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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-09-17 Board of Public Works Minutes September 17, 1979 Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened at 7:30 P. M. in the auditorium of the Community Center, 52 Sanborn Street, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Price, Secretary Cowell , Board Mem- bers DeHart and Wood and Superintendent Louanis. Minutes of the meeting of September 10, 1979 were accepted as written. The Board reviewed the five year Proposed Capital Outlay Plan as prepared by the Superintendent. (copy attached) Super- intendent Louanis explained that the projected amounts are based on 1979 dollars. Mr. Linscott (member of the Finance Committee) questioned the budget figure of ten thousand dollars per year for sewer house connections as he was under the impression the Town did not intendto do further work in this area. Secretary Cowell responded by stating that the Town is no longer accepting applications, but will honor those on file if the homeowners are prepared to wait until funds are appropriated. The figure for parks and playgrounds ' is estimated by the Superintendent as the Ad Hoc Committee has not submitted a report. The Ad Hoc Comnittee will be meeting on September 26th and following that meeting will have input for the Board of Public Works. It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the plan as presented by the Superintendent. Meeting adjourned temporarily and following a meeting as the Board of Survey reconvened at 8:30 P. M. in Room 16, Munici- pal Building as the Board of Public Works. Secretary Cowell read notice of public hearing requesting that the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Town of Reading Municipal Light Department be allowed to move Pole 139/8 approximately 24 feet southeasterly of its present location. The Reading Municipal Light Department was repre- sented by James Blomley, Jr. , Assistant General Manager of the Department and Frank Hadley an associate. The N. E. Telephone Company was not represented. Mr. Blomley stated the pole will ® be placed as close as possible to the property line between House No. 46 and House Number 42 Colburn Road (Evans and Rizzo) were present and questioned how long they would be without service. Mr. Blomley informed the abutters that loss of service would be minimal . Mr. DeHart questioned if moving the pole would cause any problems with other utilities and received a negative re sponse from Mr. Blomley. Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to close the hearing. Mr. Cowell moved to grant permission to move pole 139/8 approximately 24, southeasterly of its present location near the property line between 42 and 46 Colburn Road. It was seconded and voted. Secretary Cowell read notice of public hearing at 8:35 P.M. wherein the Town of Reading Municipal Light Department requests permission to install and maintain underground conduits and con- ductors at the intersection of Wescroft Road and Coolidge Road and a second notice of public hearing at 8:40 P.M. wherein the Municipal Light Department requests permission to locate three poles for street lighting on center island as indicated on a plan. Again, Mr. Blomley represented the Municipal Light Department and stated that the installation of the transformer pad with necessary feed conduit etc. , would correct existing problems the Municipal Light Department has in the area towards Springvale Road. The three poles on the island with either 100 or 175 watt lights will supply additional lighting to the area. Mr. Blomley agreed when questioned by Chairman Price to plant shrubs around the transformer. It was moved, seconded and voted to close the hearing. It was moved, seconded and voted to approve the installation of the heavy duty pullhole, approximate outside dimensions 5' x 6' with heavy duty frame and cover and one concrete transformer pad with necessary feed conduits to support a surface mounted tamperproof distribution transformer. Further to install three poles for street lighting on center island each as described on the respective petitions. Secretary Cowell read notice of public hearing wherein the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Municipal Light Department Petition to remove one pole on the northerly side of Hartshorn Street approximately 37' west of east sideline of Hanscom Avenue, and install one pole on the northerly side of the street approximately 19' easterly of Hanscom Avenue east side line. Mr. Blomley indicated on a plan where the proposed curbing will be installed with the new pole abutting the end of the radius curb. It will be necessary to remove the existing pole as with the in- stallation of the curb the pole would then be out in the public way. Minutes - continued September 17, 1979 A brief discussion ensued followed by a motion by Mr. Cowell to close the hearing. It was seconded and voted. It was moved, seconded and voted to grant permission for the removal of one pole at the intersection of Hartshorn Street and Hanscom Avenue and to install a new pole 36/12'2 at the north easterly corner of the intersection on Hartshorn Street as indicated on Plan 1514. It was moved, seconded and voted to take Item 13 on the Agenda out of order. At the September 10th meeting of the Board of Pub- lic Works, Mr. Johnston ' s request to supply water to his lot at the end of Margaret Road was tabled. Mr. Johnston had been re- ceptive to the idea of the Town extending the water main from Margaret Road to Mark Avenue and then installing a service pipe to his house from the new extension. The cost of the main exten- sion to be split 50/50 by the Town and Mr. Johnston. At this time Mr. Johnston suggests that water service be supplied to his lot from Parkman Road. The Board was in favor of completing the loop. Superintendent Louanis stated two streets have dead end mains and this does not provide good distribution of water throughout the system. If there is a break there is no way to service the area but if there was a loop gates could be shut off and the Town would be capable of servicing the greater part of the area. The Superintendent also stated that completion of the loop would pro- vide better protection in the event of