USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1955 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
Leonard Eugene Anderson Louis B. Bacigalupo Paul Warren Barrett Wilmer David Barrett
Linda Carolyn French Raynor Gagnon
Joseph Eugene Gallagher Janet E. Giuliano
Douglas Huntley Gordon
Sally E. Grant
Douglas Michael Beeman
Marilyn Janet Guile
Richard Edward Bell
Thomas Francis Halpin, Jr.
Carolyn Ruth Blanchard
Mary Catherine Hardy
Mary Priscilla Harrison
Arthur Rollins Hathaway
Sandra Joan Helpard Paul Robert Henderson
Shirley Joan Henderson William Burke High
Barbara Phyllis Hoyt
Barry Wayne Hubbard Yvonne Beatrice Jannelle
Allen Thomas Coker
Katherine Frances Coneeney
Barbara Ann Conti Dorothy Alice Cook Leona Anna Couturier Lorraine Crove Geraldine Marie Crowe Charlotte Marie Cryts
Janet Eleanor Kay Katherine Ann Kramer
Dale Terry LaBelle Adriano La Regina Edouard Louis Lassieur Jean Marie LeBoucher Joan Carol Leonard Mary Patricia Leonard Priscilla Mae Leslie
Cynthia Vivian Livingston
Gael Noreen Desmond Mary Dolores Devaney Joseph Patrick Doherty William C. Doherty Lois Frances Doiron Virginia Marie Dolan Jean C. Doucette Paul Jeremiah Doucette
Roy Vincent Doucette Lawrence James Duffy James William Dunn Cynthia Isabelle Eisenhaure Ronald Joseph Ellis Herbert S. Ferren Norman Adolph Forsberg Robert A. Foster
Albert Willis Lowe Donald MacDermod William Harry MacDermod Joyce Marie MacMillan Joan Mary Magliozzi John Paul Marden Leland Edward Martin Don Walter Mason Paul David Mathews Frances Yvonne McCabe Ruth Jean McDonald Marjorie Elizabeth McIntire
Linda L. McKenney Jane Lucille Mercier Doris Anne Miller
137
Beverly Ann Boivin Joseph Arthur Brown Nanette Burns .
Nancy Jean Burpee Barry Paul Butler Elaine Barbara Carr Patricia Elaine Carter Anne Chaput John Climo
Sally Jenkins Robert Kenneth Jenney
Kenneth Porter Jones Nancy Louise Jones
Anne Marie Cullinane
Russell Dougald Daley Merelyn Carol Daniels Barbara DeMar Elizabeth DeMar
Frederick William Miller John B. Miller Duncan Mclachlan Moodie, Jr. William Alexandria Morrison Barbara Ann Moulton Anita Ruth Mulhinch Thomas Kenneth Murray Deana Rae Newell Marjorie Evelyn Nugent
John Martin Smith Robert Leander Smith Richard G. Spinney
William Aborn Spinney, Jr. Edward Charles Stanton Arnold W. Starr Carol Stevenson Judith R. Stone
Barbara Mae Nurmi Ann Kathleen O'Brien
David Louis Surette
Dolores Ann Surette
Victor Paul Oliver Alvin Clayton Opland Peter Downs Orth
James Stephen Surette Joseph Bernard Talbot Helen Amelia Taylor
Joan Marie Pantano Judith Matthews Partelow
Sandra Alice Taylor
Robert Leslie Theriault
Robert G. Thoms
George Bancroft Perry II Carol Janet Peterson Richard Karl-Poehler Jon Edward Read June Margaret Redmond
Maurice Josiah Titcomb
Ann Marie Tomlinson
Barbara Ann Toothaker Gerald Graham Tower Marion Lee Towle
Roberta E. Riccio Jon Barrie Richardson Diane Beatrice Robbins Ronald A. Roberts
Roy Conrad Trulson
Milton G. Robinson
Albert William Van Woglom
Richard W. Rogers
Charles Andrew Vars Jon W. Vedder Mary Ann Ventimiglia
Florence Louise Russell
Peter R. Vincent
Margarette Frances Russo
Carol Ann Walker
Marilyn Dorothy Sampson
Thomas G. Wall
David Edwin Wendell
Bruce Alan Wheeler
Nancy Joanne Wheeler
Gerald Edward White
Maureen Ann Skinner
Robert Avery Williams
William Douglas Skinner
William R. Zanni
Charles Leonard Smith, Jr.
