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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1926-03-23 301 MEETING MARCH 23, 1926. .' A regulat meeging of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Select- men* s office at 7-30 P. M. Messrs. Custance, Burch a,Miles and Ballard were present. The Superintendent of Public Works and the clerk WI$e also present. The following were appointed es special police officers of tine Teen of Lexington: Theodore A. Custence, John J. Gerrity, Charles E. Moloy, Charles M. Blake, John E . Kelly, Edward y Taylor, Frank E Clark, Bion C. Merry, John C. Fitzgerald, Michael A. Pero, Frederick J Spencer, Thomas Griffin, William S. Seeman, William P. Wright, Dennis H Collins, Charles A. Manley, Jay 0,, Richards, ...ark Lodd, John Campbell , Edward J Hogan, James G. Robertson, Albert H Burnham. William R. S Eaton, Charles E. Hadley, J. Chester Hutchinson. Edward Loren Penn. The certificates for the bonds of the Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, and Superintendent of Public Works were signed by the Board. A letter was received from Frederick L. Emery in which he informed the Board that the Sewer Bill had passed the House and is now before the Senate to be acted upon within a day or two, and that the Drainage Bill will go forward in due course. He also suggested that when these acts passed the House that a report should go forth to the voters giving the Old acts with the amendments and discussing the points of difference, advantages, etc. He suggested that they together with the Town Counsel, would be glad to block out the report. He also said that they felt that IMP Selectmen should put the same fonth to the voters. The Board re- plied to Mr. Emery by letter stating that they would be glad to have the Planning Board and Town Counsel to draft the necessary report end submit it to the Selectmen for their approval . The letter was also received from Mr. Emery asking for a time to be set to discuss the matter of street acceptance and lay outs with tP a Board . A meeting was therefor decided upon on March 30, and Mr. Emery was notified to that effect. Notice was received. from Henry W B . Cotton stating that he had entered a petition on appeal for abatement of 1924 taxes against the Town of Lexington in the Middlesex Superior Court, and presented the same on list for trial on the May sitting. He also notified the Town Counsel . Letter was received from the Trustees of the Isaac Harris Cary Edu- cational Fund in which they informed the Board that owing to the fact that a petition to them was signed by over seven hundred petitioners they felt justified in having new plans made for presentation to the Town, and that they would have arrangements made to re-submit to the Lown as soon as possible the question of agreeing to accept and maintain a memor- ial building to be erected by the Trustees under the Farnham and Cary wills, Hearing was held at 8 P. M upon sites of the New Eng. Tel. & Tele. Co. for the location of two poles on Wine Street. Mrs. Katherine Kinneen of Vine Street came before the Boarst to pro- test the location' of one of the poles. She stated that it would be placed directly in front of her house. Mr. Scamman was requested to take the matter up with the Telephone Company and see if a new location satisfact- 302 IP ory to Mrs. Kinaeen could be made . *71 The clerk reported the following fees for Election Officers paid in other towns. No action wa.a taken on the matter. Belmont Warden $12.00 Clerk 10.00 Officers 8.00 Arlington Warden 13.00 Clerk 12.00 Officers 8.00 Watertown Warden2 Cl erkl 5.00 each Inspectoi 4 10.00 each Tellers 7.00 at work from 1 P.Y. Winchester Elec. Officers10.00 each Brookline $artten & Clerk12.00 Fres. election. Inspectors 10.00 Tellers 10.00 Generally all officers. Lexington Warden 11.00 Officers 6.00 The hoard took up the matter of two street lights on North Street, and it was voted to instruct the Superintendent to make arrangements for the installation of these two lights. It was reported that Mr. Fred J. Spencer could secure the sum of $100. for the *boa house lot on Concord Avez.ue which the Selectmen were authorized to sell in 1905. Mr. Ballard was reouested to find out whether or not he could secure a better price for the lot. The Board voted to allow the following increases in pay: Town Engineer To start Apr. 1. Increase $2475 to $2575. Plumbing Inspector To start Jan. 1 . Increase $720 to $820 includes salary and pays own expenses. Milk Inspector To start Jan. 1 Increase $250 to $300. Police Dept. Chief Increase $2100 to $2400 per year. Patrolmen Increase $5 50 $5. 50 pr day ( $2007.50 pr. year) lire Dent. To start Apr, 6. Cap t.