Personnel Committee but Mr . DeHart had declined on the grounds that a conflict might develop since he is employed by another municipality . The second ' subcommittee will deal with the Park and Playground Long Range Planning to develop a construction program that had not been forthcoming from the Ad Hoc Committee . Mrs. Wood and Mr. DeHart accepted appointments to this committee . The Board reviewed bids for Franklin Street Drain Construc- tion Contract 80-10 . Bids ranged from a low of $27,391 to a high ' of $53,475 . The Engineering Division investigated the low bidder, Main Line Construction and found their references were in good order and recommended the award be made to the low bidder. It was moved , seconded and voted to award the contract to Main Line Construction in the amount of $27, 391 subject to their ability to furnish proper payment and performance bonds. The vote 5:0. Bids were received on June 4, 1980 at 3:30 P . M. for brass as follows: George A. Caldwell Company . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5 ,530.00 Eureka Cement Lined Pipe Co. , Inc . . . . . . 4,415.00 Hilco Supply , Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,919 .00 Ti-Sales , Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,878 .00 It was moved , seconded and voted to award the contract for brass goods to Ti-Sales , Inc, the only bidder on all items, in the amount of $4,878 .00• The Board reviewed letter from Barden and Remington concern- ing a request for additional compensation because of unforseen costs to their company and requesting an opportunity to arrive , at a break even point for the balance of the contract. It was agreed the Superintendent write the company a letter informing them the Board sympathizes with their position. However, the Town of Reading goes through the bidding process for the purpose of obtaining firm prices for the financial year in order that the Town will be able to live with its authorized budget. The Board reviewed Town Counsel' s bill for April 1980. It was moved , seconded and voted 5:0 to approve the bill in the amount of $751.50. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0 to table action on two letters re : Sanborn Lane Subdivision . tt It was moved, seconded and voted 5 :0 totable /a he'Pu4es and Regulations of the Sanitary Landfill Area. The Board reviewed letter from Anthony DePalma regarding final payment on the state and federally funded sewer main con- struction program. It was accepted as a point of information . , C. Jiustino, Inc. requested permission to be licensed as a Drain Layer for the Town of Reading. It was moved , seconded and voted 5:0 to approve C. Jiustino of Hyde Park as a Licensed /I Drain Layer subject to their ability to provide a proper street opening bond and pay the neceasary license fee. Meeting adjourned at 10 :45 P . M. Respectfully submitted, /QST Secretary May 1980 Salary Reduction Options Function I II III IV* Administration 0 0 0 0 Engineering 3,400 0 3,400 3,400 Highway Maintenance-Total 18, 150 23,800 30,000 16,450 (Temp.Patch) (2, 150) (2,000) (5,000) (5,000) (Chip Seal E Cross Sec) (0) (10,000) (91000) (3,000) (Bit.Conc.Overlay) (1 ,800) ( 1 ,800) ( 1 ,800) (1 ,800) (Street Sweeping) ( 10,000) (10,000) ( 10,000) (6,650) (General ) (4, 200) (0) (4, 200) (0) Sidewalk Maintenance 0 5,000 5,000 5,000 Parking Lot Maintenance 5, 100 5, 100 5, 100 5, 100 Storm Drain Maintenance 0 0 4,226 0 Drain Construction 10,500 7,200 12,300 7,200 Equipment Maintenance 0 0 5,400 0 Parks and Playgrounds 9,000 9,000 0 9,000 Forestry 5,000 5,000 0 5,000 Sewer Maintenance 5,426 5,426 0 5,426 Sewer House Connection 8,850 4,900 0 8,850 Traffic Control Signs 0 0 0 0 Totals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,426 65,426 65,426 65,426 *Recommended ' ENGINEERING Cut of $3,400.00 - This will result in a decrease of overtime for t e ngineering ivision . Assistance to other Departments will be eliminated except on an overtime basis if they have budgeted money . An engineering student , to aid the Division in the inspec- tion of a substantial amount of contract work , will not be hired � for the summer months. TEMPORARY PATCH Cuts of $2, 150.00 end 2 000.00 - This cut will reflect a de- crease in effort to patch pot holes. Requests will be investigated, however , patching will be done on a next day basis except in extreme emergencies. . Cut of $5,000.00 - Patching will be done from a prepared list. Requests will be investigated and if necessary a flashing construc- tionhorse will be placed at the problem area as a warning to motor- Jists. This is a substantial decrease in effort, but is a more efficient method . However, it could also leave the Town more vul- nerable for law suits. CHIP SEAL & CROSS SECTION IMPROVEMENT . Cuts of $9,000.00 & $10.000.00 - It will not be possible to do a substantial amount of preparation work on roadways requiring stone chip seal. Patching of service and mein utility trenches and struc- ture adjusting would be eliminated to a large degree. This reduction will result in loss of surface life and therefore increase costs in the future. Buried structures also could result in lost time during emergency conditions. Cut of $3,000.00 - This reduction will result in the elimination of some preparation work on stone chip seal roadways such as utility trench patching and structure adjusting . BITUMINOUS CONCRETE OVERLAY Cut of $1 800.00 - This cut will mean that Town forces will not per orm wor in his area. Structure adjustment and patching will be performed by private contract which will result in a further reduction of this program. . The requested level of effort was already a 300% reduction from FY-80. STREET SWEEPING Cut of $10,000.00 - This substantial cut will eliminate spring street sweeping by Town forces. The Town will have to be swept by private contractor . Sweeping of the business area will be limited to once a week and removal of debris from the sidewalks will be