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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-11-17-STM-min (See Warrant Book - Pa gp 4 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 17 , 1952 The meeting was called to order by the Moderator , Charles E. Ferguson at 8:03 P. M. There were 182 Town Meeting Members present. Town Clerk , James J. Carroll , read the Warrant until further reading was waived by vote of the meeting. 8:04 P. M. Town Clerk , James J. Carroll, read the Constable ' s Return for the meeting. 8:05 P. M. Article 1. Leon W. Bateman , Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, presented the Committee's Report for the meeting which was accepted. 8:06 P. M. Article 2. Presented by Donald E. Nickerson, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. VOTED : To appropriate the sum of $10,670.54 to reimburse the United States Housing and Home Finance Agency for the unpaid balance of the cost advanced by that agency to the Town for the preparation of plans for the construction of the Mill Brook Sewer and to provide for payment thereof by a transfer of said sum from the Metropolitan District Sewer Plan Fund. Carried Unanimously 8:08 P. M. Article 3. Presented by Donald E. Nickerson, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. VOTED: That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized in the name and on behalf of the Town to construct a sanitary sewer in or near Bedford Street from Eldred Street northerly to the proposed terminus of the Bedford force main near Winter Street, subject to the Selectmen obtaining an agreement in form satisfactory to them from the Town of Bedford to reimburse the Town of Lexington for the full cost of such construction including the cost of financing the project and the cost of any land acquisition, and to take by eminent domain, purchase or otherwise acquire any fee , easement or other interest in land necessary therefor ; and to appropriate for such construct- ion and land acquisition the sum of $45 ,000 and to provide said sum by the issue of bonds or notes of the Town ; and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen , be and he hereby is , authorized to borrow the sum of $45 ,000 and issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, to be payable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, within a period not exceeding one year. Carried Unanimously 8:11 P. M. Article 1. Edwin B. Worthen asks to have Article 1 re-opened. 8:11 P.M. There were no objections. Mr. Worthen offered the following resolution: Resolved; That it is the sense of this meeting that the Select- men not enter into any agreement to furnish water to a consumer outside of Lexington , except by a confirming vote of the Town Meeting Members unless it be to meet an emergency and then only for a period not exceeding eight months. 8:15 P. M. The Moderator rules the resolution out of order. 8:19 P. M. Article 4. Report of Veterans Memorial Library Committee presented by A. Edward Rowse , Chairman as follows: REPORT OF VETERANS MEMORIAL LIBRARY COMMITTEE The Committee appointed in accordance with the vote of March 19, 1951 to develop the details and cost of the Veterans Memorial Library in the new High School, presents the following report : 406 „..75 With the recommendation of the Architects for the new high school building, Perry, Shaw, Hepburn , Kehoe & Dean, the committee submits the following plans for the School Library . The proposed library is a room, 75' long 23 ' wide, situated on the second floor - the most central location in relation to the class- rooms . Adjoining the main library room are a librarian's office, work room and two conference rooms. The finished design and materials for the library are A. All woodwork will be African Mahogany plywood or solid wood as conditions require ; the wood will have a durable finish main- taining its natural beauty of color and grain . B. The floor will be 5/16" cork tile property waxed and buffed. C. The ceilings will be covered with 13/16" Travacoustic tile cemented to the concrete. D. The ceiling lighting fixtures will be the pendant concentric louver type - finished in chrome aluminum with white enamel arrangement. E. Draperies in colors suitable to match the room will be provided. F. The furniture will consist of equipment necessary to operate properly a modern school library , such as pupils ' tables and chairs ; circulation or charging desk for librarian; atlas and dictionary stands ; filing cases; card catalog cases; office desks ; bulletin boards and newspaper racks. G. An amount is included to purchase needed books and reference material. The main Memorial features of the building are three : 1. Across the long inside elevation facing the corridor side of the room will be carved, V cut and in gold leaf, an inscription as follows: "1941 Dedicated to. Those Citizens of Lexington Who Served Their Country in the Armed Services 1945". 2. At the end of the Library to the right as one enters, will be an appropriate memorial to those who lost their lives in World War II - with the carved names of those who died in the service of their country. 