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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1962-09-10 Board of Public Works Minutes September 10, 1962 LRegular meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P.M. in Room 16, Municipal Building. Present were Chairman Hodson, Secretary Watt, Board Mem- bers Brown, Florence and Kenney,. and Superintendent Welch. Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved as amended. Read note from the Superintendent and letter from the Selectmen in regard to the Town Hall being manned during the noon hour. Mr. Hodson advised the Board that he would convey their wishes on the matter to a meeting to be held at 8:30 P.M. in the Selectmen's Office. Mr. Watt moved that one person man the office during lunch hour, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted. Read note from Mr. Welch informing the Board that on Wed- nesday afternoon, October 3, the members of the New England Water i6 Works Association attending the annual convention in Boston will be invited to visit Reading 's New Water Treatment Plant. The tour will start at 2:00 P.M. Mr. Watt moved, it was seconded and voted to ac- cept the dataas information to the Board. Hearing was held at 8:00 P.M. regarding the construction under the Betterment Act of a Bituminous Concrete sidewalk on the easterly side of Charles Street between Wakefield Street and Haver- hill Street. Ten persons attended the hearing. Mr. Hodson advised the abuttors that a petition had been received by the Selectmen for installation of a sidewalk in that area and that the decision rested with the abuttors themselves. The petition cited the safety of children using the playground and going to school. A discussion en- sued. Mr. Welch answered detail questions submitted by the inter- ested parties. Mr. Hodson polled the abuttors as follows: - In favor - 0; Opposed - 10; Non-committal - 0. It was moved, seconded J and voted that the Board abandon installation of the sidewalk on Charles Street between Wakefield Street and Haverhill Street. Mr. Hodson left the meeting to confer with the Board of Selectmen on the manning of the Town offices between 12:00 and 1:00. Mr. Watt acted as Chairman. Hearing was held at 8:30 P.M. for the purpose of taking of easements for drainage and pwerage purposes through private property, bob ix northerly„ of and seua/thei4y of Whitehall Lane. Five oe, persons attended the hearing. A discussion ensued regarding drainage conditions in the area. It was moved, seconded and voted that the Board sign the taking of an easement northerly of Whitehall Lana with the provi- sion that Bernard M. Creaser and Roy M. Emanuelson sign the Release from Damages. Roland Hoag, representing Normandy Trust, conferred with the Board and Messrs. Barker and Schwellenbach regarding proposed easement southerly of Whitehall Lane between the lot lines of 36 and 37 and land owned by Normandy TrusL. Mr. Hoag explained to the Board that Francis Kiley had an option on the land but did not own it at this time ; therefore, Normandy Trust would be responsible for any assessments or costs of construction for installing a drain. As Messrs. Barker and Kiley would benefit, it was proposed that Mr. Hoag prepare an agreement whereby all assessments and costs of construction would be handled by Kiley and Barker should the Town take the easement. Messrs. Hoag and Barker finally agreed to pursue the possibility of installing a storm drain and appurtenances in the near future with the Town making a taking at a later date. The -mee"t nJ was adjourned until a future date. The meeting adjourned temporarily at 9:50 P.M. to meet as the Board of Survey. The Board reconvened at 10:00 P.M. Mr. Hodson advised the Board that all Town Hall offices would be open between the hours of 12:00 and 1:00 for business. Read note from Mr. Welch advising the Board that the Legislature recently voted under Chapter 782 - Acts of 1962 - to distribute $10,000,000 of Highway funds to the Cities and Towns. Reading will receive $28,000. The money can be spent for any pur- pose for which the Town is authorized to borrow money under Clause 5 of Section 7 of Chapter 44. Mr. Florence moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted to accept the data as information. Petition was presented to the Board by the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company and Town of Reading Municipal Light Department for the removal and relocation of a ,jointly owned pole on Willow Street, approximately 1632 feet Southwesterly from Lowell Street. It was moved, seconded and voted to approvetherequest. Read letter from John Devaney, 34 Washington Street, regarding further abatement on his July 1962 water bill. No addi- tional abatement was granted and the letter was referred to Mr. Welch for reply. Read note from Board of Selectmen regarding town-owned fence located on a wall abutting 120 Middlesex Avenue allegedly in need of repair. A discussion followed. Mr. Watt moved the item regarding the fence be tabled for one week pending further investigation; it was seconded and voted. Mr. Hodson read letter from Edwin D. Callahan, Member of the Incinerator Committee, Stoneham, in which it was disclosed that the Town of Stoneham is actively seeking solution to the rub- bish disposal problem. The question was raised as to the possibil- ity of the Town of Stoneham using the Reading Dump on a rental ba- sis. A discussion ensued on the incineration problem. 98 Mr. Florence moved that Mr. Callahan of the Incinera- tor Committee be notified of the receipt of his letter and advised that the Board of Public Works is taking the matter under advise- ' ment; Mr. Brown seconded and it was voted. Read letter from the Selectmen relative to confusion about Virginia Road and Virginia Circle and Mr. Welch' s comments. The mix-up could be avoided by renumbering two houses on Virginia Road so they would become 8 and 12 Virginia Circle. Mr. Florence moved a hearing be held regarding the afore- mentioned change; Mr. Watt seconded and it was voted. It was moved, seconded and voted to sign the following: Contract - Bituminous Concrete Recover Work - Essex Bituminous Concrete Company Commitment Sheets - House Connection - Sewer Signed Payroll and Billroll for the period September 2 through September 8, 1962. Mr. Watt, member of the Recreation Committee, reported ' that the winter program was discussed at a recent meeting. This included the hockey rink boards. Mr. Watt also stated that the Recreation Committee has under consideration constructing an open air swimming pool in the Birch Meadow area in the rear of the Senior High School. Meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. 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