HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-04-25 Board of Public Works Minutes April 25, 1978
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7:30 P. M.
Present were Chairman Dustin, Secretary Price, Board Mem-
bers Russell , Cowell and Testa, Superintendent Louanis and
Assistant Engineer William Redford.
Jean Cary accompanied by Barbara Kelliher appeared before
the Board to discuss the Article Mrs. Cary is presenting to Town
Meeting under Article 43, as follows:
"To see if the Town of Reading will adopt the following-By-
law:
The following procedure shall be followed for the widening
or relocating of the pavement on all existing streets and roads
within the Town of Reading except for numbered and state highways.
1 . There shall be a public hearing before the Planning Boaed
duly advertised twice in a newspaper of general circulation as
to time, date, place, and purpose, the last publication to occur
at least five days prior to such Public Hearing. Notification of
such public hearing will be mailed at least ten days prior to the
public hearing to all owners of property abutting said streets or
' roads as recorded in the Office of the Reading Board of Assessors.
2. The Planning Board shall report the proceedings of the public
hearing to the Town Meeting immediately prior to the Town Meeting' s
vote on the appropriation of funds for such widening or relmca-
tion of existing streets and roads. By Petition, Jean R. Cary and
Others" .
Mr. Russell reviewed the history concerning the formation of
the Board of Public Works, pointed out that all meetings are open
meetings and the Board is receptive to input from citizens at any
time, that Town Meeting Members pass upon the individual streets
as they are accepted by the Town. However, Mrs. Cary ' s concern
appeared to be centered around some of the older existing streets
and the wishes of the people living on a particular street when
the Board of Public Works intends to do repair or renovation.
After a lengthy discussion, the Board requested that Mrs. Cary ' s
committee meet with the Planning Board and the Board of Public
Works in an effort to come up with a By-law which would be satis-
factory to all concerned.
The Board met with the business and commercial users of the
Town' s Solid Waste Receiving Area. The Board has decided to
close the incinerator as of July 1 , 1978, continue the sanitary
landfill as it presently operates and if approved by Town Meeting
contract out the pick-up of the Town' s rubbish. The continua-
tion of the present operation of the sanitary landfill will
benefit the business and commercial users, as the Town will con-
tinue to receive the nonburnable items. The question of a mini
transfer station was discussed but the major problem in connec-
tion with this possible solution is that there is no way of know-
ing at this time how much refuse is generated by the business and
commercial people. Mr. Price moved, as Mrs. Adams requested
on April 24th, that the Board reconsider the question as voted
on March 11th, 1978 in reference to rubbish collection. It was
seconded and voted 4-1 . Mr. Price moved the dollar figure in
the March 11 minutes of the Board of Public Works in reference
to sheets 11-12, 3A, B, C, D stand as voted that date with amend-
ment thereof. Motion withdrawn. It was moved to reaffirm the
decision to close down the incinerator and contract out to Brown-
ing-Ferris, Inc. disposal of residential trash. Motion withdrawn.
Mr. Price moved that the Board approve Sheet #11 Rubbish Collec-
tion and Disposal salaries at $4, 158 - expenses $199,980 for a
total of $204, 138 and any amounts thereof made by the Finance ,
Committee and Sheet 12 Sanitary Landfill and Recycling approve
salaries at $29,382 and expenses at $20,075 for a total of
$49,457 and any amount approved by the Finance Committee and this
Board hereby affirm the original motion. It was seconded. The
vote: 4 in favor, Mr. Testa opposed.
The Board discussed the proposed mini transfer station and it
was concluded that the Board at this time had no way of funding
this operation or enough information to determine how many cubic
yards would be involved and what the costs should be. Superinten-
dent Louanis suggested that the rules and regulations of the sani-
tary landfill be modified to allow the commercial people an oppor-
tunity to dispose of their solid waste at the landfill on a tem-
porary basis for approximately one year and a charge of three
dollars per cubic yard be made. This would give commercial
businesses time to make other arrangements and the Town to assess
the need and the volume of trash being accumulated. It would not
require any additional equipment or manpower and would generate
some revenue to offset costs to the Town.
Minutes - continued April 25, 1978
It was moved to instruct the Superintendent to draw up
rules and regulations of the Sanitary Landfill and submit for
approval to the Board covering provisions for disposal collec-
tion for the Commercial users in order that the Board can make
a proper report to Town Meeting and the rules and regulations
implemented by July 1 , 1978. It was seconded and voted 5-0.
Meeting adjourned at 10: 30 P. M.
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