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1923-11-13
104 z MEETING, NUVEUBER 13, 1923. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town hall, Lexington. on Tuesaday. November 13. 1923 at 8 P. ids. The following members of the Board were present, namely: aersre. Scamman, Blake, Hutchinson, Burnham and Moulton; the Town Clerk, Kee't Town Clerk and the Town Counsel were also present. Hearing was held upon the application of Bion C. Merry of 21 Iluzzey St. for permission to erect and maintain a garage at 21 Muzzey St. Mr. Merry appeared to speak for his petition and no one appeared against. rhe Building inspector informed the Board that the plane were in accord with the Building Laws. The Board therefor voted to grant the licence. 1 hearing was also declared open upon petition of Allister F MacDougall of 366 Mase. A-ve. for permission to erect and main- tain a garage of the third clase. 11r. MacDougall appeared for the petition and no one appeared against. Upon being informed by the Building inspector that the building would conform with the Building -Laws, the Board voted to grant the license. ' A hearing was aleo called upon the application of the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for permission to extend the present line of pole© on flood Street to the residence of henry -P. Neville. Mr. hent of the Telephone Uo. appeared for the petition. No one appeared against. The Board therefore voted to grant the petition. A hearing was declared open upon the application of the Edison Uompany to erect poles on Lowell Street from East Street to Woburn Street. No one appeared against the petition, and the Board therefore voted to grant same. Mr. Harry A. Lowry and Mr. Cyrus Mashburn came before the Board to talk on the subject of allowing basket ball played 'in the Town hall. Mr. Lowry represented the School Committee and Mr. 'Washburn the Legion. Mr. Lowry talked on the need of physical education for the children; and stated that it had been found that children derive more benefit from games than from gymnastics. He suggested that if the Board felt there might be danger to persons working in the hall if the basket ball was practised there, it might be practised in the eveninrg. The only objection the school depart- ment would have to that would be that they do not like to ' encourage children to be out nights and it would be very in to children living long distances away. Mr. Lowry felt that basket ball, although it might damage the plaster, would not do any great harm to the frame of the building and urged that the game be allowed. in Ur. -Washburn stated that he had been in to the State Building Inspection Department and was informed in there that basket ball ' would do no more harm, and in fact lees h&rm,than dancing or public meetings in the hall. he therefore urged that the Board have an inspector from the •Mate Building Inepection department make a report on the condition of the building and whether or not basket ball will damage the building. The Board agreed to do this, and requested the Supt. of Public 'dorks either to call on the telephone or to write the State Department of Building Inspection asking their inspection of the Town Hall. Mr. hupert Stevens and Patrick J. Cronin of Utica Street came before, the Board to request that they be given a two inch water pipe in place of the '� inch one now in Utica Street. .Upon looking up the records of meetings it was found that the Board agreed and instructed Supt of Public 'Yiorks to install a 2 inch pipe for bir. Stevens. The Supt. of Public 4orks informed the Board that he did not know whether they would have money enough or not to do this work; if they ran the department on the eaT.e basis as at present they probably would have. i,r. I+ioulton suggested then that an long as i,dr. Stevens was promised this pipe in the Spring he should have same and that the Supt. proceed as soon an possible to have pipe installed. Mr. Pitt F. Drew, President of the Middlesex & Boston St. Rwy Company. came before the Board on the Board's invit.iation informally is talk over matters pertaining to the petition of the Middlesex & Boston St. Rwy Company for jitneys in the Town of Lexin gton. lir. Drew explained that for a long time the. company had been losing money on the Lexington division, that they had not been able to pay their overhead chargee, and that the time has come when it is impossible for them to run the care on this line any longer. Their power contract runs out in Lexington the 24rd of January,1924, and they do not propose to renew same. Upon inveptigatlon they found that they could probably pay their fixed charges and overhead charges by running motor b-aeee, and that is why they proposed to do this business. Mr. Drew stated that, if they did not get the jitney license, they would not run the electric care anyway as they could not &fford to do so and lose money. Some of their electric card are twenty years old and it would cost a great deal to repair them and with the proceeds derived from the care they cannot afford to buy new ones. They would also have to lay new tracks if they continued in the business and that would be impossible. Last year they paid 2� dividend on the stock of the company and the year before 1%. He stated that the line from Lexington Centre to the Heights paid but they would not continue that line. They could, however, continue the line to Waltham for certain reasons. In regard to the buses, they would seat twenty five people and ' mould make the same stops that are now made by the electric cars and would go on the same schedule at present; there would be no change of fares, and the school children would be allowed one half fare as usual, Mr. Drew presented the regulations of the town of Billerica which he felt were very good and not unreasonable. He felt too that, if the Board inserted in the regulations ,this license may be revoked 9t any satisfaction of for that reason require a lame accidents occur they would have settle. z time". if the jitneys were not run to the en ---- the Board, they could revoke the licence and "T) he did not believe that the Board should bond to be filed by the Company. If any ' they desire to settle all claims because ` to sell all their property if they did not It war decided to have a public hearing upon this petition and the Board therefore passed the following vote: ;fhereas, the Middlesex & Bonton Street Railway Company has presented to the Selectmen its petition for a license to operate motor vehicles upon public ways in the Town of Lexington for the carrying of passengers for hire, in such a manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by it upon its street railway cars, indiscriminately receiving and discharging passengers along t:ie route on which the motor vehicles may be operated, and transporting passengers for hire ae a business between fixed and regular termini, in accordance with the pro- visions Iti Sebtioa-45 ' Of` Cha ter 1$9- of the General Laws . and rrherean Section 46 of said chapter provides that no such license shall be granted until orders, ruler or'regulations shall hive been adopted by the oelectmen; NOW, THER^ OPE. Be it Voted, that Friday. November 23, 1923 at 8 P. id. be the time and the Town Hall. Lexington be the place for a public hearing before the Board of Selectmen upon the following matters: (1) Whether any orders, rules or regulations shall be adopted' by the Selectmen with rerpect to granting such licensee; (2) What orders, rulee or regulations, if any, shall be so adopted by the Selectmen, and Be it further Voted, that notice of said hearing be published in the Lexington Minute -man and the Lexington Times. Per Order of the Board of Selectmen, &rthur W. Batch, Town Clerk. Letter was written to ter. F. L. Emery stating that the work of finishing Muzzey Street Extension had been completed and that the deeds which he had been holding in escrow had not been filed, and asking that he file came. Letter was received from Mr. Emery in which he called attention to the fact that the work of tying out the Building Trust property on Bedford St, had not been done as approved by the Board. The Board called the attention of the Building Trust to thus fact by letter and asked that they file their plans in accord-- ccord- I ante with the plan which the Board tentatively agreed to approve, A request for water on Watertown Street was received from +. Y. Hutchinson and was turned over to the Supt. of Public WI Vr orks for hie attention. ' The Town Counsel repated that he had been to see Mr. Aldrich, about the alterations on the barn on 'Waltham Street, which was formerly the Holmes Letate, and that Mr. Aldrich would agreed to carry out the Building Regulations. The Chairman of the Board called attention to the fence along Waltham Street near Allen St. The Carrolle complained that their cows got out from their property and on to the street owing to the fact that this fence is down. The Clerk was req-aeeted to look up the matter and see if the records show whether the fence was to be maintained by the town or not. The Lexington Tire aervice and the Mohawk Filling Station were granted permits to sell Alcohol. Notice was received from the Speaker of the House of Represen- tatives in which he called attention to the fact that a change in the rules of Procedure of the General Court has taken place whereby Bills may be filed on or after December 15. Meeting adjourned at 12:50 P. 11. A true record, atteet: 1 Clerk. 1 108 iMEETING, NOVr`NBER 13, 1923. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town hall, Lexington. on Tuesday, November 87, 1923, at 8 P. 1.i. The following members of the Board were prevent, namely: Messrs. 8camman. Blake, Hutchinson. Burnham and Moulton; the Town Clerk, Asst Town Clerk and the Town Counsel were also prevent. Mr. August Young came before the Board and stated that he was ready for Federal Inspection andwanted to obtain a Slaughter License. The Board informed him that he could have a license for $25 and the Town Counsel agreed to get in touch with the ,?. S, Inspector at the Custom House to see if everything was all right before granting the license. Timothy H. O'i:onnor came before the Board to find out when work would be resumed on the installation of water pipe in Grant St. He stated that the work was started and then stopped and the excuse wan that the department had no pipe. Low the pipe has been standing in the Lepot yard for two weeks and no work was done on Grant Street. He stated that he got no eatinfaction from the Supt. of Public Works and an he wan building houses he would have to stop if he did not get water. The Supt. of Public vlorks suited that a lot of service® needed to be connected and that is why nothing can be done on , Grant St. Supt. Rose, over the telephone, informed the Chairman that the work would be started about Dec. 5th. This seemed to be satisfactory to &r. O'Connor. Town Counsel rendered the opinion that the Selectmen's Salaries could be paid up to September 14th, the time that the By -Laws went into effect. In response to Mr. Emery's letter in regard to the ripns at the corner of Lov.•ell & Mapel Streets, the Bo:::rd invited Mr. Emery to come before them -to talk over the matter, as suggested in hie letter. Owing to the fact that there was so ae question as to whether t'' -e offices of Jchool Physician, Pown Physician and Health Officer should be aonsolidated, Dr. W. L. Barnes did not receive an appoint- ment. The Board therefore voted to appoint Dr. Barnes as Health Officer for the year ending March 31, 1924. John Laurie of Concord Avenue was appointed Measurer of •Vood, Bark and Uanure for the year ending March 31, 1924. Permission was granted to the Edison Electric E11. Co. to attach its wires to one pole of the Middlecex & Boston St. Rwy Co. on Maes. Ave. near Curve St. In regard to kr. Carroll's request that the town rebuild the fence along Waltham St* near r41len St. the Clerk reported that ' there was nothing in the records that stated that the town should maintain the fence. It was therefore deciaed to request