Alvan Paul Turner
Marion Ruderman Jack A. Runge
Carol Joan Sanford Charles Daniel Saunders Donald A. Sherrod Joyce Carol Skane
172
138
Ann Strout Roger James Sullivan
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE
Town of Reading, Massachusetts
for the year ending December 31, 1955
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
To the Citizens of Reading:
The Board of Public Works herewith submits its annual report for the year ending December 31, 1955.
The Board of Public Works has jurisdiction over the following listed departmental subdivisions:
Administration, Engineering Division, Water, (including supply, distribution, construction and maintenance), Highway Construction and Maintenance, Removal of Snow and Ice, Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance, Storm Drain Construction and Maintenance, Town Dump, Sewer Construction and Maintenance, Sewer House Connections, Parks care and maintenance, Playgrounds care and maintenance, Chapter 90 Construction and Maintenance, Equipment purchase and maintenance, several phases of Betterment construction and billing, Pensions of former employees of the department, Bridges care and maintenance, Garage care and mainetnance, Public Parking areas care and maintenance, and other special and pertinent subdivsiions. Each of the above divisions entails many detailed operations which, it is felt, are too numerous to list herein.
The Board of Public Works is also, ex officio, the Board of Survey, and as such have jurisdiction over all proposed subdivisions and de- velopments. This includes consideration of the proposed layout of streets for lines and grades, and their effect on abutting lands and the Town as a whole, and of the installation of utilities. Also included in the responsibility to determine that all prescriptions placed on the development by the Board of Survey and the Board of Health are carried out.
The major problems which faced the Board of Public Works during the year lay in the fields of organization of the department, sewerage, drainage, and assessment of betterment and other charges for sewer construction and usage.
On January 6, James T. Putnam was appointed Superintendent of Public Works, a position he had been filling as Acting Superintendent since May 28, 1954. Other changes in personnel followed including the promotion of Ernest R. Watson as assistant superintendent.
Subsequent to these promotions, the Board reviewed the organiza- tion of the department in detail. It was apparent that administrative personnel of the department were suffering from an intolerable work load. This was determined to be due to the vigorous growth of the town over the past ten years, and the resultant increase in the magni- tude of the overall activities of the department. In consequence this Board recommended to the Personnel Board that a change be made in the job description of the assistant superintendent to upgrade the po- sition and increase the scope and responsibility of his duties. This Board also recommended to the Personnel Board that a post known as "Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent" be created, in order to relieve the Superintendent of a large number of routine administra-
140
tive tasks, and give him more time for planning and supervision of the activities of the department.
The problem of sewerage has been of major concern to the Board. As of December 31, 1955, petitions for main sewer extensions totaling over $400,000.00 in cost were on file with the Board. These are appli- cations presented by groups of citizens seeking relief from insanitary conditions caused by overflowing private cesspools and/or septic tanks and leaching fields. The Board has conferred with the Finance Com- mittee and the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee on several occasions about the problem.
The sidewalk construction policy as set forth in the 1954 annual report of the Board was strictly adhered to. All voluntary sidewalk applications on hand were completed, and a start was made on con- tinuous run or block system construction. A contract was let in the Fall of 1955 for block construction with bituminous concrete sidewalks on Woburn Street, which was interrupted by inclement weather. This contract will be completed in the Spring of 1956. It should be noted that this program resulted in a marked saving in sidewalk construction costs.
Drainage problems continue to arise, as dwelling houses continue to be constructed in less desirable locations in the outskirts of town, where presently no storm drains exist. Particular attention is being paid by the Board of Survey to drainage problems, to insure that insofar as is possible the drainage of the town will be improved by develop- ment. A planned program of storm drain installation has been carried on during the year with resultant alleviation of many bad drainage conditions.
The development of Birch Meadow High School Athletic Field re- sulted in the flooding of some properties by the Aberjona River head- waters, locally known as Birch Meadow Brook. Major channel and culvert improvements will be necessary to solve this particular problem, as anticipated by the Birch Meadow Study Committee report.
With respect to charges for betterments and other purposes the Board reviewed its policies with the following results:
1. Charges for street, curbing and sidewalk betterments were found to be in accordance with existing statutes.
2. Charges for sewer betterments were reviewed and increased from $1.00 per front foot to $1.25 per foot. By the end of 1955 these new charges were determined to be inadequate. The act creating Reading's sewerage system states that 30 per cent of the cost of the system shall be levied against abutters and 70 per cent against the tax levy.
3. Charges for sewer house connections were revised in accordance with the Act setting up the sewerage system. The abutter is now required to bear the full cost of the extension from the main in the street to the house. Previously he had been required to bear the cost from the street line to the house.