(Call men) Increase $100 to $150 Lieut. " " Increase $100 to $137 Call men Increase $130 to $125 per year. Regular men Increase $0.50 per day. Building Inspector To start Jan. 1 . Increase $720 to $920 pr yr. Selectmen' s Dept. Alice Ferguson Incresse $14 to $16 pr wk to start Apr, 5, Helen Gallagher Increase $1300 to $1400 pr yr to start Jan. 1 . Water & Sewer Dent. Albert A. Rosa Increase $175 to $200 per month . Making salary Sewer Maint. 0 per month. Making salary Water Maint, $120 per month. The Board took up the matter tof paying for meals for the Engineers while they are on duty outside or tine town. The Board decided that they 303 would pay a reasonable amount for meals secured in this way. It+ was decided to request the Superintendent of Public Works to in- ' stall some system for giving orders to the foremen in the different depart- nente so that there would be a complete record of all work done. The Superintendent reported that he was working on this system. Letter was received frcgn Willard C . Hill in which he informed the Board that en annual saving of $119.76 could be made on the town insurance by installing twenty-seven additional fire extinguishers of the 21 gallon Approved Soda Acid type wt the High School Building. He stated that he could obtain these extinguishers for $9 .00 delivered, and enclosed the chartshowing where these extinguishers should be placed in the building in order to comply with the issue of the New England Insurance Exchange . it *as suggested that the matter be taken up with the School Building Commit- tee to see whether or not they could afford the funds to install these extinguishers. Accordingly a letter was directed to that committee recuest - ing them to report on the matter at an early date. It was voted that the blanket schedule of insurance was lacking $8300.00 and also insurance on the additional furniture to be placed in the new building amounting to $5850.30 lucking a total of $4.4,450.00 to be placed on the blanket insurance schedule to bring it up to date . it was decided to give this policy to Jasper A. Lane of Waltham Street, Lexington. 4w It was voted to place policy of $11.700.00 with Hubert D . Broderic. This policy was formerly carried by B F Brown & Son, and expires April 25, 1926. Two representatives, Mr. Chute and Mr. Shipp the latter of 228 Mass. I Avenue, Lexington, came before the Board relative to installing the auto- matic traffic signal at Revere Street H. R. Crossing, They explained that when the train comes on the track the signal starts to work when the train is within two thousand feet of the crossing. The lights flash and the arm on the pole swings. A bell , a 12 inch gong, also rings et the same time. The bell and lights work on a set of batteries, and two sets are used in case one does not work. There are at the present time one hundred thirty of these signals installed throughout the Boston & Maine System, and as yet but one death has occurred, that beinget Old Orchard Beach. They did not feel, however, that the ossuality was a result of the signal. These re- presentatives left with the Board a list of places where the signals are in operation, .and suggested one place on the Mohawk Trail on the Fitchburg Avision where they have from sixty to seventy trains a day . In connect:.on with the matter gr. Custance called attention to the condition at Bow Street in East Lexington, and asked if permission was given for the signal at the Revere Street crossing if something could not be done in regard to the crossing at Bow Street. He informed the gentlemen that the recuest was mads that the street be widened, and that the Boston and Maine Claimed that the expense would be aooroximately $800.00 . Phe Superintendent of Public Works in a conference with the Boston and Maine H H Co. suggested a compromise of the town paying one half the cost and the railroad the other half, but they did not agree. 1r . Custance renuested the gentlemen to take the matter up with the company to see if something could not be worked out as they felt that the danger at Bow Street isgreat- ' er than at Revere Street. Mr. Ship explained that the total cost of the installation at Revere Street would be $2,348.00. Mr. Amos Holman and Mr. Gustav Bunxel came before the Board with re- erepce to the slaughter license fee regulatiaon made by the Board. They both objectedarggveryseevygave n.gures or the ou-ier town an Board make so large a charge . 