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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1926-03-23M MEETING MARCH 231 1926. A re oaar meeging of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Select= mens office at 7-:30 P. M. lessrs. Custance, Burnh mp,Miles and Ballard were present. The Superintendent of Pablic Works and the clerk iili$e a -s present. The following were appointed es special police officers of tae Town of Lexington: Theodore A. Custance, John J."Gerrit , Charles E. Moloy, Charles M. Blake, •John E.,Kelly, Edward 9. Taylor, Frank 3. Clark, Bion C. Merry, John C Fitzgerald, Michael A. Pero, Frederick J. Spencer, - Th`bma:s' Griffin, William S. Scamman, William P. Wright, Dennis H. Collins, Charles A. Manley, Jay 0,; Richarla, 'aik Lodd; ,john Campbell, Edward J. Hogan, James G. Robertson, Albert H.,Burnham, William R. S. Eaton, Charles E. Hadley, J, Chester Hutchinson, Edward Loren Fenn. 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 anted upon within a day or two, and that the Drainage Bill will go forward in Clue course. He also suggested that when these acts passed the House that a report should go forth to the voters giving the told acts with the atzndments and discussing the points of difference, advventages, "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 tto Selectmen should put the same forth to the voters. The Borrd 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 lav outs with the Bonrd. 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 some on list for trial on the.May sitting. Fe 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 e. 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-su knit to the 'Mown 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 iuew Eng. Tel. do Tele. Co. for the location of two poles on Vine Street. Mrs. Ketherine Kinneen of Fine Street came before the Boaxe, to pro- test the locations of one of the poles. She stated that it would be placed directly in front of her house, Mr. Scamman was reauested to take the matter up with the Telephone Company and see if a new location satisfact M ory to lire. Kinneen could be made. M- The clerk*reported the. following fees for Election Officers paid ' in other towne. No action wa.s 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 WardenN Clerkl5.00 each InspectoiKlt 10.00 each Tellers 147.00 at work from 1 P.Y. Winchester Else. Officers10,00 each Brookline lartten & C1erkl2.00 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 3treet, and it wes 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 Omboal house lot on Concord Avenue which the Selectmen were authorized to sell in 1905. Mr. Ballard was requested to find out whether or not he could secure abetter 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) Eire Dent. To start Apr,.b. Cap t.(Call men) Increase $100 to $150 Lieut. " " Increase $100 to $137 Call men Increase $100 to $125 per year. Regular men Increase $0.50 per dray. Building Inspector To start Jan. 1'. Increase $720 to $920 pr yr. Selectmen's Dept, Alice Ferguson Increase $14 to $lb pr wk to start Apr, 5. Helen Gallagher Increase $1300 to $1400 pr yr to start Jan. 1. Water & $evrer Dent. Albert A. Rose Increase $175 to $200 per month. Making salary Sewer M.aint. 0 oer month. Making salary Water Maint. $120 per month. The Board took up the zp$ tte f p i��.{g for meals for the Engineers j while they are on duty Outside o �i e -ng The Board decided that they E 1 303 would pay a reasonable amount for meals secured in this way. It+was decided to reauest 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 wee received from Willord C`. Hill in which he informed the Board that an annual saving of $119.76 could be made on the town insurance by installing twenty-seven additional fire extinguishers of the 2j ballon 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 was 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 reauest - 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.x0 Making a total of $a4#jj50.00 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 Walthsm Street, Lexington. a 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, 1996. Two representative a, Cdr. Chute and Mr. Shipp the latter of 228 Mass. 'Avenue, Lexington, came before the Board relative to installing the auto- matic traffic signal nt Revere Street R. 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 at. the same time.. The bell and lights Mork 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 beingpt Old" Orchard Beach. They did not feel,` however, thea the casuality was a result of the signal. These re- presentatives left with the Board a list of plaoes where the signals are. in operation, .and suggested one place on the Mohawk Trail on the Fitchburg )division where they have from sixty td seventy trains ,a day. In connect<on with the matter 4r. 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 riot be done in regard to the crossing at Bow Street. He informed the gentlemen that the reauest was made that the street be widened, and that the Boston and Maine claimed that the expense would be aparoximatel.y $800.00, the Superintendent of Public Works in a conference with the Boston end Maine R. it. Co. suggested a *compromise of the town paying one half the cost and the railroad the other half, but they did not agree. J4x. Custance renuested the gentlemen to take the matter up with the company to see if something coal d 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 care before the Board with re- erelice to the slaughter license fee regulati oon made by the Board. They both ob jlotegd ver stge . evy&#e figures of e otYter own v su�gteosted make so are a c ar e . 304 that a greater amount of business was done by them and that the town paid the inspectors salary. The Board expa.ined to them thatrithey wanted to place the matter on a fair basis, Pnd that is why te rate per head on aminals was made. After some discussion or, 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. Ar, Francis J. Toye, Mr. Charles J. Hendrich, and Mr. Wheatl6y of the 3998t Lexington Civic Association came before the Board relatille to the following ratters. Firat, they had complaints of the overcrowded school busses. 1r. Custance reeuested figures giving days and dates that they were overcrowded, but the gentlemen could not furnish the same, idr.. Custance stated tnet 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 Sui')erintendent, 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 tieing 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. Ry2 Co: held to the rules regarding use of school tiokets. 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. 11r. '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. Ar. Scamrann reported that the Doles for this extension would have to be placed, on -the land of Eugene D. Monah&h. 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 =##d- ing the regulation for fees charged for building permits. Herecommended recommended that the former schedule be amended by a charge of 15.00 for the first %tory 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 ratee, The Building Inspector suggested that a concrete inspector be appointed to be on the job next to the Town Hall end Bedford Street where a garage is to be built by John C. Phelpb. The Board stated that tbgey 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 Hol be bought for the price of $4,200.00 which was $550.00 less Morrisiin tractor could be. bought for, and he explained that mation a Dolt tractor, as far as he could find out, was the on the market. He felt that the m Atter should be laid over study the proposition further. Holt tractor could than the mead in his pati - beat tractor until he could Cdr. ScRmman also re+)orted that a. three wheel steam roller could be. bought. from the Buffalo Springfield Roller Company for $2,825.00 with $150.00 extra attachmetnts. Mr, acamman recommended the purchase of. this roller immediately, and the Board authorised him to purchase the same. ,Mr Saamman reported. that Ahe. Plumbing grid Buil:.diEng insp&dtoris tuft 1 305 in their fees received each month in accordance with the arrQngements with the Town Accountant, He stated "thp.t a bond of $500.00 each on the Tlubabin and Building Inspectors ,t an expense of a very small amount ' 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 Boaxd authorized him to have this done, The Superintendent reported that an issue of water bonds to the amount of $20,300 should be ifsuad at" this time to ` take care of the work to be carried on ir. `pie near future, lie also re- quested the Town Trosurm to get bids for these bonds, The Chattman of the Board reported a letter of condolence had been sent to President Coolidge owing to the death of his father, The Super intendei.t of Public Wor"ss 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 Aot to - grant permission for this construction over the side walk A letter was reciiived from Edward U. 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 st that time when Mr, aaguire was ill. In view of the fact, the Board felt that possibly an r: lowance might be made to t1r. Maguire and requested the Superintendent )f Public Works to talk the matter over with him, and report .to the Board later. ' The order fer-the, assessment of betterments made in connection with the lay out of Chase Ardnue and also the lay out of 0aknount 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 lacy out by the Town, The.Board adjourned'st 11:15 P.M. A true record attest: 1 Cl ark.