HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-03-05 Board of Public Works Minutes March 5, 1979
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room
16, Municipal Building at 7:35 P. M.
Present were Chairman Dustin, Secretary Price, Board
Members Russell and Cowell , Superintendent Louanis, Assistant
Superintendent Bergeron and William Redford of the Engineering
Division. The Finance Committee was represented by Jose Canto
and Gail Wood.
Minutes of the meeting of February 12th were accepted as
written and the minutes of the meeting of February 15th were
accepted with correction.
State Representative Barrett was not present and therefore
it was agreed to postpone the scheduled meeting until whatever
time the Representative arrived.
The Board read letter from James Morley, Personnel Admin-
istrator calling attention to a proposed amendment to the sick-
leave section of the Personnel By-Laws, noting that the amend-
ment calls for unlimited accumulation of sick time and request-
ing input from the Superintendent. It was accepted as a point
of information.
The Superintendent, at the request of the Board, had asked
the Department of Labor and Industries for a ruling on the issue
of whether or not the Department should allow employees time in
which to cash pay checks. The Board read letter from Robert
Lamarre, Inspector for the State Department of Labor and In-
dustries wherein it was stated that under the provisions of
Chapter 149, Section 148 employees need only be provided with
a facility for cashing checks without charge, as deemed to be
reasonable by the Commissioner, and that after investigation
of the procedure followed by the Department of Public Works it
was the opinion of the Inspector that employees need not be
allowed time during working hours in which to cash their pay
check. Following considerable discussion it was suggested that
perhaps the Board of Selectmen and the Personnel Board should
enter into the discussion to insure that the Board of Public
Works employees not be singled out on this issue and that all
departments with the Town receive equitable treatment.
Read memorandum from the Executive Secretary concerning
Public Officials Liability Insurance. It was accepted as a
point of information. ,
Read letter from the Boston Gas Company requesting per-
mission to install a sign about 27 feet southeast of a bound
marker at 27 Hunt Street as a warning of an existing gas line.
The Gas Company states the sign is required by the United States
Department of Transportation and will be 9" x 12" and installed
as indicated on a plan entitled "Proposed Location for Installa-
tion of Boston Gas Company Pipeline Warning Marker, Reading" and
dated 11-28-78. Following a short briefing by the Superintendent
concerning the area it was moved, seconded and voted to approve
the request and allow the Boston Gas Company to erect the sign.
The Board reviewed letter from the residents of Fox Run
Lane wherein it is requested that the sewer main and laterals
be constructed in Fox Run Lane during 1979. As noted in the
minutes of February 12, 1979 a poll of the February 7th Sewer
Hearing indicated ( 1 ) in favor, ( 1 ) opposed and (6) absent.
The current letter indicates (4) wish the sewer extended, no
comment from (2) and the remaining (2) presently connected '
on Franklin Street. Mr. Cowell moved that the matter be tabled
until an effort is made to contact Edward C. Smith and Guy M.
Penta and their views of the matter made known. The motion did
not carry. Mr. Testa arrived at 8:00 P.M. whereupon the Chair-
man reviewed the information discussed to this point concerning
Fox Run Lane. Following further discussion Mr. Russell moved
to extend the sewer main and install laterals in Fox Run Lane
during the 1979 construction season and assess betterments
accordingly. It was seconded and voted.
Representative Barrett appeared before the Board to report
the progress on the legislature for the Interceptor from Border
Road to Woburn stating there were some problems but they had
been ironed out and he expected early passage of the legislation.
Mr. Barrett also reported he was keeping up-to-date on possible
State funding of water treatment plant expansion and would
appraise us of any new developments and assist us in any way '
possible. The Superintendent gave Mr. Barrett a copy of Weston
and Sampson' s report in order that he could familiarize himself
with the Town ' s needs. Mr. Barrett indicated he was also looking
Minutes - continued March 5, 1979
into the M. D. C. program for modifying and improving the
sewer pumping station at Sumner Avenue and Route 128 and was
of the opinion a contract would be coming out later in the
year to upgrade that station.
The Board read draft of proposed letter to be sent along
with information to interested parties concerning Reading
Municipal Incinerator Site Reuse Options, letter from William
P. Gaughan, Director of the Bureau of Solid Waste Disposal for
the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management and
drafts of proposed letters to the Board of Selectmen, Planning
Board and the Board of Health. Following a lengthy discussion it
was moved, seconded and voted that the Board support the idea of
sending out proposals and Mr. Russell suggested that the firm
date be established during the middle of April and was hopeful
that by delaying the date perhaps more prospective participants
would be attracted. Mr. Testa indicated he would like to see
the matter advertised in the trade publications where it might
reach a greater number of firms. Mr. Cowell moved we respond
to the letter from the Department of Environmental Management
and invite Mr. Gaughan to a Board meeting and ask him to discuss
the matter with the Board. It was voted 4-1 in favor.
The Board met with Rev. Paul Barnes of the First Congrega-
tional Church, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Converse, Mr. and Mrs. Nitzsche,
Mr. William Denhardt and Mr. Harold Wyatt. Mr. Converse, acting
as spokesman indicated that the Church is interested in the con-
struction of an apartment building with 100 units to be constructed
on Bay State Road. At the moment, the main concern is the adequacy
of the water supply and availability of sewer in the area. The
Superintendent indicated that there is a 6" water main and an 8"
sewer line on Bay State Road and that it would be necessary for
the Department to check the line and grade of the sewer main and
to check the traffic pattern in the area. The church group intends
to apply to Massachusetts Housing and to HUD for financial assis-
tance and indicated the Conservation Commission sees no problem
in utilizing this area for housing.
The Board signed the Pay Roll for the period ending March
2d and the Bill Roll dated March 9, 1979.
Meeting adjourned at 10: 10 P. M.
R ectfully sybmitted,
S cretary