1946-10-07-STM-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

173 Article 17. VOTED: That the sum of $5,300 be appropriated for Wages and Expenses under Water Services and that said amount be provided by a transfer from the Excess and Deficiency Account ; and that the further amount of $50,200 be app- ropriated for Water Construction on Sundry Streets and to provide for such amount by a transfer of $18,753043 from the Water Department Available Surplus Account, and an additional transfer of $31,446.57 from the Excess and Deficiency Account. Carried Unanimously 8:51 P. M. Article 18. Presented by Winfield S. Caouette. VOTED: To authorize the Board of Selectmen to sub- divide that portion of the so-called Poor Farm Tract now owned by the Town of Lexington, fronting on Cedar Street and Hill Street, into lots of approximately 12,500 feet each in area and to sell said lots -in their discretion and upon such terms and conditions as they shall determine, to veterans of World War II who were residents of Lexington at the time of their induction into the armed services, at a price of $p300 per lot. Carried by Voice Vote 9:18 P. M. Article 19 .& 20. -By Roland B. Greeley, who read a report of the Committee on School Sites as follows: REPORT OF THE COMMITT"='-E ON SCHOOL SITES TOWN MEETING, OCTOBER 7, 1946 The Board of Selectmen have requested of this Committee that Articles 19 and 20 be indefinitely postponed. Before action is taken we wish to report to the Tom Meeting why the Articles were inserted. The Committee is firmly convinced that the property described in Article 20, a portion of -what is commonly known as the Aldrich prop- erty, is the outstanding site for a new elementary school to replace the Hancock School, and to give more classrooms to take care of the increase in elementary school enrollment. The need for a new school on a new site is obvious from the Nichols Report submitted prior to the last Town Meeting. The Hancock School is overcrowded and in deplorable condition, and its site is quite inadequate. Mr. Nichols recommends, and others who have studied the problem agree, that the Hancock School District be replaced by two new ones, with Mass. Ave ., Bedford Street and the Railroad as the dividing line., That would avoid the danger of children crossing the main street, and would ultimately divide that portion of the Town not served by other schools into two well-shaped districts, each within fair walking distance of a central point, The northeasterly district centers about Grant St., a strong half-mile from the center, and this Committee expects to recommend a site in this area soon. The southeasterly district, the one for which a new school is most urgently needed, centers about Hastings Road, or almost exactly on the site proposed. The entire district has been studied carefully by this Committee, and no other site qualifies from the standpoint of central location, accessibility, topography, and size. Within half a mile of this central point there is virtually nothing but developed houselots, swamp, steep hillside, and improved park area, except for this site itself. The site recommended has the} -advantages of being public property, and of being immediately adjacent excellent recreation facilities. Any s te _n_ot contiguous to Parker Field would require expensive play- ground improvements. The experience at Adams School has demonstrated how successfully school and park recreation facilities can be operated conjunctively--with much advantage to both.