141
4. Sewer service (or rental) charges were increased, effective Jan- uary 1, 1956. It was determined by the Board that existing charges were insufficient to meet rising costs of construction and maintenance.
With the revisions above noted, and with further upward revision of the sewer frontage assessment in 1956, this Board, in its opinion, will have assessed betterment and other charges in full accord with the letter and spirit of the various acts enabling these charges to be levied.
It should be noted that the Board had planned to review present maintenance policies and schedules during 1955. Reviews were held and some equipment necessary for storm drain and sewer cleaning equipment was recommended by the Superintendent. However, in view of the work load imposed on administrative personnel, together with the other actions and reviews above described, a total review of maintenance policies and schedules and of the working of the Road Machinery Fund and Road Machinery operating account were deferred until 1956.
The major problems foreseen for 1956 are:
1. An increase in the amount of main sewer construction, to elim- inate existing insanitary conditions in many sections of Reading.
2. Continuous review of the adequacy of existing capital outlay programs as compared with the rapid growth of Reading and resulting need for necessary utilities.
3. A review of the adequacy of the present water supply works.
The Board of Public Works has endeavored to cooperate with other Town Boards and Departments during the past year and wish to ac- knowledge the cooperation extended to them by other Boards and Departments.
The Board also wishes to commend the many conscientious em- ployees of the Department for their continued loyalty and cooperation. Reference is made to the report of the Superintendent for a more detailed list of Departmental accomplishments by division.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD D. KILGORE, JR., Chairman COLEMAN J. DONAHUE, Secretary KENNETH R. JOHNSON WALTER S. HOPKINS, JR. DOMENICK ZANNI, JR.
142
Superintendent's Report
To the Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen: /
As required by Section 4, Chapter 118 of an Act authorizing the Town of Reading to establish a Board of Public Works, I respectfully submit for your consideration the thirty-fifth annual report of the De- partment of Public Works (Water, Highway, Sewer, Park, Engineering) and a chronicle of the principal work performed during the year 1955, with recommendations for the coming year.
Water Division
Housing development continued at an increased tempo during the year, and resulted in near-record installations of water mains and services. Water mains in sizes of 6", 8" and 12" were installed totaling 8,853.10 lineal feet, and fourteen new fire hydrants set. There are now 67.496 miles of water main in the distribution system. New water services in sizes from 1" to 2" were installed at 192 locations, totalling 11,331.30 lineal feet. Services were renewed at 97 locations, and many old services were rodded and reamed to improve volume of water de- livered to homes.
New water meters were installed in 128 locations, 471 meters were removed, repaired, tested and reset, and 30 meters were junked and replaced.
A total of 412,582,400 gallons of water was delivered to the distri- bution system by Water Pumping Stations Nos. 1, 2 and 3 at Hundred Acre Meadows. This is an increase of 37,778,400 gallons over 1954, and an all-time record of pumping for the Water Department. The annual daily average pumped in 1955 was 1,130,363, or 68.76 gallons per capita daily. Highest single day's pumpage was on Thursday, July 21, 1955 with 2,114,600 gallons, and the highest seven-day's pumpage from July 31 through August 6 with a total of 13,435,100 gallons.
Rainfall at Hundred Acres Pumping Station during 1955 totaled 48.58 inches, an excess of 7.15 inches over the 55 year average of 41.43 inches. A new all-time record of precipitation occurred in August of 1955, when 12.45 inches of rainfall was measured, 8.64 inches of which was deposited on August 16, 17 and 18 by Hurricane "Diane". No damage to the well field or pumping stations was caused by the resultant flood.
Five main breaks were experienced during the year, all caused by contractors engaged in excavation. The most serious of these oc- curred at the Woburn Street rail-road crossing, when the Boston & Maine Railroad pile-driver drove a twelve-inch I beam through a 10" cast iron main at 1:30 in the morning. Much water loss was experienced in this break, but there was no disruption of service to consumers.
All fire hydrants were inspected and checked for defects during the year. Six hydrants were struck by motor vehicles during the year, and were replaced or repaired.
143
The Deferrization Plant functioned satisfactorily during the year, re- moving iron from the raw water. Because of ponding of the contact coke aerators, it was necessary to completely fork over and jet-wash the coke in both aerators during the early Fall months.
Highway Division
Major improvements to the highway system in 1955 were as follows: Birch Meadow Drive: Accomplished original construction of Birch Mea- dow Drive from Main Street to Oakland Road, including tree removal, peat removal, storm drain installation, ordinary and gravel borrow, setting corner curb, tar treated gravel surface.
