HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-09-05 Board of Public Works Minutes September 5, 1978
Meeting of the Board of Public Works opened in Room 16, Muni-
cipal Building at 7: 30 P.. M.
Present were Chairman Dustin,—Secretary Price, Board Members
Cowell and Testa and Superintendent Louanis. The Finance Committee
was represented by Jose Canto and Gail Wood.
Mr. Price moved that approval of the minutes be tabled until
September 11th. It was seconded and voted.
Read letter from A. R. Symes requesting they be released
from the terms of their agreement wherein it requires the in-
stallation of sewer main from Station 2 + 50 ± on Parkview Road
southerly of Weston Road. Recent changes in zoning restrictions
are such that the land involved can no longer be divided into
three parcels and with but two buildable lots the margin of profit
available has been reduced considerably. In view of these facts
the builder also requests a reduction of $13,250 in his bond. It
was moved, seconded and voted table this item until September 25th
and the Superintendent was instructed to write Mr. Symes and re-
quest his time table for the completion of the work on this project.
Read letter from the Town Planning Board dated August 2, 1978
concerning proposed Town By Law changes. It was moved, seconded
and voted to direct the Superintendent to write the Chairman of
the Planning Board inviting the Board and the Town Planner to a
meeting early in October to discuss the ramifications of the pro-
posed changes.
The Board reviewed the results of bids of August 17th for
Tennis Court Resurfacing, as follows:
New England Sealcoating Company. . . . . . . . . . $ 2,634.00
California Products Corporation. . . . . . . . . . 3,444.00
Frank E. Clynes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 197.00
Mr. Price questioned whether the Fall is the best time of year to
do this work and asked how long it would take to complete the pav-
ing. Superintendent Louanis stated that the work must be done in
dry weather and would take approximately one week to complete work
on three courts. It was moved, seconded and voted to table this
item until September 18th and instruct the Board' s representative
to the Recreation Committee to obtain further input regarding Fall
vs. Spring paving time.
The Board reviewed bids for Cleaning and Painting the Auburn
Street Elevated Storage Tank Contract 78-4, as follows:
Nick Drywall Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 12,800.00
Tank Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,500.00
John D. Ahern Company. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 22,943.00
Roy 0. Leonard, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,700.00
Paragon Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,200.00
W. Egan Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,950.00
The Engineering Divisions qualification check revealed that the
low bidder, Nick Drywall Construction, was not sufficiently quali-
fied to do the work in a satisfactory manner. Information indicating
that very close inspection would be required if the contract were
awarded to the low bidder was supplied by Robert L. Merithew, Inc.
who has known the contractor for twenty years and Alex Ballen of
Whitman and Howard, Inc. who was in charge of a sizeable contract.
Town Counsel reported that the Board of Public Works as awarding
authority could, in view of these reports, determine that Nick
Drywall Construction is not the lowest responsible and eligible
bidder and could go to the next lowest bidder. It was then moved,
seconded and voted to award the contract for Cleaning and Painting
the Auburn Street Elevated Storage Tank Contract 78-4 to Tank ,
Company with the provision that they furnish the Board with the
proper performance bond. Mr. Russell joined the meeting.
The Board reviewed the plan of curb cut for the First Na-
tional Bank (Old Colony Bank) on to Main and Ash Streets. The
Main Street access to the property is very close to the intersec-
tion of Main and Washington Streets and the Board expressed con-
cern regarding the impact the flow of cars in and out of the bank
lot would have on the Main Street traffic. The Board moved, seconded
and voted to table action on the plan until September 25, 1978 and
directed the Superintendent to request a representative from the
bank attend the meeting to discuss this issue.
Read memorandum from the By Law Committee indicating a de-
sire to change Town Meeting from May back to March. Following
a brief discussion it was moved, seconded and voted 4-1 in support-
ing the effort to change the time of Town Meeting back to March.
Superintendent Louanis called the Board' s attention to
letter from the Board of Health suggesting a joint meeting with
the Board of Health, the Building Inspector and the Board of
Public Works in order to establish a uniform consensus and assess I
f
Minutes - continued September 5, 1978
' the economic impact of denial of sewer permits in the Town of
Reading. Superintendent Louanis stated that the sewage in the
Willow Street area has been directed into the M.D.C. in Woburn
since the 15th of August thereby relieving the Sumner Avenue
station of 37% of the flow. The Superintendent went on to tell
the Board that the Department is attempting to isolate the areas
where there is infiltration and check these particular areas
with TV cameras. The work has been going on all summer in the
office and crews will be going into the field at the end of this
month - with results available at the end of October and the study
complete by November. Mr. Russell moved that in view of the
satisfactory functioning of the Willow Street Interceptor which
has removed 37% from the Brook Street Station and the construc-
tion of thirty new homes which will contribute less than 1% of the
load on the Brook Street Station, we lift the ban on the installa-
tion of sewer house connections to the new and older homes making
house connections available throughout the Town. The motion was
' seconded. The vote: 3 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstaining.
The Board suggested the Superintendent write to the Board of
Health indicating a willingness to meet With the Building In-
spector and the Board of Health during the month of October if
they so desired.
The Board reviewed the Chairman' s letter to Water Pollution
Control regarding uniform inspection policy on State and Federal
funded projects and the response from Thomas McMahon, Director
of State Water Pollution Authority and also a letter from Anthony
DePalma of E. P. A. requesting additional information from the
Town and the consultant regarding the inspection cost over-run
be forwarded to E. P. A. for approval . The Board voted to
accept the letter as a point of information and instructed the
Superintendent to write Weston and Sampson Engineers, Inc.
instructing them to comply with the request.
The Board reviewed Proposal prepared by the Engineering
® Division for the Reuse Options for the Existing Municipal In-
cinerator and suggested a site plan be added to the specifications.
It was suggested that the proposal be mailed to people associated
with solid waste disposal and that offers be accepted up to and
during the first part of November. '
The Board signed the Bill Roll dated September 8th and the
Pay Roll for the period ending September 1 , 1978.
It was moved, seconded and voted 5-0 to sign commitment
letter in the amount of $3, 180.78 covering sewer frontage better-
ments in the amount of $385.68 and sewer house connection lateral
charges in the amount of $2,795. 10 and assess betterments accord-
ingly.
The Board reviewed the Superintendent' s recommendations for
identifying a ten percent reduction in services voted at the Annual
Town Meeting under Article 12. Attached herewith is a copy of
the recommendations as modified by the Boa0- rAGCtrfR'1; MtTges
to go on record as being opposed to this approach/as it is the
responsibility of the Board to make recommendations to Town Meet-
ing and Town Meetings responsibility to vote the funds or cut
them as they see fit.
Meeting adjourned at 11 : 15 P. M.
R ectffuuulll ll/y submitted, '
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