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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-04-24 Board of Public Works Minutes April 24, 1979 Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16, Municipal Building at 7:30 P. M. Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Mem- bers Testa, DeHart and Wood. Minutes of the meeting of April 19, 1979 were accepted as written. The Board reviewed Memorandum of Agreement from the Common- wealth of Massachusetts in the amount of $60,658 (Fiscal 1978 $30,329.00 and Fiscal 1979 - $30,329.00) . Superintendent Louanis indicated these funds would be expended for additional draining in the area from Memorial Park easterly on Salem Street in the direction of the Reading-Wakefield Town Line, and for new street surface on Salem Street from the Town Line in the direction of the square. Superintendent Louanis stated the engineering work would be done by the Town; the actual construction work will be done by a contractor who will be paid by the Town and the Town will be reimbursed by the State under the Agreement. Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to accept and sign the Memoran- dum of Agreement for the reconstruction of Salem Street (Route 129) Lowell Street (Route 129) and/or any other Town Road approved by the Board of Public Works and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works under the provisions of Section 34, Chapter 90 of the General Laws and Section 2b Chapter 356 Acts of 1977. Read letter dated April 18, 1979 from Janet Pierce, Executive Director of the Reading Housing Authority concerning the State' s current modernization funding for improvements for the handicapped for projects such as Tannerville Housing for the Elderly, wherein a request is made for engineering assistance. Superintendent L•ouahfs". indicated that the Engineering Division' s work-load was very heavy and it would not be possible to take on an additional project at this time, but if they could wait a month or two we could contribute some assistance. Mr. Cowell moved, Mr. Testa ' seconded and it was voted to direct the Superintendent to contact Mrs Pierce and discuss the possibility of the Engineering Division assisting in providing an estimate and rough plan for cutting back the curbings on the corners of sidewalks making them accessible for wheelchairs and manageability by persons with crutches and walkers such work to be scheduled within a time frame convenient ' to the Engineering Division. Articles to be presented at Town Meeting to begin on May 7, 1979 for the Board of Public Works were assigned to Board Members as follows: Article Description - Assigned to 9 General P. W. Operating Account Mr. Price 9 Rubbish Collection and Disposal Mr. Cowell 9 Sanitary Landfill and Recycling Mr. Cowell 9 Snow and Ice Account Mr. Cowell 9 Water Operating Account Mr. Price 9 Equipment Replacement Mrs. Wood 9 Traffic Sign and Street Line Painting Mrs. Wood Special Articles 20 Improvements to Water System Mr. Price-Mr.DeHart 44 N.E.S.W. Committee Mr. Cowell 45 Street Acceptance Mr. Price-Mr.Testa.. 46 Rescinding Bond Authorization Mr. Price 2 Special Repts. (other than NESWC & landfill ) Mr. DeHart ' Special Town Meeting Sewer in Woburn Mr. Price - Mr. Testa The Board met with the Planning Board (Robert Mayerson, Mrs. Paynter, Barry Mitchell , John Zorabedian, Jr. , and Paul Andrus) for the purpose of discussing Reading Center Plan as prepared by the Planning Board. Barry Mitchell acted as spokesman for the Planning Board since the Chairman was unable to attend the meeting and requested that the Board of Public Works make comments on the Reading Center Plan and the thirteen policy statements outlined therein. Members of the Board of Public Works questioned Mr. Mitchell regarding what input the Planning Board was seeking whether they were looking for priorities or comments on the plan in general . Mr. Mitchell stated the Planning Board felt a study of the down town area was important from the point of view of improving the business climate to attract a better mix of commercial establish- ments by improving traffic flow around the business area and pro- ' viding a safer protection traffic flow. Many questions were asked regarding technical details such as traffic count cost analysis ' of the proposed work and relocation of traffic. It was generally agreed that the plan was of a conceptual nature and detailed and technical aspects have not been studied at this time. It was pointed out by the Planning Board that the increase in parking could be obtained by closing the depot on High Street relocating it to the Public Works yard on John Street. This brought the Planning Board to a second area of discussion with the Board ask- ing for their comments as to the advisability of taking over the Public Works facility on John Street for the terminal of the M.B.T.A. The Board of Public Works asked the Planning Board if they had had a serious inquiry from the M.B.T.A. on the rapid transit to Read- ing establishing the terminal near the 128 Reading-Wakefield Town Line. Mr. Meyerson indicated the M.B.T.A, is definitely interested in the site but wishes to have a low profile at this time and would like to work with the Planning Board toward locating their station in the parking area at the Public Works yard. Members of the Board indicated to the Planning Board that another state agency ' was interested in a portion of that site for a transfer station. The Superintendent addressed the issue by stating he felt the Board of Public Works had two areas of concern that should be addressed before any agreement to release the property could be made: that of solving the solid waste disposal problem for the Town and the need to have a suitable site for the Department of Public Works operation within the Town. Mr. Price thanked the Planning Board for their effort and expressed the Board' s desire to continue work- ing with them in future planning efforts. Meeting adjourned temporarily and reconvened at 9:45 P.M. following a meeting of the Board of Survey. Memorandum from John W. Agnew, Jr. , Executive Secretary to the Selectmen relative to Cable T V within the Town was accepted as a point of information. Read memorandum from Selectmen' s Office concerning Flood Insurance and requesting the Board meet with the Selectmen on ' May 3d at 7:30 P. M. to discuss the subject as H.U.D. plans a last public hearing on this on May 30, 1979 at the Community Center. It was moved, seconded and voted to sign letter committing the following to the Tax Collector for collection: Sewer House Connection Betterment $ 970. 20 Street Betterment $ 100.01 ' Superintendent Louanis requested that Item 12 on the Agenda awarding contracts on Bituminous Chip Seal , Bituminous Concrete Overlays and Asphalt Pavement Reclamation be postponed until the next meeting. The Board signed the Payroll for the period ending April 27 and the Bill Roll dated May 4, 1979. Meeting adjourned at 10:45 P. M. pect ly submitted Secretary /r 1