3 . There will be appropriate leather bound books containing the names of all Lexington citizens who served in the armed forces during this period. The complete estimated costs as secured thru the Architects and other reliable sources amounts to 840,000. Unquestionably a school library could be built for less , but your committee in formulating these plans considered that this is a Memorial Library to those who served and died in the service of their country and believed that the town would feel that this was not the occasion for economy alone , but for a true expression of appreciation to these citizens. A bare library is a necessity in any high school building , but these plans embody something above and beyond the mere necessity. Although it is not the responsibility of this committee to make further recommendations , we feel it is our duty to call to the att- ention of the town that there is a desire on the part of a number of citizens that a plaque or some suitable listing of veterans names appear in the Cary Memorial Hall or some other suitable meeting place . Joseph Belcastro Frank B. Culbertson Thomas S. Grindle Allen W. Rucker William E. Phillips , Secretary A. Edward Rowse, Chairman Motion made and carried that the report be accepted, placed on 407 file , and the committee discharged. 8:25 P. M. Article 4. (a) VOTED : That the report of the Committee for Veterans' (Cont . ) Memorial Library be accepted and placed on file and the Committee discharged.. Carried Unanimously $: 25 P. M. (b)' VOTED : That the School Committee be and hereby is authorized on behalf of the Town to obtain bids arra enter into a contract or contracts for the construction and original equipping and furnishing of the high school library in the new high school buidling, which library is hereby designated as the "Veterans ' Memorial Library" ; that the sum of $40 ,000 be and hereby is appropriated for such construction, original equipping and furnishing , and that payment be provided by the transfer of said sum from the Excess and Deficiency Account ; and that the High School Building Committee be and hereby is authorized to supervise and to have authority to approve all bills incurred for such construction , original equipping and furnishing. Carried Unanimously $:47 P. M. Article 1. Charles H. Norris asks to have Article 1 re-opened. No objections. $:47 P. M. Charles H. Norris , Chairman, presented "Progress Report of the High School Building Committee". PROGRESS REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE PRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, NOVEMBER 17 , 1952 Since our last progress report at the annual town meeting on March 17 , 1952, the construction of the new senior high school on Waltham Street has been proceeding steadily and satisfactorily. The building is now approximately ninety per cent complete and the gen- eral contractor expects to complete his work by February 1 , 1953. When the contract for the construction of the new high school was signed on July 10, 1951, the School Committee planned on allocating the $1 ,770 ,000. appropriation of the March 1951 town meting as follows: Building 51,534,400. Equipment 95,000. Site Development 50,000. Architect 44,000. Contingencies 46 ,600. $1,770 ,000. Whereas this budget provided only the minimum amount of roads and drainage to service the building and required that the new equip- ment be supplemented by the transfer of some old equipment from the present high school, it did enable the School Committee to construct a highschool which could operate and qualify for state assistance. Your Building Committee can now assure this town meeting that the School Committee will succeed in providing the facilities which they planned, essentially in accordance with the above budget . This has been accomplished by using the contingency fund as follows: (1) . $38,050 . will have been used for necessary revisions to the building contract. Of this total, 536 ,900. has been spent to date and it is estimated that $1,150 . more will be required before the completion of the contract . It is noteworthy that , in spite of the foundation difficulties caused by the ledge rock , the extra charges for this building amount to only 2.5 per cent of the original contract. (2) . $8,000. will have been used to pay the clerk-of-the-works salary from July 1951 to the completion of the building contract. 408 (3 ) . $2 ,050. will be required to pay additional architect's charges over and above the original estimate of $44,000. for this purpose . 7-7J (4) . Inasmuch as the present site development program will cost only 848 ,400. , $1 ,600. of the original $50 ,000. allocation will be returned to the contingency fund. As a result , the estimated balance in the contingency fund is 5100. In closing it should be emphasized that , while the present appro- priation provides for a school facility which can be operated, it allows for only the bare minimum amount of equipment , and only half the drainage, half the roads and walks, none of the parking area, practically none of the rough grading, and none of the find grading and landscaping contemplated for the complete development of the site. Respectfully submitted, James M. West Ruth Morey Alvin W. Davis Ernest Cut ter Charles H. Norris , Chairman Report was voted to be accepted and placed on file . 8: 50 P. M. Article 5. Presented by Ruth Morey , Chairman , School Committee . VOTED: That the sum of 3160 ,000 be and hereby is approp- riated as a supplementary appropriation to be used in conjunction with and in addition to the sum of $1,770,000 appropriated under Article 40 of the Warrant for the 1951 Annual Town Meeting for the construction and original equipping and furnishing of the new high school building, and that payment be provided by the issue of bonds or notes of the Town for $160,000; and that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen , be and he hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of $160,000 under the authority of Chapter 186 of the Acts of 1947 , as amended by Chapter 26 of the Acts of 1949 , and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor in accordance with the prov- isions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of issue of the first bond or note. Voice vote