HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-05-01 Board of Public Works Minutes May 1 , 1978
ItMeeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 131 ,
Reading Memorial High School at 7:30 P. M.
Present were Chairman Dustin, Secretary Price, Board Mem-
bers Russell , Cowell and Testa and Superintendent Louanis.
The Board reviewed the Report of Progress of the Study of
the Reading Water System. The Board complimented Messrs. Russell and
Testa on their efforts and recommended a paragraph be added con-
cerning the possible connection to the Metropolitan Water System.
There was a discussion of the need to establish a good financial
plan for the water system improvements. It was moved, seconded
and voted to indefinitely postpone Article 33.
The Chairman reported that he had scheduled a meeting with
the Finance Committee on May 2d concerning the Special Town Meet-
ing and the Board's action to be taken under Article 4 concerning
the proposed easement taking in Woburn which requires State Legis-
lation to give the Town legal authority to take the easement and
to discuss Article 33 concerning the water department expansion
that the Board plans to work on; a water department expansion
program both for construction and funding so that the Capital
Budget Plan can be amended at the Fall Town Meeting in November.
The Superintendent reported to the Board that negotiating
teams had reached an agreement with the Public Works Labor Union
and was hoping for a ratification on Tuesday, May 2d. The contract
negotiated is a two year agreement and with a first year payroll
increase at 6.35% with double time paid for three holidays:
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. A new sick leave
buy back agreement was reached in which an employee may have
unlimited accumulation of sick leave and buy back 50% of 90 days
at either retirement or death. Working out of classification
plan had been dropped from work-three-shifts before receiving the
higher rate of pay to one shift. The second year agreement was a
7% salary increase with two classification salary adjustments:
foreman to be raised as the same rate of pay as the master mechanic
and the skilled labor to be raised to the midpoint between skilled
labor and light equipment operator after two years in the skilled
labor classification.
The Board discussed policy relative to Article 43 which
would require the Planning Board to hold a public hearing on
the Board of Public Works ' Highway Reconstruction Program prior
to the Town Meeting and a report would be made by the Planning
Board before Public Works ' funds were voted. After considerable
discussion of this matter Mr. Russell proposed the following
amendment.
"That the motion under Article 43 be amended as follows:
1 . Prior to the annual Town Meeting, the Board of Public Works
shall hold a public hearing outlining the planned roadway re-
construction program for the ensuing fiscal year. This Hearing
shall be duly advertised twice in a newspaper of general cir-
culation as to time, date, place and purpose, the last publica-
tion occurring at least 5 days prior to such public hearing.
Written notification of such public hearing shall be mailed to
each owner of property abutting the streets affected, at least
10 days prior to the Hearing.
The Board of Public Works will report the proceedings of
this Hearing to Town Meeting prior to Town Meeting's vote on the
appropriation of funds for the planned roadway reconstruction.
2. In addition, the Board of Public Works shall , for each road-
way to be reconstructed, hold a second hearing, after completion
of the design layout and prior to start of reconstruction. At
this hearing, detailed plans of the reconstruction will be pre-
sented and citizen input solicited. This hearing will be duly
advertised and abutters notified as required by paragraph 1 .
above."
It was moved, seconded and voted to be prepared to present the
amendment to speak against the main motion.
The Board signed the Pay Roll for the period ending April
28, 1978 and the Bill Roll dated May 5, 1978.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 P. M.
7e ectfu�ll l)y submitted,
S re a r y
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