HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-08 Board of Public Works Minutes January 8, 1979
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7:30 P. M.
Present were Chairman Dustin, Board Members Russell and
Cowell and Superintendent Louanis. The Finance Committee was
represented by Gail Wood and Jose Canto.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as written.
Chairman Dustin advised the Board that the 8:30 P.M. meet-
ing with RESCO re: Proposal for Municipal Incinerator had been
cancelled and requested the Board review briefly the several
points of information set forth as footnotes on the Agenda.
Mr. Price and Mr. Testa joined the meeting at 7:45 P. M.
The Board met with Mr. Robert Jackson who expressed his
displeasure concerned with the parking practice employed by the
Department of Public Works' drivers on Friday when cashing pay-
checks at the Middlesex Bay Bank in Reading Square. Mr. Jackson
was concerned not only with the poor parking practice, but with
the fact that employees were cashing paychecks during working
hours and in turn the impact of this cost on the tax rate. Mr.
Jackson obtained information from the Department of Labor and
Industries indicating that employers were not required to allow
time for check cashing during the working day. The Board' s in-
terpretation of the law differed from Mr. Jackson ' s information
and the Board therefore requested the Superintendent contact
the Department of Labor and Industries personally in an effort
to clarify the issue. The Superintendent agreed to the request
and stated he would issue a directive to cease any illegal park-
ing. Mr. Jackson was informed that the Board would advise him of
the result of its investigation and he in turn could inform the
other interested parties who supported his objections to the
Department' s operation.
The Board met with Jerome Russ, representative of the Charles
George Company. Charles George is primarily interested in using
the incinerator site as a transfer station since it is easily
accessible from Route 128 and proposed the construction of a 100'
x 300' x 30 ' building to be used for sorting and baling trash.
Mr. Russ estimated that approximately fifty percent of the material
would be baled and transported to the Tyngsboro landfill site and ,
the Town of Reading would receive fifty cents per ton for this
portion of the material . The balance of the material would per-
haps be corrugated cardboard and other recyclables which Charles
George would dispose of elsewhere at a profit to them. Mr. Russ
stated his company and bank would be happy to enter into negotia-
tions for the acquisition of the 4.4 acres and the incinerator
either on a long term lease basis (over twenty years) or more
preferably by purchase. Mr. Russ indicated they would be recep-
tive to the idea of the receipt of trash from the privately owned
commercial haulers within the Town and also in entering into con-
tract with the Town for the residential pickup. The landfill area
used. by Charles George in Tyngsboro has approximately nine or ten
years remaining. The Town would receive taxable income on the
proposed building, estimated cost of which is $250,000 and on
fifteen to twenty trucks which would be parked or garaged at the
site in addition to receipts on the tons baled at 50t per ton.
Mr. Testa suggested we investigate the possibility of selling the '
property to a different type of business enterprise which might
produce more taxable revenue for the Town. The Board requested
the Superintendent check on the fee connected with an appraisal
of the incinerator site and the adjoining 4.4 acres. Interviews
with other interested parties are scheduled and the Board plans
to discuss the matter in further detail on January 18, 1979.
Read letter from C. F. Mistretta, District Highway Engineer
to Chairman Dustin regarding safety and drainage improvements
along Route 28, Main Street in Reading, and suggesting the Board
advise Chief Engineer Tierney of its interest in Urban System
funding for such work. The Board requested a letter to Chief
Engineer Tierney be drafter urging that the recommendations con-
tained in the Tams report done under the Topics Program concern-
ing signal installation and surface drainage as designed by Whitman
and Howard Engineers be incorporated in the proposed improvements
in Route 28, Main Street in Reading.
Read letter from Tank Company wherein they outlined problems
experienced within their company causing delay in the completion
of work on the Auburn Street Tank, and requesting an extension of
Minutes - continued January 8, 1979
the contract completion date. It was moved, seconded and voted
to grant an extension of the completion date on Contract 78-4
for Cleaning and Painting Auburn Street Tank to March 26, 1979.
Read letter from the Reading Teachers Association concern-
ing the plowing of school parking lots. It was moved, seconded
and voted to direct the Superintendent to write to the Association
advising them it is the Board' s policy to plow school parking
lots when it is necessary to plow the public roadway and if the
parking area is icy and unsafe for pedestrian traffic then it is
the responsibility of the principal of each school to request sand
for the individual school .
Superintendent Louanis reviewed the results of the television
inspection of the sewer mains stating there is substantial infil-
tration in the Washington Street area, a problem of roots in
Summer Avenue and Woburn Streets and an underdrain at Washington
and Lincoln Streets that should be sealed. The Board directed
the Superintendent to prepare a contract for this work and requested
the Superintendent inform the Board of Selectmen of the proposed
work to be done in an effort to eliminate overflowing sewer man-
holes.
The Board began its review of the Board of Public Works '
budget looking at the summary sheets 6 through 10 which showed
a 4. 37% increase over the previous year and the Water Department
Budget which showed a 17.3% increase. The Board also reviewed
the Administration Budget and the Engineering Budget.
Meeting adjourned at 11 :00 P. M.
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