Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-03-23-ATM-MIN • /173 t 1 ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING MARCH 23, 1931 . She meeting was called to order at 8 : 07 1 .M. Moderator Robert H molt , presiding . Abput 175 Iowa Meeting Members were present . Art .6. Selectam Mr . Trask moves to take up Article 6 . Under this article Selectman Mr , Elaxe offered the follow- ing motion . VOTED : That there be appropriated and assessd for the suppression of gypsy and brown tail moths in accordance with Chapter 132 of the General Laws tile sum of4 4 , 5uu . Uu . It was an unanimous vote . 81082 .M . Art 8 . Selectman Mr . Trask Moves to take up article 8 . Under this article Selectman Mr . Blake offered the follow- ing motion . VOTED : That there be apprOpriated and assessd for pensions for retired members of the Police slid Fire Departments under Chapter 32 of the General Laws the following amounts . Police pensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 , 030 . 0u Fire " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I , I08 . u0 Carried unanimously 8 ; 09I} . M. Art . 12 . Selectman Mr . Trask moves to take up article 12 . Under this article Selectman Mr . Blake offered the follow- ing motion . VOTED : That the Lie lectman be authorized to petition the Director of Accounts of the State for an audit of the year 1931 . Carried unanimously 8 : 1I P .M . Art . 7 . selectman Mr . 'Trask moves to take up article 7 . Under this article belectman Mr . Gilcreaat otferea the followins motion . VOTE : That tnere be apptopriated and assessd as a reserve fund for the current year under Chapter 40 , section b , of the General Laws , the sum of 2 , 500 . 00 . A unaninmous vote . 8 : 12 P .M. • Art ; I7 .6electman Mr . Trask moves to take up article 17 . Under this: article Selectman Mr . Gilcreast offered the following motion . VOT : That the sum of 41 , 719 . 94 be transferred to the Can Memorial Library account from the receipts of the current year . A unanimous vote . 8 : 14 P .M . Art . 1. Seloctma. . Mr . Trask moves to take up article 3, offering the following motion . • NOTED : To elect etch Town ortioers as are required by lay and are usually cho s n by nomination . 474 cis Undo-Jr trijw motion , tne names of ii:d::ard U Maguire and John u Russell wore nominatea by Sclectma at . Trask for field 00 drivers , and as there were no other nominations , same were consider- ed closed , and Edward U Maguire aweld Rohn O Russell were duly elected , unanimously . ' 8 :15 P .M . Art . 10 . Selectman sir . Trask.moves to tako up article 1U . VOTED : That there be ayipropriated and assessd for the Water Maintenance Account the sum of 472 , 000 . 00 and that the amount of receipts in excess of this appropriation be reserved to be appropriated for W ater Department purposes . Unanimously voted . 8 : 16 P .M . After the motion had carried 4r . E B Worthen took the floor , reading tne following from 1927 report : " m' ' e Swift River project calls - ex►? enditures and owl: proportionate share must be met . With�estion tnere- fore , it will be necessary to raise the water rates begining with the next quarter . We will endeavor to figure the increase to cover only the actual cost of operating and so hold to the policy of keeping the department on a self sustaining basis . " Continuing the following notice was read , which was a copy of same , efhot ificat ion being sent to all , of water rates being increased as of April 1 . 1928 , as follows : To The 'Yat er Consumer : You will notice from the enclosea bill that the minimum water rate for the year 1928 if 43. 75 per cuarter , an increase of 76 cents per quarter . This is the first increase in rates which the Board of \Vater and Sewer Commissioners have established since 1914 . This increase is necessary for several reasons , Namely : I . Increase of assessments for Water by the Metropolitan Water Division . t . Cost, . of maintenance have constantly increased during the past ten yoars ( due to the growth of the system and increased costs of material and labor ) but the cost of water to the consumer has re- mained the same : 9. The necessity of replacing a large quantity of small mains with new and larger mains From this summary , it can be readily understood that an advance in rates has become imperative . Town of Lexington Wat e r Department . Mr . Worthen stated he protested strongxy about money being transferred from the water department accounts toward tne Town debts , which made it necessary for large appropri : ations for the department , also tatina if same occurred next year , he would be ready to oppose it strongly . 