1943-04-30 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 7 • a permit from the Town of Lexington to convert the build- ing into twelve apartments. This was made a condition of the agreement and the agreement was signed with that pro- vision. He said that before the time for carrying out the agreement arrived, Mr. Richardson applied to the Building Inspector, filed his plans and specifications and talked the matter over with him and the Building Inspector made certain recommendations. He told Air. Richardson to see the State Inspector of the Department of Public Safety who would undoubtedly have some ideas on the matter, before the plans were completed. Several suggestions were made by the State Officials and incorporated in the application. The Building Inspector then suggested that he confer with the Chief of the Fire Department. Additional suggestions were made and incorporated in the specifications and drawn into the plans. When this had been done, the permit was granted. After the permit was granted, Mr. Richardson, being bound by the agreement completed the transaction with the bank and paid his money. Then, by virtue of the authority of the permit, made contracts, applied for priorities and did con- siderable work around the housed. Some time after that, Air. Richardson received a letter from the Building Inspector, dated August 4, 1942 stating that the .permit would have to be Oft"elled. Mr. Murphy said that some time later, an informal he�,r- ing was held with the Board of Selectmen at which time the matter was discussed. Mr. Murphy said he understood that the Tenement House Act was then in effect in the Town of Lexington and under that Act any building must be of first- class construction and this building would never be first- class construction and under the Act, as it stood at that time, the permit would not be granted and had to be can- celled. He said that Mr. Richardson then informed the Board that he had no knowledge of the fact that the Tenement House Act was in effect in Lexington. He relied on the supposition that the Building Inspector would have known that this was not a first-class building and would be barred by the Tenement House Act. Mr. Murphy said that until Mr. Richardson dis- covered that, he was unable to see why the permit was refused and he had his attorney at that time prepare a bill in equity and he intended to go further in the matter. When the Board of Selectmen explained the Ter;ement House Act to him, the matter wLs clear and he was told at that time by someone at the hearing that Lexington intended to rescind the acceptance of the Tenement House Act and if he would wait a short time, with the Act out of the way, there would be no reason why the change in this property could not go forward. Thereafter plans were made to repeal the Act and it was repealed this spring. L'