HomeMy WebLinkAbout1963-10-07 Board of Public Works Minutes 111
October 7, 1963
' Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P.M.
in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Watt, Secretary Kenney, Board Mem-
bers Florence and Leonard, and Superintendent Welch.
Minutes of the previous meeting read and approved.
Mr. Watt brought before the Board a request from Ronald
Winslow, representing the Reading Chamber of Commerce, to pasture
an elephant on Reading Common, Thursday, October 10 at 8:30 A.M.
Mr. Leonard moved that the request be granted, Mr. Florence
seconded and it was voted.
Read letter from the Board of Selectmen authorizing the
removal of a trailer truck which is parked in the vicinity of Tower
Road and Hanscom Avenue, the property of the 1963 Sewer Contractor,
because of the hazard which is caused by the stored motor fuel and
unattended condition of the same vehicle; also, that the Board of
Selectmen authorize the Public Works Department to cause this re-
moval and store the truck in the vicinity of the Town-owned Public
Works Garage on John Street until further notice.
Mr. Florence questioned the legality of such a move. Mr.
Leonard moved that the Board comply with the Selectments request
and that the trailer truck be removed from Tower Road under author-
ity granted by the Police Department; Mr. Kenney seconded and it
was voted; Mr. Florence was opposed.
Public hearing was held at 8:00 P.M. regarding the exten-
sion of a Water Main under the Betterment Act in Condor Road from
L Pearl Street in a Westerly direction, approximately 400 feet to a
dead and.
Eight persons attended the hearing. Mr. Welch explained
the details of payment. The abuttors were informed that meters
would be set and water turned on immediately after connection to the
Water Main. Prepayment will not be mandatory at that time.
The Chairman polled the abuttors as follows: - In favor -
2; opposed - 2; non-committal - 0.
Mr. Toussaint, 2 Condor Road presented an analysis made re-
cently of his well water in which evidence of sewerage was found. The
hearing adjourned and the matter was tabled temporarily.
Public hearing was held at 8:15 P.M. for the purpose of
taking an easement for Drainage and Sewerage Purposes from Main Street
to Charles Street through private property. This meeting was origi-
nally scheduled for September 30, 1963. Mr. Welch explained that orig-
inally it was planned to extend the present sewer main in Charles
Street to Main Street, then northerly to service the houses which
will now be served through the sewer main in the rear of the proper-
ties. Seven persons attended the hearing.
Mr. John Tannian, 797 Main Street, requested an explanation
of the easement through his property.
Mr. Zwicker, 807 Main Street also requested a ruling on the
erection of a garage on the easement. Mr. Welch complied.
The Chairman polled the abuttors as follows: - In favor -
5; opposed - 0; non-committal - 0.
Mr. Kenney moved that the Board of Public Works proceed
with the taking; Mr. Leonard seconded and it was voted.
The Board removed from the table Article 5 - Installation
of Water Main on Condor Road. Mr. Leonard moved that the Board of
Public Works proceed to install a Water Main in Condor Road; Mr.
Kenney seconded and the motion carried.
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Read letter to Ralph Bens, Chairman, Insurance Committee,
suggesting that the vote of the Town authorizing the Insurance Com-
mittee to develop an insurance program for the Town be extended to
include the authority to make insurance settlements. This would
establish a procedure to follow and eliminate any question as to
which Board, Agency or Committee of the Town should proceed to ob-
tain insurance settlements.
Mr. Leonard moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted to
rescind the motion which caused the letter to be written and it was
voted.
Mr. Leonard moved, it was seconded and voted that an arti-
cle be prepared for the warrant requesting the Town to include in
the by-laws the procedure for negotiating insurance settlements.
Mr. Leonard moved, Mr. Florence seconded and it was voted
that a letter be written to the Selectmen requesting that this arti-
cle be included in the warrant because of the questions raised by
the settlement of insurance claims .
Read letter from Jon F. and Lorraine F. Drew, 4 Condor
Road, requesting an abatement of Street Betterments on his property.
Mr. Drew questioned the size of the cul-de-sac, frontage and lack
of sidewalk and tree lawn.
Mr. Welch advised the Board that the circle is 50 feet,
which is the Board of Survey requirement; he has the possibility of
two lots, and the sidewalk and tree lawn were omitted upon request
when the street was built.
Mr. Leonard moved, Mr. Kenney seconded and it was voted
to deny an abatement. Mr. Drew will be so advised.
Read letter from the Insurance Committee stating that the
meeting scheduled for October 16 had been postponed until October
17, 1963 at 5:00 P.M. in the Selectmen's Office.
Read note from the Superintendent that meetings in relation
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to Town Meeting will be held as follows: - Finance Committee -
10/14/63; Precincts - 10/16/63.
Read note from Mr. Welch in regard to meeting held October
3, 1963 with representatives of U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty Company
add Town Counsel on the Sewer Contract. Mr. Welch informed the
Board that Frank Reego & Son had been awarded the contract and it is
expected that work will start the week of October 20, 1963. Methods
of payment were discussed. The Superintendent advised the Board that
the work can be stopped by this department any time in December and
reopened in April so there will be no winter work.
Mr. Leonard moved that the Superintendent be authorized to
proceed to continue with the proposals which have been brought forth
in this meeting in relation to the insurance company, contractor and
the methods of payment; Mr. Florence seconded and the motion carried.
Mr. Leonard presented to the Board proposed sidewalk pro-
gram in order of importance. A discussion was held on piecemeal in-
stallation which should be considered as secondary. Copies of the
program will be made and sent to the Board Members. Definite action
will be taken at the October 14 meeting.
The Board signed the following: -
Order of Taking - Drain and Sewer Easement - Milton Road
(Plan $00-S-121)
Billroll dated October 4, 1963
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
Respectfully submitted, J/G/nc
Secretes"�
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