Bituminous concrete street surfacing, sidewalk surfacing, and slope curbing will be accom- plished in 1956.
Batchelder Road:
Constructed from Haverhill Street to dead end under Betterment Act.
Bolton Street:
Constructed from Ash Street to dead end under Betterment Act.
Glenmere Circle:
Constructed from Winslow Road to accepted por- tion of Glenmere Circle under Betterment Act. Constructed from Lothrop Road to dead end un- der Betterment Act.
Lothrop Road:
Constructed from County Road at Howard Street to County Road at Wescroft Road under Better- ment Act.
Minot Street:
Applied bituminous concrete surfacing over ex- isting surface from Main Street to Washington Street.
Chapter 90 Maint:
Armor-coated Lowell Street, Winthrop Avenue to Woburn Street.
Mixed-in-place surfacing applied to Haverhill Street, Franklin Street to Granger Avenue.
In the early summer, a street resurfacing program was started and carried on through the early fall months, a total of 31,235 gallons of road oil being used to surface-treat approximately 70,104 square yards of roadway. Armor coating was used extensively with good results. On several other streets, which had been severely deformed by excava- tions for water mains, sewers, storm drains, etc., it was necessary to apply mixed-in-place surfacing with road oils and stone cover to restore the proper crowned surface. Deep frosts, heavy rains and resultant floods, utility excavation and other causes have resulted in the breaking up of many road surfaces. In 1956 it will be necessary to surface treat many of these roadways.
A total of 439.64 square yards of granolithic sidewalks and 865.10 square yards of bituminous concrete sidewalks were installed by the Highway Department under the Betterment Act, whereby a portion of the cost of construction is borne by the abutting property owner. In addition, 239.00 square yards of bituminous concrete sidewalks were installed by contract, also under the Betterment Act.
144
Jere Road:
No granite curbing was installed in 1955 under the Betterment Act, as curbing funds were not appropriated in 1955. A total of 47 appli- cations are on hand for future installations when funds are again available.
The storm drainage system was extended a total of 2,204.00 lineal feet, including 25 catch basins and 20 manholes, all by departmental personnel. Three particularly dangerous and aggravating drainage problems were eliminated, one each on Walnut, Deering and Grove Streets. In addition, an easement was secured from property owners and major channel improvements were accomplished on Aberjona River, from Intervale Terrace to John Carver Road, a distance of 1900 lineal feet, in order to properly drain the new Senior High School Athletic Field in Birch Meadow.
The aftermath of Hurricane "Diane" in late August resulted in severe damage to various culverts, roadways and open drain ditches in various parts of Reading, with floods in many sections comparable to the dam- age caused by Hurricane "Edna" of September 10, 1954. The damage was so severe that the State Flood Relief Board has allocated $20,000.00 of State funds for the permanent repair of several culverts, storm drains and roadways. Inclement weather during the Fall of 1955 has pre- vented completion of this work, which will be undertaken in the early months of 1956.
Maintenance of storm drains has been accomplished in many locations. In September, 1955 the Department acquired a mechanical catch basin cleaner and crane, which was mounted on a Highway De- partment dump truck, and two men have been constantly engaged in cleaning catch basins. This work was hitherto accomplished by con- tract, and is now being done by Departmental personnel at a marked decrease in cost. Many basins previously cleaned were filled with debris from the flood rains of October 1955, which necessitated a second cleaning. The Town drainage system now contains over 1200 catch basins, which must be cleaned annually or more often as conditions so require.
Removal of snow and ice was limited mostly to sanding and salting icy streets. A total of 2 plowable snow storms were experienced during the early months of 1955, and no plowable storms during the closing months. However, the month of December, 1955 with near-record pro- tracted low temperatures and several sleet storms necessitated con- tinued highway sanding and salting. A total of 2,053 tons of sand and 72 tons of salt were used in highway sanding in 1955.
John Street Dump
Early in the Spring of 1955, a drag-line crane was used to excavate a vast quantity of peat from the Easterly dumping perimeter of the John Street Dump. This resulted in an excavation with a dumping depth from present dump level of eighteen to twenty feet, and prolonged appreciably the useful life of the present dump. All waste material possible is burned, then the remaining debris is bull-dozed into the excavation. It is estimated that by this method the present dump will not be filled until August or September of 1956, at which time a new
145
excavation will be made Southerly of the Quannapowitt Drain Ditch, where the Town owns considerable acreage.
