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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1924-03-18 148 -11 MEETING, MARCH 18 ,1924 . ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen wee held in the Selectmen' s Room. Town Hall , Lexington. on Tueeday. March 18 , 1924 , at 8 :00 P. M. The following membere of the Board were present, namely Messrs . Burnham, Hutchinson, Moulton, and Uuetance . The Town Couneel and Aee ' t Town Clerk were also present. Thomas J . Doherty , reprerentirg the Catholic Church Aaeoc- iation composed of about 350 people , came before the Board relative to the filling etation proposed by 3Foeeph B. Lowell at the corner of Follen Road and Massachusetts Avenue . Re otated that the church people intended to build a church opposite the proposed station and that they felt it would be very object- ionable to have a station at this point. The application of Joseph B . Lowell war laid on the table . Ezra F . Breed came before the Board relative to the memorial to the seventy seven men that fought in the battle on the common. He etated tt t the committee headed by Alfred Pierce inters d` to erecta boulder wita bronze tablet upon same bearing the names of 77 men. Mr. Breed came before the Board to ask for a location for this tablet on the Buckman Tavern grounds . He felt that only about fifteen square feet would be needed. Mr. Stbne informed Mr . Breed that the money for thie monu- ment wile obtained upon untrue and mieleading repreeentatione and that a committee was at work upon the matter of conferring with the various donors of the fund raised by the Minute men and the first thing to do wee to etraighten out the matter with the donors. Mr. Breed was informed that in view of the circumstances there was nothing to do until thio matter wan straightened out. Mr. Charlee W. Lawrance , Sub-master of the Lexington High School , came before the Board relative to securing the uee of the Playground for the echool department every afternoon and Saturdays until the first of April . The Board informed Mr. Lawrence that they did not feel they should grant the uee of the grounde to the nchoole to the exelueion of othere . Mr . Lawrance was requested to send in rchedule , giving games he had listed. Mr. Lovell of the Concord, Maynard Bur Line Inc . came before the Board with the request that tilt Board grant him permission to run busses through Lexington from the Lincoln line to Arlington Heighte . lie stated that he desired to make the route on the State Road or Middle St . and would agree not to take any passengers from Middle St. to Arlington Heights so that the bus line would not interfere with the electric car service . The fare from Concord to Arlington Heighte would be 30 ' . The Board informed kr. Lovell that they had not accepted the Jitney Bus regulations as yet. but they would consider hie proposition and let him know what action they took. dilliam G. Potter . oamee F. Kimball , John Shea . Cornelius 149 Shea and James Moran, owners of piggeries in the vicinity of Pleasant St, Walnut St. and Concord avenue came before the Beard to protest against the regulations the Board made in re- ference to keeping pigs . Thj felt they could not sign these permits knowing they could not comply with the regulations . They felt that they should not to forced to get cement troughs , and they could not have, feeding places 500 feet from adjoining land in any instance .rhe Board agreed to make a few changes so that the regu- lations would read as follows ; and accordingly the following vote was passed by the Selectmen acting as a Board of Health Voted That Chapter VII , Section 1 of the Regulations of the Board of health of the Town of Lexington as heretofore amended be and the same are hereby further amended by striking out Clauses t2) and (4 ) of the Conditions of the permit therein referred to , and substituting in place of said Clauses (2 ) and (4) the following: "( 2) In pens , the swine shall be fed from troughs of cement or iron kept clean and in good repair , except in the case of breeding pens , in which case the troughs may be of wood, if kept clean and in good repair, and if the swine are kept out of doors , they shall be fed from platforms at least one foot from the ground, the air space under neath to be kept clear and clean and feed never given to the swine from the ground, nor allowed to accumulate on the ground around the platform." "(4 ) All compost heaps shall be treated or covered with earth, loam or acid phosphate sufficient to keep down all odor, shall be at least 500 feet distant from any highway or any dwelling upon the premises of any adjacent land owner, and then in such spot within the premises where the swine are kept as shall be least offensive ; and shall be kept under cover ." So that as amended, said Section 1 of Chapter VII shall read as follows Section 1 . Goats and Swine . No person shall keep more than two goats or two swine within the limits of the Town of Lexington wthaut first obtaining a permit so to do from the Board of Health and in all respects complying with the conditions of such permit. All such permits shall expire on the first day of May , annually, and may be revoked at any time by the Board of Health. The conditions of such permit shall be as follows (1) The pen= or other enclosure wherein swine are kept shall be kept and maintained in a clean condition , and free from any accumulation of manure , garbage or refuse . (2) In pens, the swine shall be fed from troughs of cement or iron kept clean and in good repair , except in the case of breeding pens . in which case the troughs may be of wood, if kept clean, and in good repair ; and if the swine are Dept out of dotrs, they shall be fed from platf:.rms at least one foot from the ground, the air apace underneath to be kept clear and clean and feed never given to the swine from the ground, nor allowed to accumulate on the ground around the platform. (3 ) The feeding places shall be cleaned once each day and all refuse and manure gathered into heaps. (4 ) All compost heaps shall be treated or covered with earth, loam or acid phosphate sufficient to keep down all odor; 150 �' Shall be at least 500 feet distant from any highway or any dwelling upon the premivee of any adjacent land owner , and "11 then in such spot within the premisee where the swine are kept as shall be leaet offensive ; and shall be kept under cover. (5) All swill , garbage or refuse brought upon the pre- mises to be fed to swine shall be kept in covered receptaclee made of cement . with sufficient facilities for under-ground drainage , unless fed to the swine immediately upon being brought upon the premires . (6 ) Swine shall not be kept in boggy , swampy or wet land , and yards or placer where they are kept shall be cleaned up at least once a week. (7 ) All buildings used for the housing of swine shall be whitPveihed at least twice a year