8 : 21 P .M . Under this same article , Selectman Mr . Trask, voted , That the Board of Selectmenbe authorized to install water mains , not less than six inches in diameter in unaccepted and accepted streets subject to the usual guaranty , and Further voted , that for the purpose of installing water mains the sum of 450 , 0u u. 00 , be appropriated for water construe- tion onstrue- tion account , and that for the purpose of raising money , the Town `Treasurer be and hereby is authorized to sell under the direct- ion of and with the approval of the Selectmea , bonds or notes of the Town , issued and payable as provided by law . electman , Mr Trask stated the Selectmen had to definite request for any new installation of water mains . They proposed to use this money for the tieing in of ends . Moderator Mr . Holt , inquired if this was the general way of proposing this appropriation as he felt they should specify the streets . Selectmen xar . Trask , stated , that although they frequent- ly named the streets , they did not always do it , stating , although 475 there sere several streets ho could name that might want the water , the Selectmen did not want to do anything about it until they had provided the usual guaranty . After discussion , Mr . Hilliard moved , "That both motions be laid upon the table • " Unanimous vote . 813I P .M . Art . 9 . Selectman Mr . Trask moves to take up article 9 , offering the following motion . VOTED : That tne sum of $50 . 00 , be appropriated and asseLsd for aid to Eiddlesex Oounty Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics , under section 40 to 45 , Chapter 128 of the General Laws . Carried un animously . 8 : 32 P .M . Under sauce article , Selectman mr . Trask , offered tne follow- ing motions VOTED : That William I Burnham , be elected , director , term of of'f'ice , one year . Carried unanimously . 8 : 33 P .M . Article 13. Selectman Mr . Trask, moved to take up article 13 , offering the following motion , . VOTED : That the sum of tI , uuu . OU , be appropriated for the the support of a Posture Clinic to be expended under the direction of the Board : . of health , or by a committee appointed by said board . Remarks by Selectman Er . Trask, were as follows : For a number of years the Town had been trying to provide some fund to support the Lexington Health Association , but by the State Law , it was impossible to appropriate money for private orgahizations .But , he said , it is possible to alj iropriate money for specific purposes , and that under this work , if the article goes through , the Board of Health will appoint the Committee in charge of this work in the Lexington Health Association to carry on with the appropriation , stating , this was tot another clinic in the sense of the dental clinic , now in this Town. , carried unanimously , . 8 : 38 P .M. Art . 15 . Select;am , Mr . 'cask, moves to take up article 15 . He than moved this article be indefinitely postponed . Unanimous vote . 8 : 39P . M. Art . 20 . Selectman Er . Trask , moves to take up article 2U . He than moved this article be indefinitely postponed . Unanimous vote . 8 :40 k .M . Art . 2 .Ur . E L Worthen moved this article be taken up , offering the follow - ng motion . VOTED : That traffic conditions on iassachusetts Avenue , East Lexington , are such as to require attention aid the Selectman are hereby requested to study same and to bring in their recommendations at a later meeting . voted unanimously . 8 : 42 P .M. Art . 19 . Under this article Mr . coward 2 u fichols , stated that he ould like to inform the meeting that the vote that waL passed at the last meeting , March 16 , 1931 , under this article had not met with the approval of the Director of Accounts as bond isEues cannot be made for alterations . He stated , he merely wished to inform the meeting of this as it would be necessary to insert another article in the next 'sown Warrant in regard to this matter . He stated it would be the same as What had been previously voted except that 4I , 000. OU would be added to direct appropriat ion , and 4I , Uu0. OU deducted from the bond issue , as covered by law . 8 : 45 P .M . Art . 2 . Mr . Willard U Sill , offers the following motion under article 2 . 476 Jo VOTED : That the selectmen bo roquested to investigate the ,CD method of collecting license fees for dogs , and arrange to have CO some effective plan adopted . Carried unanimously . 8 : 46P .M. Art . II . Selectman i11r . Trask moves to take up article II , and under same article moves . indefinite postponement . Unanimously voted . 8 : 47E .M . Art 14 . belectmar Mr.. Custance moves to take up article 14 , orfering the following motion , . VOTED : '1 hat the Town sell and convey to William L nurrill in consideration of the payment by him of •332 . Ou , the following described parcel of land : Beginning at a mint in the easterly line of Bedford Street , said point being southerly and distant about 422 feet from a Massachusetts tiighv. ay Bound marking the- southerly terminus of a curve of 1372 . 61 feet radius in said easterly line of Bedford ; thence easterly about 1b9 feet to a point in the southerly line of Parcel Ao . 4 . about 44 feet to a point ; thence westerly along a line parallel with and distant 4U feet from the first line Above described about 174 feet to a point in the eaLterly line of said Bed ford Street ; thence northerly by said Bedford Street about 41 feet to the point of begining ; containing according to Ilan about bb40 square feet and being Parcel No . 5 as shown on said plan recorded with Middlesex South District Plan Book 5466 , Page 247 . And that tile Board of Selectmen , or a majority of them , be and they hereby are authorized and directed in the name of and on behalf of the Town , to execute and deliver an agreement for the sale of said land as aforesaid , and that they be authorized and directed to execute apd deliver a deed thereof to the said William L Burrill , upon :ayment of the said sum of 4332 . 