reduced. Ma. sweeping of cemeteries or school areas will be done during regular working .hours. They may be swept on an overtime basis if these Depart- ments have accounts that the labor can be charged to directly. A re- duction in street sweeping will inevitably result in higher drain maintenance costs and an increase in flooding potential. Cut of $6,650.00 - This cut will substantially reduce spring street sweeping by [own forces to a point where the business area and major roadways of high traffic volume and intense sanding occur will be swept . The remaining roadways of the Town will be swept once by private contractor in the spring. There will be a reduction in sweeping of the business area and removal of debris from sidewalks. Sweeping of cemetery and school areas will be done only if these Departments have accounts that the labor can be charged to directly and onovertime basis only. A reduction in street sweeping will inevi- tably result in higher drain maintenance costs and an increase in flooding . HIGHWAY GENERAL Cut of $4, 200.00 - The blocking up and weatherproofing of windows at theHighway Garage, to aid in trying to meet a 20o reduction in energy costs, will not be done. SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE Cut of $5,000.00 - Town forces will no longer remove curbing, construct driveway aprons, or loam and seed sidewalk areas. PARKING LOT .MAINTENANCE Cut of $5,100.00 - Preparation work for the future overlay of Parking Area #2 will not be done. Work eliminated is the proposed addition of drain lines and catch basins plus permanent patching of deteriorated pavement areas. STORM DRAIN MAINTENANCE Cut of $4,226.00 - A cut in this area would eliminate all planned maintenance of culvert inlets and outlets. Lack of scheduled maintenance will result in higher future costs, as has been proven in the past . DRAIN CONSTRUCTION - Cut of $12,300.00 - This cut would eliminate planned construc- tion . on Franklin Street (Pasture Road to William Road) and on Mark Avenue. . However, the construction on Franklin Street has been com- pleted. due to the fa,yiR�rable conditions and efficiency of the Drain Construction crew on^'tfroject on Franklin Street (Grove Street to Meedowbrook Lane) . Cut of $10,500.00 - This cut would eliminate planned construc- tion on Franklin Street (Pasture Road to William Road) and on Weston Road (at Longfellow Road) . Cut of $7,200.00 - This cut would eliminate planned construc- tion on Franklin Street (Pasture Road to William Road) . EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Cut off40000 - The level of effort in this area as re- queste by to he Board of Public Works is necessary for the proper maintenance of the equipment . A cut in this area would necessitate charging an equal portion of labor for maintenance to the Snow and Ice appropriation. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS Cut of $9,000.00 - A reduction in this area will limit the functions of the Parks Division to turf management , the maintenance of playground equipment and .fences, and the maintenance of ball diamonds once per week. We will no longer be able to line ball fields, maintain the fields at Joshua Eaton, prepare Washington Park and Birch Meadow Varsity Fields just prior to scheduled games, maintain the Depot area, the War Memorial or Donegan Park, move voting booths or assist in the preparation and clean-up of the annual recreation carnival. FORESTRY Cut of $5,000.00 - This cut will result in the elimination of Dutch Elm Tree removal on private propertyand the installation and removal of Christmas lights except an an overtime basis. There will also be a reduction of one employee in this area. Trimming, removal, spraying and planting of trees will not be .done on property other than that under the jurisdiction of the Board of Public Works. SEWER MAINTENANCE Cut of $5,426.00 - This will eliminate the rodding or replace- ment of sewer services whether it be on a planned or emergency basis. SEWER HOUSE CONNECTIONS Cut of $8 ,850.00 - Eliminate this program completely . Use expense money for loam, seed and bituminous concrete to maintain existing trenches. Cut of $4,900.00 - Construct five (5) new services only. General Statement In order to provide services, complete projects, and perform all construction and maintenance functions, it will be . necessary to concentrate all efforts during the regularly scheduled week on only Public Works and Water Department related work. Assistance to other Departments will no longer take place. Many of these fun- ctions performed for other Departments have been mentioned in the previously listed functions, but there are more . It is an unfor- tunate and unpleasant situation, but in order to perform the functions of the Department, it is necessary. . If other Departments in the Town of Reading have budgeted money to pay Public Works' labor costs directly, work for them may be scheduled on an overtime basis. DOUGLAS A COWELL, CMfV . OFFICE OF GAIL F. WOOD, Sendery TOWN OF READING DON B. DeHART JOHN L FALCON, M. ` BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS DOUGLAS$ L. BARKER ee �� MUNICIPAL BUILDING E. ROGER LOUAIMS, Sup rift n t �O .�u.F �u READING. MASS. 01067 MASSACHUSETTS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, as. The undersigned, Board of Public Works of the Town of Reading, in compliance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 60, as amended by Chapter 63 of the Acta of 1933, hereby certify that the lista here- with contain the names of persons against whom we have made betterment assessments together with the location of the land benefited by the improvement and the nature and amount of such betterment assessment. Sewer House Connections $ 240.00 Such list is certified to you for the purpose i of committing the same to the Tex Collector, as provided by low. WITNESS our hands this twenty-third day of June 1980 A. D. airsan i — Secretary See Commitment Sheet for List