fire. Some of the abutting Property owners were present and the Chairman recognized Mr. Forrest of 52 Mark Avenue. Mr. Forrest, acting as spokesman for the group, indicated they were opposed to the proposed walk easement stating there was another walk way available to children in the area. It was also pointed out by Mr. Forrest that when the sewer and drain- age easement was taken in 1972 the stone wall was never repaired properly and the neighbors are annoyed by motorcycles and mopeds in the early morning hours. Chairman Price indicated that the Board was in sympathy with Mr. Forrest and the abutters and agreed to place rocks at the end of the walkway in an attempt to discourage ' vehicular traffic. Superintendent Louanis stated that the Engineer- ing Division estimated the cost of completing the loop in the water system would be approximately $2,900 and suggested as a compromise the be done and the water service be extended to Mr. Johnston' s house the Town to pay $1 ,450 and Mr. Johnston to assume $1 ,450 pro- vided Mr. Johnston grant the easement. Mr. Johnston was assured by the Superintendent that the work could be done within a week. No decision was made by Mr. Johnston at this time. , The Board met with William S. Bristow, Jr. of Wheelabrator- Frye, Inc. partner in the Resco Project in Saugus. The Chairman introduced the Board and requested Mr. Bristow to make his pre- sentation regarding Resco' s proposal for the reuse of the Reading Municipal Incinerator and any other use of the solid waste dis- posal area they were prepared to make. Mr. Bristow stated that his company was prepared to go forward with their proposal of April 1979 in which they would be willing to modify the existing incin- erator receiving building into a transfer station where the Town of Reading could dispose of its solid waste on a five year con- tract with a tipping fee of $21 .83 or a long term contract of fifteen years or more at $19.69. Resco would pay the Town of Reading $1 .00 per ton as a payment in lieu of taxes on tonnage processed through the transfer station and Reading would receive a rental fee of fifty cents per ton on tonnage processed through the transfer station. The proposal actually would have an escalated , fee to the Town of Reading based on normal contract practices of the community. A lengthy discussion ensued and the following questions and answers were posed: would Resco give the Town of Reading a firm figure? Resco would not be able to give the Town a firm figure unless it was able to obtain commitments from other communities that would use the transfer station. Has Resco negotiated or attempted to get other communities signed up for the transfer station? Resco has not made an effort at this time to solicit other communities to use the proposed transfer station. Would Resco be willing to give the Town of Reading a minimum fee? Resco would be willing to give the Town of Reading a minimum fee based on the 12,000 ton per year delivered by the Town of Reading times $1 .50. Would Resco be willing to accept the conditions of assigned routes in which trucks would enter the transfer station? Resco believes the site is ideally located and most access would be from Route 128 and John Street and of course the Town of Reading would have the right to designate the routes which would be , allowed for haulers to enter the area. Would Resco consider other 'options such as building a transfer station in the land fill site across the street and operating the land fill or any other option Minutes - contined September 17, 1979 that they felt would be beneficial to the Town of Reading and Resco and report back to the Board before November 1 , 1979. Resco is willing to look into other options and will make a report to the Board before November 1st and contact other communities that might use the facility and get an indication from them as to the tonnage that might be processed through the transfer station. Meeting adjourned temporarily and following a brief meeting as the Board of Survey reconvened at 11 : 10 P.M. as the Board of Public Works. The Board reviewed Mr. Dickey ' s report re: Gypsy Moth Spray Control for 1980 and after some discussion Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted 4-0 to present one Article at the Novem- ber Town Meeting for a new hydraulic sprayer, pesticides and to enter into a contract for aerial helicopter spray. The Board read and approved letter written by the Superinten- dent to John W. Doucette indicating the Board' s appreciation for ' acting as Supervisor for a period of twenty-three months and letter to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Sullivan relative to a proposed abatement of $415.80 on the sewer house connection at 10 Brentwood Drive. The Board reviewed information concerning a high water bill in the amount of $131 .20 for the six month period ending April 1978 issued to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Boyd at 1451 Main Street. Following a brief discussion it was moved, seconded and voted to abate $100 on this account. The Board reviewed invoice received from Town Counsel . Mr. Cowell moved, it was seconded and voted to approve the 15 hours totalling $675.00 charged to the Board of Public Works and the Superintendent was directed to notify the Selectmen of the Board' s action. The Board agreed to meet during the month of October as follows: Tuesday - October 2d: Tuesday - October 9th: and Monday October 15th. The Board signed the payroll for the period ending September ' 14 and the Bill Roll dated September 21 , 1979. Meeting adjourned at 11 :55 P.M. Re ectfully submitted, ecret y CM" PROPOSED CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN 1981 - 1985 Estimated Appropriations - in thousands of dollars Projects Funded By Tax Levy FY-1981 FY-1982 FY-1983 FY-1984 FY-1985 FY-1986 Equipment Replacement 150 150 150 150 150 Roadway Reconstruction 225 225 225 225 225 Storm Drain Construction 75 75 150 150 150 Street Betterments 20 20 20 20 20 Sidewalk Construction 10 10 10 10 10 Sewer House Connections 10 10 10 10 10 Park and Playground 4o 50 50 50 50 +: 0 Projects Funded by Public Enterprise Rates 0 +Reconstruct Treatment Plant 100 250 250 0 +Redesign Treatment Plant 110 110 110 +Develop Ground Water Sources 100 +Bond Issue