00 . question by Icr . Hilliard , what the assessed valuation of the property was , and if the price asked was a fair one . Selectman Mr . Custance , replies , did not know assessd . value but price \ . as a :.air one . Mr . Rens informed from Assessor ' s list , the land wa • assessed for nine cents a foot and the selling price asked was about five cents a foot . Carried unanimou sly 8 ; 58 P .M . Under same article Selectman Ear . eustance continued with the following motion , VOTED : That the ! own convey to Robert H White , in consideration of the payment by him of 440 . 00 the following described parcel of land : A trtangular parcel of land bounded as follows ;northerly by grantor ; westerly by Bedford Street ; southeasterly by land of grautee ; the above described parcel is designated o : plan as , - Purchased from Robert White Area -I2 ? 6r sq . ft . - said plan being recorded with Middlesex South ". District Plan Book 5466 , page 247 . And that the Board of Selectmen , or a majority of them , be and they hereby are authorized and directed in the name of and on behalf of the Town , to execute and deliver an agreement for the sale of said landas aforesaid , and that they be authorizeL and directed to execute and deliver a deed thereof to the said Robert H White upon payment of the said sum of 440 . 00 . VOTED : That the Tot sell and convey to Ervin R Dix, et al , Trustees of the Home Finance Company , in consideration of the pays mint by them of 41 , 000. 00 the following described parcel of land : A parcel of lane the northerly line of which begins at a point in the easterly line of Beford Street , said point being southerly and distant 119 . 61 feet from a Massachusetts Highway 477 Bound harking the southerly terminus of a curve of I372 . 6i feet radius in said easterly line of Bedford Street , thence souther- 478 . 07 feet to a point of curvature ; thence bearing in an easter- direction with a curve of 304 feet radius 88 foet to a point of tangency ; thence southerly 94 foet to a point of curvature ; thence bearing in a southerly direction with a curve of 336 feet radius about 410 feet to a point in the northerly line of the location of Boston and Maine ailroad ; the southerly line of said parcel begins at a point in the easterly line of Bedford , said point being southerly and distant about 247 feet from a his sachusetts Highway Bound , mar#ing the southerly terminus of a curve of 1372 , 61 feet radius insaid easterly line of Bedford Street ; 'T' hence , south- easterly I64 . 63 feet to a point of curvature ; tnence Dearing in a southerly direction with a curve of 286 feet radius about 34b feet to a point is the northerly line of the location of said railroad ; the above described lines are paralled with and distant 60 feet from each other exceft at and near their intersection with said Bedford �:treet . Said parcel containo , according to plan , about U . 7 acres and is Parcel No 4 . as shown on Said plan , record- ed with Middlesex South District Plan Book 5466 , Page 247 . And that the Board of Selectmen , or a majority of them , be atd they hereby are authorized and directed in the name of and on behalf of the Town, to execute and deliver an a eement for the sale of said land as aforesaid , and that they b uthdrized and directed - t o execute and deliver a deed thereof to the said Ervin R yix , et al , Trustees of the Home Finance Company upon payment of the said sum of 4' 0)00 . 00 . ' iuestions By Mr . Hadley and Mr . Monitor* regarding assessed valuation of adjacent property , and if the Board was unanimous on the price . Informed that Board was unanimous in price answered by Selectman Mr . Trask . The vote was put before the meeting , the Moderator being excused from- reading the entire article , which was unanimously carried . 9 ; 04 P .M. Art • IU . Selectman Mr . Trask moved that article IO be taken from the table , offerinL the following motion, ; 9 ; 05P .M . VOT ED ; That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to install water mains , not less than six inches in diameter in unaccepted and accepted streets , subject to the usual guaranty , and that the Selectmen be instructed to tie in the ends of the following streets , Woodland Road 60U feet , Abbott Road 400 Feet , School Street 1200 Ft . , Bertwell Road 35U ft . , Bow Street 350 ft . , Lake St ; & Columbus • St . , 900 ft ., Bowker Street 35U ft . , Lowell Street IODU ft . , and from the end of Oakland Street to Merriam Street , . titbit Med; What for . the purpose . of: . inhtalldng titer mine tie sum of b50 , 080 bg be applipriated fad water aaastr t4- Lonband that for the purpose of raising the money , the Town Treasurer be and hereby is authorized to sell under the direction of and with the approval of the Selectmen , bonds or notes of the Town, issued and payable as provided by law . Mr . Ross stated he thought it foolish and unnecessary to name all the streets , by doing so , it would tie the hands of the department . • Ohas . Blake inquires why not include York ant Grant Streets , as water very low between the time of seven and nine o ' clock evenings . Question not ans\•:Bred . Mr . Hadley brought &P the question of costs , which was followed by :_:r .Moulton , who asked if any estimate for this work bad been furnished . Selectman - Mr . Trask stated the figure for the work was 421 , 450 . Mr . Moulton , asked what the remaining #29 , 000 . 