not carried Standing vote taken as follows: In Favor Tellers Opposed 39 Horace K. MacKechnie 0 41 John P. Whalen 2 38 Milton F. Hodgdon 2 48 James M. West 0 166 4 Carried 9:07 P. M. Article 6. Presented by Alan G. Adams , Chairman , Planning Board , as follows : Under Section 19 of the Lexington Zoning By-Law the Lexington Planning Board is submitting its report on the proposed amendment to the By-Law contained in the warrant for this special town meeting. The Lexington Flaming Board held a public hearing on Thursday, November 6th at which over 100 Lexington citizens were present . This hearing was advertised in the Oct. 23rd and 30th issues of the Lexington Minute-man and 60 property owners and residents in the area deemed affected were notified by mail. The proposed amendment was thoroughly discussed and the pet- itioners presented their reasons for their action . There was strenimus objection to the proposal; first on the grounds that the approach of business towards the historic Battle Green would seriously impair the beauty and significance of that historic spot; second ,* that an additional business area on Bedford street would increase the already serious traffic hazard on that artery; and third, that the value of the remaining residential properties on lower Bedford street would be seriously impaired. A show of 409 Article 6. (Cont . ) hands at the conclusion of the meeting indicated 3 in favor and 67 opposed. The Planning Board following the hearing and after devoting considerable study to the subject has voted unanimously not to recommend the adoption of Article 6. The Board feels that for the moment at least, traffic on Bedford street would be made increas- ingly dangerous and that the 400 depth on the westerly side of Bedford Street would make any business structures built close to the rear lines in this area an eyesore from the Battle Green. However , the Planning Board wishes to point out that the future of the area between the present business zone on Bedford Street and the Battle Green still remains a serious problem. It is highly probable that within a few years Bedford Street will have to be widened anyway , principally becuase that street is the main artery from Lexington Center to Route 128. It also feels that the area in the proposed amendment should be treated as an area problem. Respectfully submitted, LExiNGT3N PLANNING BIARD Alan G. Adams, Ch. Frederic K. Johnson Donald K. Irwin William G. Potter Aiden L. Ripley Donald D. Hathaway 9:14 P. M. Bertram P. Gustin presented the following : VOTED: That the Town amend the Zoning By-Law so as to change certain land from an R 1 District to a C 2 District by adding in Section 4. (d) C 2 - General business districts, the following new paragraphs : 8. A district beginning at a point which is the southerly boundary of the C 2 district on the westerly side of Bedford Street, thence running in a southerly direction along Bedford Street 268 feet plus or minus , thence turning and running in a westerly direction along land now or formerly of Josephine E. Bailey and extended to a depth of 380 feet plus or minus south- westerly to the property of John P. Whalen , thence turning and following property line in a northerly direction to a point where the extended property lines of Lester L. and Ida B. Andrews and Viano Properties Inc. join, thence turning in an easterly direction on a line to the point of the beginning. 9. A district also beginning at a point which is the southerly boundary of the C 2 district on the easterly side of Bedford Street , thence running in a southerly direction along Bedford Street 235 feet plus or minus , thence turning and running in an easterly direction along land now or formerly of Evelyn H. & Leslie D. Martin 160 feet plus or minus , thence turning and running in a northerly direction along land of the Boston and Maine Railroad 250 feet plus or minus , thence turning and running in a westerly direction along the land of Frederick K. Johnson 244 feet plus or minus to the point of the beginning. (Inserted at the request of one hundred or more registered voters. ) 9:15 P. M. Milton F. Hodgdon presented the following amendrrent : Article 6. VOTED: To amend the Zoning By-Law so as to change certain land from an R 1 District to a C 2 District by addirg in Section 4 (d) C 2 - General business districts , the following new paragraph: 8. A district beginning at a point which is the southerly boundary of the C 2 district on the southwesterly side of Bedford Street , thence running in a southerly direction along Bedford Street seventy-five (75) feet to land now or formerly of Bridget A. Winn and Katherine Corbett , 410 9,.7 Article 6. thence turning and running in a westerly directioh along (Cont. ) said land now or formerly of Winn and Corbett one hundred fifty-four and 30/100 (154.30) feet more or less to the 'f'D center of a ditch at land now or formerly of Viano Prop- erties, Inc. , thence turning and running in a northerly direction by the center line of said ditch along said land now or formerly of Viano Properties , Inc. eighty (80) feet to the southerly boundary of the aforesaid C 2 district , and thence turning and running in an easterly direction along said southerly boundary of said C 2 Dis- trict to the point of beginning. 9:16 P. M. Harold B. Lamont moves that article be indefinitely postponed. 9:23 P. M. Amendment of Milton F. Hodgdon voted on and declared lost by voice vote. 9: 27 P.E. Motion of Harold B. Lamont for indefinite postponement voted on and carried. 9:28 P. M. Question by Donald T. Clark. Donald E. Nickerson, Chairman , Board of Selectmen, moves that meeting be dissolved. 9:29 P. M. /7---7) J--Le5_ 72.-sei .<:. ,, Jai/ ') // / Town C7erk /