HomeMy WebLinkAbout1961-01-09 Board of Public Works Minutes January 9, 1961
Regular meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at
7:30 P.M. in the Auditorium of the Community Center, 52 Sanborn
Street.
Present were Chairman Florence, Secretary Harrison,
Board Members Ames and Leonard and Superintendent Welch.
Hearing was held on the laying out as Public Ways under
the Betterment Act of Private Ways known as -
PUTNAM ROAD which runs in a Southeasterly direction from
Main Street, a distance of 1307.08 feet more or less to
Pearl Street;
READING TERRACE which runs in a Northeasterly direction,
a distance of 8.32 feet more or less to a dead end;
SHADY HILL LANE which runs in a Southwesterly direction
from Putnam Road, a distance of 407.43 feet more or less
to a dead end;
SCOUT HILL LANE which runs in a Southeasterly direction
from Shady Hill Lane, a distance of 264.16 feet more or
less to a dead end.
Each person was presented with Cost Estimate and Esti-
mated Betterment Assessment and other necessary material regard-
Ing acceptance of the streets as Public Ways. An extended
discussion followed. Questions were asked by various abutters
and answered by the Board Members and Superintendent Welch.
A total of fifteen persons attended the hearing with
the voting as follows: -
In favor Opposed Non-Com.
Putnam Road 7
Reading Terrace 1 1
(by phone )
Shady Hill Lane 1 1
Scout Hill Lane 1 3
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At the conclusion of the Hearing, the abutters were referred to
detailed plans. Civil Engineer Richard Boutiette answered tech-
nical questions.
The Board of Public Works and Superintendent Welch
moved to Room 14, Municipal Building and continued the meeting.
Mr. Hodson joined the Board in the Municipal Building.
Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved.
Mr. Florence read note from Christine Corkron and
Walter Hopkins expressing their thanks for the flowers sent to
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their Mother by the Board.
Read copy of letter to Police Chief Ellis from the
Board of Selectmen requesting temporary no parking regulations
on one side of the following streets during snow storms and until
such time as the snow has been removed: - i
Prescott Street - Lincoln St. to Washington St.
Washington Street - John St. to High St.
High Street - Washington St. to Woburn St.
Chute Street - High St. to Woburn St.
Linden Street - Woburn St. to Haven St.
Haven Street - Parker St. to High St.
Lincoln Street - Washington St. to Woburn St.
Woburn Street - Lowell St. to High St.
Ash Street - Main St. to Washington St.
Mr. Leonard recommended that the letter be accepted and
placed on file.
The Chairman read copy of the Annual Report of the Board
,of Public Works for 1960.
Mr. Ames moved to hold approval of the report in abeyance
until Monday night, January 16. Mr. Hodson seconded and it was
voted.
,j
LReceived letter from Benjamin F. Nichols requesting
that the Boy Scouts of Reading be allowed to occupy the Reading
Common on Saturday, February 11, 1961 for the observance of the
Boy Scout Anniversary. Mr. Hodson moved that the Board comply
with the request, Mr. Leonard seconded and it was voted.
The Board then took up the acceptance of streets. Nm.
Ames moved that the Board vote on the Development by streets. Mr.
Harrison seconded and it was voted.
Reading Terrace - Mr. Ames moved that the Board recommend
acceptance of Reading (Private ) Terrace as a Public Way
under the Betterment Act at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr.
Harrison seconded and the motion was carried.
Scout Hill Lane - Mr. Ames moved that the Board not recom-
mend acceptance of Scout Hill (Private ) Lane as a Public
Way under the Betterment Act at the Annual Town Meeting.
Mr. Harrison seconded. A short discussion followed. The
motion was not carried.
Mr. Ames moved that the Board recommend acceptance
of Scout Hill (Private) Lane as a Public Way under the
Betterment Act at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Leonard
seconded and it was voted.
Shady Hill Lane - Mr. Ames moved that the Board recommend
acceptance of Shady Hill (Private) Lane as a Public Way
under the Betterment Act at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr.
Hodson seconded and it was voted.
Putnam Road - Mr. Harrison moved that the Board recommend
acceptance of Putnam (Private ) Road as a Public Way under
the Betterment Act at the Annual Town Meeting. Mr.Leonard
seconded and it was voted.
The Board adjourned temporarily at 8:45 P.M. to meet as
the Board d' Survey.
The Board reconvened at 9:25 P.M.
' Signed the pay-roll and bill-roll for the period Jan-
uary 1, 1961 through January 7, 1961.
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Mr. Hodson raised the question of employees of the Board
of Public Works engaging in private work, especially during buss-
. i
ness hours. A lengthy and detailed discussion followed. old
At this point the question arose regarding the payment
of a fee for filing of plans under the Board of Survey. Various
amounts were mentioned. Mr. Leonard moved that the Superintendent
investigate the legal fees which we can charge under the Subdivi-
sion Control Law in relation to filing plans under the Board of Sur-
vey and put into an engineering pool. Mr. Ames seconded and it was
voted.
Mr. Ames moved that a motion previously made by him re-
garding employees performing outside work be removed from the
table. It was seconded and voted.
Mr. Leonard moved that employees of the Board of Public
Works shall not perform private work for private persons or com-
panies during the regular working hours of the Board of Public
Works. Private work shall mean work of any nature, such as plot-
ting, layout, design, mathematics, conferences and reproductions.
This ruling also includes any other type of work normally done by
employees of this Department.
Mr. Harrison suggested that any project under considera-
tion at the present time should not be affected by this ruling.
Mr. Ames moved that notice of the above motion signed by
Members of the Board be posted on all bulletin boards associated
with the Board of Public Works. Mr. Hodson seconded and it was
so voted.
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
Respectfully submittevgd,p
Secretary