HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-01-17 Board of Public Works Minutes January 17, 1977
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened at 7:30 P.M.
in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Chairman Russell , Secretary Dustin, Board
Members Blood and Botka, Superintendent Louanis, and Messrs. Cowell
and Dube' of the Finance Committee.
Minutes of previous meeting were accepted as presented.
Mr. Dustin requested that a discussion of the Department's
snow removal activities be discussed in detail . . Mr. Russell re-
quested the Superintendent to update the Board. The Superintendent
reported that within the limits of the equipment available and the
endurance of the men, the present program was to remove snow and
ice from the heavily travelled streets throughout the Town by use of
a large Dozer, Grader, two Front-End Loaders and approximately six
trucks. This program began on January 13 and it is planned to con-
tinue cleaning up the major arteries, such as Haverhill , Charles,
West, Franklin, etc. Also, the Department has been widening and
cleaning up intersections with Front-End Loaders, and sanding and
salting when necessary. Sidewalk routes are being opened with the
following equipment - the Bombardier, two Front-End Loaders and
four trucks to haul the snow to the Dump.
The discussion was interrupted to meet with Mr .Beaulieu
of 62 Red Gate Lane regarding his high water bill . Mr. Beaulieu
presented figures indicating that recent readings, if projected
over a six-month period, would result in a substantially lower bill ,
and suggested that an abatement was in order to reduce the consump-
tion to about 6,900 C.F. for a six-month period. The Superintendent
pointed out that the meter had been tested on three different occa-
sions and it proved to be 100% correct. Mr. Blood pointed out that
the average use over the past four years was 12,000 C.F. The
average for 1976 was 14, 500 C.F. and there was not sufficient in-
formation available to the Board to justify any abatement. Mr.
Botka moved, it was seconded and voted to review Mr. Beaulieu's
water consumption after a full year billing period had elapsed
since his last bill , and to make a determination of an abate-
ment at that time.
Read notice of Public Hearing regarding the proposed
extension of the main sanitary sewer in Grove Street northerly
of the Meadow Brook Golf Club. Chairman Russell explained the
proposed sewer extension and the betterment charges, the cost
of sewer house extension and the sewer rental charge. Twelve
persons attended the Hearing. The voting was as follows:
Opposed - 9; In Favor - 1 . It was moved, seconded and voted to
close the Hearing. Mr. Blood moved that the sewer in Grove
Street not be installed, it was seconded and voted.
The Board resumed its discussion of snow and ice re-
moval , expressing its concern that not enough effort was being
made to remove ice patches from major arteries in Town, and that
every effort should be made to hire additional equipment and di-
vert men and Town-owned equipment to accomplish this task. Mr .
Dustin questioned the Town's capability to properly sand and ,
salt, and asked the Superintendent to look into alternative pro-
grams to overcome this problem, and further consider what other
types of equipment the Town might need to handle icing condi-
tions experienced in the recent storms. Mr. Dustin moved that
the Superintendent be instructed to use all available equipment
and hire additional equipment as needed to remove the ice patches
from the major arteries of the Town and dangerous intersections,
and that equipment used on the sidewalk plowing effort be di-
verted for this purpose. It was seconded and voted.
The Superintendent reported to the Board that the Town
had expended $86,916. 19 in the Snow and Ice Account and en-
cumbered bills bring the expenses close to $100,000.00 and by
January 21 the expenses will probably reach $120,000.00, leaving
a balance of about $18,000.00 in the Snow and Ice Account. He
therefore requested the Board to ask the Finance Committee for
transfer of $60,000.00 to the Snow and Ice Account. It was
moved, seconded and voted.
Minutes - Continued January 17, 1977
! The Board reviewed the Agreements for the Willow Street
Interceptor Services and Street Sewers and Ejector Stations Con-
struction Inspection Services. After a discussion of the basis
of payment, it was decided to postpone action on this matter
until the next meeting.
The Board reviewed the bids for Contract 77-1 - Cleaning,
Redeveloping and Backflushing Revay #1 and Conversion of High Lift
Pump to Low Lift Pump. Bids were received from D. L. Maher Co. in
the amount of $6,623.00 and Layne-New England in the amount of
$6,765.00. It was moved, seconded and voted to award the contract
to the lowest bidder, 0. L. Maher & Co. , at the bid price of
$6,623.00, subject to the posting of the proper performance bonds .
The Chairman brought to the attention of the Board that
the schedule for a Budget Hearing with the Finance Committee had
been set for February 1 , and in light of the postponed meeting of
' last week and the snow discussion this week, little progress had
been made on the budget and a new meeting date should be requested
of the Finance Committee. Mr. Blood moved that the Board request
a two-week extension for its Budget Hearing with the Finance Com-
mittee, and it was seconded and voted.
The Board reviewed the Roadway Maintenance Report pre-
pared by the Engineering Division and Acting Assistant Superin-
tendent Bergeron explained the program in detail . The Board asked
questions and various points in the report were discussed.
It was pointed out that the required expenditure for the
first year of the 20-year program would be $334, 163.00. The pro-
posed FY78 budget request to date would provide approximately
$116,000.00 of the required amount. The additional funding re-
quired, therefore, would be approximately $218, 163.00.
The existing Street Acceptance Program was discussed
and the need for upgrading the requirements to meet the new Board
of Survey Construction Specifications was pointed out with no
action taken.
The Board agreed with the remaining recommendations
as presented in the Report.
The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending
January 14, 1977 and Billroll dated January 21 , 1977 and ad-
journed at 11 : 15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary