HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972-05-05-BOS-min 345
SPECIAL
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
May 5, 1972.
A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Select-
men' s Meeting Room on Friday morning, May 5, 1972, at 8 30 a.m. Chair-
man Kenney, Messrs. Bailey and Brown, and Mrs. Riff in; Mr. O'Connell,
Town Manager; Mr. McSweeney, Director of Public Works; and Mrs. McCurdy,
Executive Clerk, were present.
Mt. Louis P. Valente and Mr. C. David Sullivan of the Burlington
Board of Selectmen met with the Board.
Mr. Valente The last time we were discussing water and drawing
from you was during the contamination problem and I told you we were
building the reservoir and filling it during the spring and using it
during the summer. We are about one and one-half months behind; the Burlington
reservoir will be completed in 1972 but we are not able to draw into Request for
the reservoir in the spring; that means we have one more summer at Water
potential capacity. We have gone ahead as far as industrial waste is
concerned. The reservoir will be constructed during the summer and
there will be no problem next year We must provide the supplementary
services during June, July and August, and we talked to Wilmington and
they agreed to sell , but we have to give them a schedule; we would
like to draw from them for two or three months. They have a capacity
which is sufficient to supply us the water. We could only get so many
gallons a day from them and if we could get a tie-in from you, we
would have a summer without that much fire danger.
Chairman Kenney You mean on an emergency basis when the pres-
sure is down?
Mr. Valente Yes, because of the fire hazard. We will use as
much as we can get. How much are you willing or can you supply to us?
We have no water bans, no fire problems.
Chairman Kenney We have talked with the Director of Public
Works and he has had a preliminary talk with the MDC. We would need
their permission for an agreement to sell you water. The last time it
was done on an emergency basis and we went ahead without their permis-
sion. Now we would have to put in an application and they would want
an indication of how much water is involved.
Mr. McSweeney to Mr. Valente You said two different things; an
emergency, and all you can get.
Mr. Valente I don't know if you are in a position to supply
all we can get.
Mr. McSweeney Would you be filling your tanks to keep the pres-
sure up or when you reach a critical period request that the gate be
turned on? When would you ask for this supply?
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Chairman Kenney to Mr Valente Define the proposal more specifically,
giving the number of gallons through these months.
Mr. Valente During the summertime, we find if we have a water
ban on, that regulates it during the day. If we fill the tanks from
9 00 p.m. to 5 00 a.m., we find that late in the afternoon the pres-
sure goes down because of people sprinkling and using water for
other things. If there is sufficient pressure coming in and suffici-
ent availability of water, we would like to draw from Lexington
between 3 and 6 p.m., and during the day for a re-charge. I don't
know, sitting here, what kind of water problems you may have or what
restrictions.
Mr McSweeney The hours would be set by MDC. We would go
along with whatever restrictions they impose. If we have that gate
open, you would just be drawing off automatically. If it would go
from 3 to 6 every day or when it comes critical , that's another opera-
tion.
Mr. Valente I think MDC has ample build-up.
Mr. McSweeney They wouldn't commit themselves this early. It
takes 7 years to get Quabbin back to 80%; this doesn't change. Their
problem is more long range. The forecast is always gloomy. The
statement they made two months ago was they are doing very well at
5 ft. to 7 ft.
Mr. Valente The connection we have with Lexington is metered;
can that be regulated by flow?
Mr. McSweeney Just by the gating, one-half gating or three-
quarters; either we have it on or off.
Mrs. Riff in I would think we would want to sit down with MDC
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and let them determine the engineering to make sure we are equipped
to do this. It seems it would be a contract with Burlington and
MDC to make it viable. I wonder how our system will react from
3 to 5 or 9 in the evening. We have problems in the summer, too,
and if our system is going to carry our needs, there may be some
work to be done.
Chairman Kenney We don't have any problems internally. We
are assuming this is short-term, not long-term. I suggest that
Mr. McSweeney and Burlington's Town Engineer develop it more specifi-
cally. Then, if it is the feeling of the Board to help a neighboring
town, we will look at it.
Mr. Sullivan We would like to rely upon you people when we
can't get enough from Wilmington It won't be a day-to-day basis,
but would be something we rely on but don't intend to use as an every
day crutch. We don't intend to lean on you seven days a week.
Chairman Kenney Will you develop and submit a written propo-
sal to us for our Engineer because we have to take it to MDC.
Mr. Valente We won't know the quantity and the time so much.
Chairman Kenney You have to go from your experience on what
you need. Give us the best estimate you can.
Mr. Valente If it is hot and dry . .
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Mrs Riff in I would like to see a preliminary reaction from MDC.
I think if the two Engineers work it out and bring it to MDC and then
back to us.
Chairman Kenney When you get the MDC proposal , then bring it
back to us before we vote it.
Mr. Valente and Mr. Sullivan agreed.
Chairman Kenney asked about the industrial waste problem.
Mr. Valente Last summer, it was flowing down the brook and an
order was issued by the Board of Health on no more industrial waste.
They were dumping it in the stone drainage and it filtered in our
water supply. We are working with them day to day. We are not saying
in every case but so we won't have a recurrence of last year. Last
summer, it reached its peak.
Chairman Kenney This raises a point that if you converted to
more industrial type use, you may be hindering Bedford Lexington
Mr. Valente We demonstrated where the water flows and tested Bedford
various places. If we contaminate Bedford over by Mitre, they would Burlington
have substantial problems We had a pretty heavy meeting on the land Strip
and everybody thought we were pretty safe. I don't want to get in-
volved in it.
Chairman Kenney We will leave it that you will develop a more
definitive type proposal .
Mr. McSweeney I would point out that MDC only meets once a
modth.
Chairman Kenney Do it as quickly as possible and get an in-
formal MDC opinion before we vote. Send a request defining ( I ) the
period (2) the best estimate of what you would need (3) the time of
day (4) the volume.
Mr. Valente and Mr. Sullivan agreed.
Chairman Kenney requested the Board to sign the Common Victual-
lers license for Lexington Enterprises, Inc , 27 Waltham Street Lexington
(formerly Anthony' s Restaurant). Enterprises
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to sign the Common Vic-
Common Victualler License for Lexington Enterprises, Inc. , 27 Waltham tualler
Street. License
The request from Mrs. Bogosian of Blossom Street for a sewer con-
nection for the residents was' discussed.
Mr. McSweeney They applied for sewer last year; most of the
residents have been there between three and six years. The problem Bogokian
is, there is quite a length on Waltham Street. The nearest point, Request
coming from Marrett Road, is all of Waltham Street down to the Blossom St.
trunk sewer at Brookside Avenue. You would have to come all the way
down Waltham Street, past Allen Street. This will be one of many
petitions for a sewer.
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Chairman Kenney Wouldn't they do better to come in for a request
in the fall? You are talking a length on Waltham Street plus the
length of Blossomcrest.
The Board agreed to inform Mrs. Bogosian that she should petition
in the fall .
Upon motion duly made and seconded, it was voted to adjourn at
9 00 a.m.
A true record, Attest ā pā 1
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Executive Clerk, Selectmen
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