and shall be maintained in a condition satisfactory to the Board of health and its authorized agent. Whoever shall violate any provisione of there conditione for such permit or any of the provisions of any permit granted hereunder shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $100 and to forfeiture of the permit ." Eugene J . Viano , Lommander of the .,merican Legion Poet , came before the Board relative to the use of the Park system by the American Legion on April 19th . He etated that it war the intention of the Legion to have games on the park land that were perfectly proper , to permit no gambling games such ae were allowed there last year , and to rub- mit all gamer to the board of Selectmen and Chief of Police before putting them on . The Board , therefore , voted to allow the American Legion the use of the Buckman Tavern property on the corner of Meriam Street and Marsachurette "venue and the land in front of the Boston & Maine RR station with the understanding and condition that they do not put on any form of amusement without first submitting it to the Board for their approval and securing the approval of the Board. Wesley T . Wadman, Building Inspector . came before the Board relative to getting a permit to make over a house on Hancock Street into a four family house . He etated that in building the house for Mrs . (tapper Mr . Harrison inrpectedsime . He was informed that thio war a direct violation of the Buildtig Lava and that the board did not authorize Mr . harrison to make an inspection . Mr . Badman felt because Mr. Harrison was put in charge of his department that he had authority to approve his work. The Board felt that . inasmuch as this plan of the Hancock Street property Mr. Wadman presented. war a direct violation of the Zoning gy-Law parsed by the town at the town meeting March 17 , 1924 , no action should be taken on same until the Zoning Law had been prevented to the Attorney General . It war , therefore , voted that the matter be taken under ' advisement. Mr. P+adman called attention to the fact that the occupant of the building at 119 Mare . Ave . war etorin g care without a permit . The Board informed him that the matter would be referred L_ 151 to the Chief of Police . In regard to the appointment of the Building Inspector the Board voted that Wesley T . Wadman be notified that upon the expiration of hie office he will not be reappointed and that he be requested to turn over to the Town Clerk on or before the Last day of hie term of office all records , books and papers pertaining to hie office . Mr. J. Henry Duffy, Town Engineer , came before the Board and stated that he appreciated the letter of the Board requesting him to remain as Town Engineer , and aeked What the Board had to offer if he remained. The Board considered the appropriation for the engineering department which was 57152, and endeavored to give Mr. Duffy an increase to $2P50 or $3000 if the eame could be arrarged and give an increaee in assistance ae he planned thie year . Mr . Duffy informed the Board that he would consider that they had to offer and let the Board know within a week ae to hie decision. In regard to the matter of the Town ineuring itself , lettere were received from Belmont, Watertown, eelleeley and Arlington in regard to their town insurance . All towns except Arlington ineure in the came manner as Lexington. Arlington ineuree iteelf and Mr . Stone was given copy of votee under which they acted and asked to give hie opinion to the Board on whether this would be advisable for Lexington. Mr . Burnham called attention to the fact that a new steam roller muet be purchased by the town . He stated that he would talk with Mr. 'shite and Mr . Quinn , engineer of the road roller , in regard to eame before inviting bide. The Chairman stated that 1Cre . Milne again called to the Board' s attention the fact that there i© not sufficient police protection at the school crossing at Clarke Street and that she felt there should be a sign placed there warning automobilibte . The Board referred thie matter to the Chief of Police for hie attention. In regard to the Memorial Banner to the eight men who died in the World War, and for which an appropriation of $50 was made at the Town Meeting , March 17 ,1924 , Mr . Custance war requerted to see that the frame tot thie banner w e made and that the banner be placed in the frame and in the Town hall as per the vote of the Town. Byron C . Earle war appointed ae Collector of Water Rater and it waft toted that for collecting tater rater Mr. Earle shall receive 120 of the total collected, the same ae previously arranged with Mr . Earle . After considerable diecueeion in regard to the office of Superintendent of Public Worke it was unanimously , doted, that , in accordance with section 2 of chapter 1 of the Acte of 1922 , the 152 Selectmen hereby appoint William S. Scamman as Superintendent ..... of Public Workn , who shall administer under the supervision and -in direction of the selectmen such departments as the Selectmen may hereafter designate , which office he is to hold subject to the will of the Selectmen, his compensation being fixed at the rate of $4000 per annum, and hie term of office to begin April 1 ,1924 . Letter enclosing copy of the vote of the Board war sent to Mr. Scarman, together with copy of Section 2 of Chapter 1 of the Acta of 1922 . Mr. Scamman was also requested to take office April let, or ae noon thereafter as conveniently possible. In regard to the office of 'lerc of the Water and Sewer Department the Board decided to write Florence M. Boyd. present employee , the following "It appears by the records of the Selectmen that you were appointed Clerk of the Water Board for a term expiring March 31 . 1924 . In view of the fact that the Board has deemed it wipe for the beet interests of the town to make a change in the office of Superintendent of Public Works, the Board has felt constrained in view of the bent interests of the town more particularly because of the particular duties which you have been performing in behalf of the Superintendent of Public Works , to vote not to re-appoint you to the office you hold upon the expiration of your term." The Board voted to appoint Edward Leavitt Health Inspector, co that he may administer the Health regulations . Insurance policy to the amount of $1600 was approved b the Board. Thin policy ie on the standard scales located inthe Police Station. Letter of thanks for the appointment to the office of Chief of the Fire Department was received from Edward W. Taylor . The decorating of the Town Hall was awarded to the Lowell Decorating Co . the only bidder at $35 . This company has been decorating the Town Hall in yearn pant for the April 19th cele- bration and the work seemed to be satisfactory. It was voted to allow the Relief Corps the use of the Town Hall for a dance free of charge. A true record. Attest: Clerk.