HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-22 Board of Public Works Minutes January 22, 1979
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened at 7:30 P. M.
in Room 16, Municipal Building.
Present were Board Members Russell , Cowell and Testa, Super-
intendent Louanis and William Redford of the Engineering Division.
The Finance Committee was represented by Gail Wood, Jose Canto
and Paul Metcalf.
Minutes of the previous meeting were accepted with correc-
tion.
Chairman Dustin joined the meeting at 7:35 P. M.
The Superintendent reviewed agreements for abatements reached
as a result of negotiations for easements through private property
and requests for abatements received from homeowners who felt that
the construction of the main sanitary sewer did not effect the
value of the total parcel of land owned by them, as follows:
1 . Sewer frontage assessment on property of Evelyn Belzer at
60 Haverhill Street - Plat 95, Lot 18 on December 31 , 1978
in the amount of $2,636.00. Lot 18 was subdivided during 1978
into Lots 21 , 19 and 22, A large portion of this property
falls within the flood plain area, but there is a possibility
that the high area in the center of the property toward the
backland is of sufficient size to provide two buildable lots
that could be serviced by a long driveway to the street.
It was moved, seconded and voted to deny the abatement on the
grounds that insufficient information has been presented to
prove the property in question is not buildable.
2. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Bage of 24 Haverhill Street were assess-
ed as follows:
Plat 95 - Lot 12 Sewer Frontage Bill No. 11 = $ 908.48
Plat 95 - Lot 12 House Conn. Lateral 30% = 138.60
Although the Bage property has 227. 121 of frontage on Haver-
hill Street a portion of the property southerly of the house
has no access from the street as the property abuts the State
Highway. The property also is adjacent to wetlands. The pro-
perty was compared to land on a cul -de-sac wherein the owner
has the choice of paying for straight line frontage and long
house connection or vice versa.
Following considerable discussion, it was moved, seconded and
voted to abate the sewer frontage on this property in the a-
mount of $428.48 making the total assessment for frontage one
hundred and twenty feet or $480.00.
3. Ernest H. MacLeod - Plat 153 - Lot 2 Frontage 50.40' Assess-
ment $201 .60.
Mr. MacLeod granted the Town of Reading an easement through
his property in order that the Town could connect Apple Gate
Lane and Annette Lane to the Town' s sewer system and in lieu
of this the Town agreed to abate the frontage assessment on
the property.
It was moved, seconded and voted to abate $201 .60 as agreed
during negotiations.
4. Robert Switak - Plat 110 - Lot 12 Causeway Road Sewer Front-
age Assessment $480.00 —Bill #93.
In consideration for Mr. Switak ' s cooperation in granting a
release from damages to the Town of Reading in connection
with a sewer easement through his property the Board of Public
Works agreed to abate the usual sewer frontage assessment
on his property.
In view of the agreement, it was moved, seconded and voted to
abate Bill No. 93 in the amount of $480.00.
5. John R. Jones - 65 Causeway Road. In negotiating with Mr.
Jones for a sewer easement through his property, it was agreed
to abate the sewer frontage assessment and the house connec-
tion assessment. It was moved, seconded and voted to abate
Bill No. 94 - sewer frontage assessment in the amount of $480.00 '
and Bill No. 124 House. Connection Assessment in the amount of
$92.40.
The Board of Public Works met with the Board of Assessors
(Messrs. Nordstrand, Locke and Sullivan) and their appraiser, Mr.
Balboni to discuss the Annual Mapping requirements of the Town of
Reading in an effort to prevent duplication of work and expense
to the Town. It was agreed that the Engineering Division of the
Board of Public Works could do the map work and the Superintendent
was instructed to exercise his discretion in cooperating with the
Board of Assessors in this regard.
The Board of Public Works requested the Board of Assessors to
view the property at the incinerator site, the land and possibly
the building, and give the Board of Public Works an estimation of
its minimum market value. The Assessors agreed to have the informa-
tion available within two weeks.
The Superintendent presented to the Board a budget summary '
for the Board of Public Works Department exclusive of the Water
Department in which he had reduced the previously presented
budget by $244,080. The areas of reduction were as follows:
Minutes - continued January 22, 1979
1 . Highway Maintenance - $112,320 which would result in stretch-
ing the Highway Maintenance Program from twenty years to forty
years and cutting back slightly on the cross section improvement
program.
2. Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance would be reduced by
$11 , 377. This cut would remove any new sidewalk construction
and the remaining funds would be used for maintenance.
3. Drain Construction reduced by $12,360. This would result in
reducing the Drain Construction Program Budget for FY-79. These
funds would be used for drain construction on Franklin Street prior
to the roadway reconstruction plan for the following year and
would not provide any funds for other individual problems that
may develop throughout the Town.
4. Sewer House Connection reduced by $35,000. This reduction
would reduce the Sewer House Connection Account to zero and make
it necessary for homeowners to hire licensed drain layers to
' make their connection. Citizens that have already applied for
connections would have to be informed the Town is no longer mak-
ing house connections and it will be necessary to contact a
licensed drain layer to make the connection.
5. Snow and Ice removal account reduced by $43,023 to the level
of the 1979 budget.
6. Park Construction reduced by $30,000 providing no funds for
Park Construction in light of the fact the Ad Hoc Study Committee
has just been formed and has been investigating the Towns park
needs. After a general discussion by the Board concerning the
FY-80 Budget the Board reinstated the cuts as follows:
Highway Maintenance add back $25,000 to restore cross section
improvement program and increase road reconstruction program.
Drain Construction Account restore $12,360 cut-back to level as
previously submitted.
Sewer House Connection Account r estore $15,000 to handle emer-
gencies and continue with sewer house connection already applied
for.
Park Construction restore $14,000 for tot lot park at Hunt
Memorial and resurfacing tennis courts at Birch Meadow.
Park and Playground Maintenance Account - add $3,000 to the ex-
pense account and supplies to refurbish two utility ball fields.
Mr. Russell suggested a similar amount should be reduced
from the budget in some other area such as Equipment Replace-
ment Program.
Mr. Russell requested the Superintendent investigate the
cost of sidewalk plowing that is done to accommodate children
who must walk to school as he would like to compare the figure
against 100% busing during the months of January, February and
March.
The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending January
19 and the Bill Roll dated January 26, 1979.
R¢�pectfully submitted,
'creta � p
J