ter. Carroll to come before the Board on December 11th to talk over the matter. . Request for the installation of the water main in Bertwell Road in accordance with the vote of the town was received. Bonds required were signed by ++illiam h. Burgess and Jay 0. Richards. The letter of the Building Trust was turned over to the Supt of Public Works with the request that he &ttend to sage. The Chairman reported that the Edison Company desired to have an electrical display in the Town Hall the week of December 10, 1933, the same to be open to the public with radia concerts and also orchestral music. Phe Board decided to allow the use of the hall to the Edison Company for $100 for the week. The Board decided to place a forgery bond insurance upon the Town of Lexington for protection to the amount of $5000. Upon advice of Town Counsel, copies of the "pig regulations" (amending the Board of health regulations) were sent to all owners of piggeries known to the Board of Health together with a letter requesting them to comply with the regulation before the permit can ' be granted. The Board discussed the matter of demolishing the house at 333 and 335 blase. Avenue, now occupied by the Chapin and Taylor families, and decided that they would give the families one montile notice to vacate. The house has been a bill of expense for repairs and very little rent has been received from same owing to the fact that the Chapin family did not pay their rent. Mr. Blake reported that he had interviewed the abutters along the proposed Forest Street Extension. he found that 1wies Tucker and rs. Powers were unwilling to give the land on wase. Avenue but felt that they should be paid for came. lwr. Blake figured the taxation vdhich would probably be brought in if the land was opened, taking out the coot of building road, installing a sewer and storm drain and installing water, which would be approximately $16,130. 11r. Blake proposes to bring this matter up at a town meeting, It was reported that yrs. nnna Ilan Buskirk of Cedar Street cannot obtain the name of guarantors and cannot stand the entire Expense hereaelf of ext.nding the water in Cedar Street, and therefore no extension will be made. The Supt. of Public Works read a letter from Col. Foote of the ' Dept. of Public Safety in which he stated that it was in the discretion of the selectmen as to whether they bhould allow basket ball in the Town Hall or not. The Supt. stated that in the inspection of the building the State Inspector would not give anything further than% the fact that a certificate of inspection had been placed in 110 the 'mown X11 by their department rotating that the building was safe. U o decision was arrived at as to whether basket ball should or should not be allowed. iieleey Reed made the request through the Supt.. of PuDD'ic Works for two additional street lights on kerriam Street. The Board decided to have these lights installed the first of the year so that they would come on next year's schedule. The Supt. of Public Works reported that it would cost approxi- mately $600 to take care of the surface drainage so that it would not flow on the land of Alfred E. Haynee and that he did not believe that there was sufficient approptiation to take care of same. The Board therefore informed Mr. haynee that the appropriation would not take care of t:ie work, but if the appropriation obtained next year would be large enough they would endeavor to do this work. It w®e voted to issue a note of $1750 to install water main in Grant Street in accordance with the vote of the town. It was decided to notify the Edison Ellec. I11. Co. to resume the olid schedule of street lighting in the morning. It was also decided to notify the Edison Elec. 111. Co. that the Supetintendent of Public "orke had authority to order the street lights on whenever necessity required. 1 In giving the estimate of the work on streets the'tovm intend© to do this year the Supt. of Public Works was instructed to send to the County notice of probability of reconstruction of Lowell St. , provided other towns through which the road runs will do likewise. The subject of reconstructing Concord Avenue was discussed but the Board decided not to give any eetimite of intention to do work on this street. The Supt. of Public Worke reported progress on the work at the playground in preparation of the grounds for the 1925 celebration. The Board voted to grant a Junk License to Carl Simon of 51 Felton St. 'Waltham for the year ending bray 1st, 1924. Alcohol License were granted to the following: • Exchange Tire Service, 448 Mase. Ave; tirileon's Garage, 400 blase. Ave. and Countryside Inc. cor Lowell St. and kVoburn St. Abatement of rent for the Chapin family to the amount of $90 was signed so that the accountant could take same off the books. Biscuseion as to whether or not a license would be granted to the Middlesex & Boston St. Hwy Co. to operate motor bueees in Lexington was considered. Mr. Scamman deeired to be placed upon record as not voting upon this subject as he was employed by a company allied to the 11iddlesex ' & Boston Street Railway Company. The situation is that afterJan. let no street care will be run by the Middleeex & Boston St. Rwy uo. and the Street Railway has in applied to the Board for permission to run motor busses. xs suggested at the hearing in the Town Hall the Board decided to write the Boston Elevated to see whether or not they would ' be interest in the proposition of either running motor buveee in Lexington or running street cars. In regard to the regulations to be drawn up the Town Counsel agreed to see the Uhairman of the Board of Selectmen of Concord, in which town busses are now running, and talk the matter over with him. The Board also agreed to have Mr. Drew come before the Board in an informal hearing to find out what he would agree to if the permit to run busses was granted. It was left with the 'Town Counsel to arrange an informal hearing with 1r. Drew on Friday, December 7th. Meeting adjourned at 12:30 F. M. A. true record. Attest: Ulerk . 1 Y 1