A rodent control program at John Street Dump was carried out during the Spring of 1955, by professional exterminators, with excellent results, resulting in a marked decrease in the rat population at the Dump. It is recommended that the rodent control program be continued in 1956, and thereafter from time to time as conditions warrant. A fully bonded and insured professional exterminator uses non-toxic baits harmless to humans and properly safe guarded from dogs and cats.
Park and Playground Division
Maintenance of all Parks, Playgrounds and Recreation areas was carried on during the year, and during the Supervised Play period in July and August the Park Department worked in close co-ordination with the Recreation Committee and its Director.
Several new construction projects were completed during the year at Parks and Playgrounds.
Memorial Park landscaping was completed, adding 41/2 acres of available park space and completely eliminating the low, marshy area on the Charles and Harrison Street sector of the Park. Loam and peat which had been removed from the area reclaimed, was spread, graded, treated with ground limestone and commercial fertilizer, and seeded with a special formula Park grass seed. A concrete block field house was erected near the site of the old Park Barn for storage of supervised play equipment.
At Birch Meadow Playground, two tennis courts were resurfaced with bituminous concrete and new fox wire installed on tennis court fences. Grading operations adjacent to the Overlook were postponed to the Spring of 1956 because of flooded conditions in the Senior High School Athletic Field, and resultant failure of a contractor to complete grading of the school area.
Sturges Park received much attention during the year. To prevent flooding of newly constructed dwelling houses on Walnut Street, ex- cavated material from betterment road construction was utilized to construct a berm adjacent to these houses, two inlet brooks were piped, and a start made on clearing brush from a large section of the Park abutting Pine Ridge (Private) Road. It is planned to further improve Sturges Park in 1956 by constructing a natural hockey rink separated from the general ice skating area, and, by using excavated material from the Chapter 90 Construction of West Street as fill, construct a graded and grassed play area in the Northerly section of the Park.
Little League Park on Pleasant Street also received a grading treatment. Peat was removed from a portion of the area Westerly of Little League Ball Field, and waste material from betterment streets was used as fill. In the Spring of 1956, this peat will be spread over the newly filled area, properly treated, and grassed. If funds are avail- able, two more years should complete a baseball field for public use in this Park, at a very nominal cost.
Washington Street Ball Park was in constant use during the play season, and received its normal care. New fox-wire was installed on
146
the tennis court fences, and a cement block field house was constructed for the storage of supervised play equipment.
Sewer Division
Main trunk sanitary sewers totaling 6319.81 lineal feet were laid in 14 streets, including 33 man holes, for a total of 108 possible sewer house connections. Departmental forces installed 826.55 lineal feet of sewers and 5493.26 lineal feet were installed by contractors.
The sewer on Lowell Street, from Intervale Terrace to High Street encountered numerous subterranean obstacles and early December 1955 frost conditions, but will be completed early in 1956.
New sewer house connections were made to 64 dwelling houses and business establishments, and five connections were partially in- stalled to street line on Lothrop Road. Sewer house connection instal- lations totalled 3857.75 lineal feet.
Maintenance of sewer trunk lines was carried on throughout the year, particular attention being given to sewers laid on flat gradients. Three main sewers became clogged due to intrusion of tree roots through joints on sewers laid in years past, and one sewer house connection was relaid for the same reason.
A new manhole to receive the contents of private cess-pool cleaning tank trucks was constructed at the rear of the Municipal Garage on John Street, on the main outfall sewer line. This has eliminated com- plaints from property owners on John and Village Streets adjacent to the former dumping manhole at the intersection of John and Village Streets.
Willow Street Sewage Pumping Station has operated satisfactorily during the year, disposing of sewage from the Senior High School. During grading operations at the Senior High School Athletic Field in Birch Meadow, a contractor's bull-dozer damaged a sewer manhole in Birch Meadow. This was not reported, and during excessive rainfalls in mid-October, the meadow became flooded, causing surface water to enter the sewer and flood the wet-well at the sewage pumping station, resulting in considerable damage to motors, cominutor, and pumps. The break was eventually located, temporarily sand-bagged, and re- paired when flood water subsided.
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division accomplished much necessary work dur- ing the year. Surveys, plotting and drafting, design, preparation of specifications and contracts, inspection of contract and departmental work including new roads, sewers, drains, water mains, sidewalks, parks, received the attention of this Division. All subdivisions and developments submitted were checked for proper layout under the rules and regulations of the Board of Survey and Subdivision Control Act.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.