304 that a greater amount of business was done by them and that the town paid the inspector' s salary. The Board expained to them that they wanted to place the matter on e fair basis, and that is why the rate per head on aminals was made. After some discussion on the matter the Board suggested that they study it together, and report to them what they thought was their duty. The authority of the Board was under Chap. 496 of the Acts of 1924 Sections 119 and 120. Mr. Francis J Toye, Mr. Charles J Hendrich, and Mr. Wheatley of the lost Lexington Civic Association came before the Board relati?e to the following ratters. First, they had complaints of the overcrowded school busses. £r. Custance recuested figures giving days and dates that they were overcrowded, but the gentlemen could not furnish the same. Mr. Custance stated that he had figures in the past, and at no time were the busses too overcrowded. He stated, however, that he would take the matter up with the Superintendent, and requested' the gentlemen to obtain figures and dates when the busses were overcrowded, and submit them to the Board. The matter of the school children using school tickets when they go to the library for reference work was also discussed. The clerk was directed to find out how strict the Middlesex & Boston St. RYl Co: held to the rules regarding use of school tickets. Secondly, the town printed legal notices only in the Lexington Times. They suggested that these notices be printed in the Minuteman, especially those regarding garages. The Board felt that they could possibly arrange to notify the abuttors in cases where garage hearings were held and it was decided that this should be done in the future . Mr. Wheatley complained that last June the town voted to install elec- tric lights on Crescent Hill Avenue and as yet this has not been done. Mr. Scemnan reported that the poles for this extension would have to be placed on the land of Eugene D. Monaheh, and he refused to give permission. The gentlemen also spoke of garbage dollection in the town, but no definite scheme was talked over. The Building Inspector came before the Board in reference to mind- ing d- ing the regulation for fees charged for building permits. He recommended that the former schedule be amended by a charge of 5.00 for the first *tore a charge of $3.00 for the second store. and a charge of $2.00 for all other stores, and any item unlisted the Building Inspector be given the power to charge reasonable ratite. The Building Inspector suggested that a concrete inspector be appointed to be on the job next to the Town Hall and Bedford Street where a garage is to be built by John C. Phelps. The Board stated that tjrey would take up the matter with the Town Counsel to see what their authority was to appoint a concrete inspector. The Superintendent of Public Works reported that a Holt tractor could be bought for the price of $4, 200.00 Which was $550.00 less than the Mead Morrisiin tractor could be bought for, and he explained that in his esti- mation a Dolt tractor, as far as he could find out, was the beet tractor on the market. He felt that the matter should be laid over until he could study the proposition further. Mr. Seaman also resorted that a. three wheel steam roller could be bought from the Buffalo Springfield Roller Company for $2,825. 00 with $150.00 extra attachmetlte. Mr. Scamman recommended the purchase of, this roller immediately, and the Board authorized him to purchase the same . Mr. .Scamman reported that the Plumbing gad Buildtag inspedtere turn 305 in their fees received each month in accordance with the arrangements with the Town Accountant . He stated that a bond of $500.00 each on the lantabing and Building Inspectors st an expense of a very small amount II would give protection to the town. The Superintendent reported that Mass. Avenue should be renumbered from the Arlington Line to the Lincoln Line, and the Board authorized him to have this done. The Superintendent reported that an iasue of water bonds to the amount of $20,300 should be issued at this time to take dare of the work to be carried on in ti)e near future . lie also re- quested the Town TiteausittB to get bids for these bonds. The chairman of the Board reported a letter of condolence had been sent to President Coolidge owing to the death of his father. The Superintendent of Public Worse reported that the Lexington Theatre requested permission to extend a marque over the side walk, and he had informed them that they would have to sign a bond of $1, 000.00 before a permit could be obtained. The Board considered the matter, and decided riot to. grant permission for this construction over the side walk A letter was received from Edward C Maguire requesting $130.20 in pay for the time that he was in the hospital with appendicitis. The police by-laws in regard to half pay while on sick leave were not in effect et that time when Mr. Maguire was iii . In view of the fact, the Board felt that possibly en allowance might be made to /;r. Maguire and requested the Superintendent of Public Works to talk the matter over with him, and report to the Board later. IIThe order for-the' *seeeement Of betterments made in connection with the lay out of Chase Asdnue and also the lay out of Oalasount Circle both of which street lay outs were accepted at the Town McAting held Mar, 15, 1926 were signed by the Board. These lay outs are to be recorded at East Cambridge within 30 days of the acceptance of the lay out by the Town. The Board adjourned at 11 :15 P.M. A true record attest: i Clerk.