00 was for . Answered by beleotman Mr . Trask , same was for request for water that may arise , stating two propositions before the board 478 at the present time , t7inter Street being one of them. O I:lr . Ross . states , the finance board was opposed to. doing anything with Winter Street project . Mr . Fred Moulton made a motion that the sum of * 40 , 000 . 00 be substituted for the approved P5O , 000 . 00 . Moderator Mt . Holt considered that selectman , iv;r . Trask' e motion should be taken up separately , therefore offering the following : VOTED : That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to install water mains , not less than six inches in diameter in unaccepted and accepted streets , subject to the usual guaranty , and that the selectmen be instructed to tie in the ends of the following streets , Wootland Road 60u tt . , Abbott Road 400 ft . , School St . , 1200 ft . , Bertwell Rd . , 350 ft . , Bow bt . , 350 ft . , Lake St . A C.olumbipos 5t . 900 i't . Bowker St . , 350 ft . , Lowell St . , I U00 ft . , and from the end of Oakland St . , to Merriam St . Motion carried unanimously . 920 ± .M . Mr . Moulton' s subsitute motion was then voted upon and it was voted to accept the sub sit•_ut i on . . 921 P .M. The amended vote was then placed before the meeting as follows : VOTE : That for the purpose of installing water mains the sum of j40 , 000 . 00, be appropriated dor water construction account , and that for the purpose of raising the money , the Town Treasurer be and hereby is authorized to sell under the direction of and with the approval of the Selectmen , bonds or notes of the Town , issued and payable as provided by law . Carried unanimously . 9 : 23 F .M. Art . I6 . Selectman , Lir , Trask moves to take up article 16 . . Under this article , *selectman Dr . Shannon offered the following motion . VOTED : That the sum of X37 , 500 . 00 , be appropriated and assessed for the alteration and repair of the Public Works Depart- gent building on Bedford Street . Continuing Se lect;an Dr . Shannon , thougiLt it best to give a little review of the history of the building , stating in 1929 the building was purchased for 43b , 0 .0 . 00 , the following year , the old power house which was on the property , and had to be bought with the other buildings was sold for 48 , 00o . 00 , during the present `Sown Mee ting , land not needed by the departments was sold for 4I , 400 . 00, making the net cost of the building to the ‘ `Porn *25 , 600. 00. In 1930 , the sum of 417 , 000 . 00 was voted for repairs , Ledge was struck when the heater was put 4J the cost of bl dating took 42 , 600 . 00 of that money , which wasp].) anned on , because of a lead roof , 42 , 140 . 00 had to be spent , which had not been planned on for another year . Other unexpected expenditures were needed for the sprinkler system and other minor items , which were needed so that the building could be ready by Jan . I , X93I , when the leases held by the Town on garages and storage places expired . Selectman Dr . Shannon stated 8 , 250 . 00 , had been spent without being appropriated , and 48 , 500. 00 was being asked to cover such items as may arise . % . electman 4r . Trask stated , that he and the Board of select 1/ for censure because through their neglect that the amount waV spent over the appropriation , stating the total amount was in excess of $15 , 000 . 00 , instead of 48 , 250 . 00 . Selectman Mr . Trask stated , the board was under the in- pression the overdraft was about 47 , 000 . 00, at the . time preparing the items with the appropriation committee , the reason being , at that time there were a number of bills that had not been turned over to the Selectmen for approval . 479 L r . 2red ','oulton askoci of Ltelectman Dr . Shannon if he knew of this full amount of overdraft of QI5 , 0u0 . 00 at the time he made his motion , as it could be taken misleadingly . Selectman Dr . Shannon explained he intended to explain during the discussion . General discussion followed , with the following speakers taking part , Messers . lenney , Hadley , Ryder , Worthen , O ' Connell , Meady,Moultoh and Senator Cotton . Mr 1red . Moulton stated he did not approve of such methods of the boaard , but at the same time the bills had been contracted and they had to be paid , and for that reason he moved the original motion be subsituted so that the amou:': t to be appropriated would be 415 , 710 . 00 , the full amount of the unpaid bills . The motion as outlined above was put and carried unanimously . 10 : 40 P .M . VOTED : That the sum of “ 5 , 71U . 00 be appropriated and assessed for the alteration and repair of the public Works DEpartment building; on Bedford Street . A unanimous vote at 10 : 41 P .M . Selectman Mr . Trask moves meeting adjourn . Unanimous IU : 42 P .M . A True record ; Attest : • /" Town ' lark .