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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1926-09-14M REGULAR MEETING, September 14, 1926. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Select- ments Office, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Custance, Burnham, Miles, Ballard, and Robertson were present. The Superintendent of Publit Works and the Clerk were also present. Hearing was declared open upon the application of James M. Edgar, 199 Westminster Avenue, forermission to erect a two car private garage on his premises at Crescent Hill Avenue. No persons appeared to object, and the Board granted permission. Hearing was declared open upon the application of John P. Dailey of Middle Street for permission to erect a one car garage for private use. No persons appeared to object, and it was voted to grant a permit. Mrs. Ida H. B. Capper 4pylied for another filling stati6nr.on the northwesterly side of Middle and Waltham Streets at Grape Vine Corner. It was voted to lay this matter on the table. In connection with the signing of the deed agreeing to give to the Town a 10 foot strip of land along the property of Mrs. Capper, it was found that the deed was not drawn in accordance with the wishes of the Board as the plan and deed requested a 30 foot drive left open on the northwesterly side as well as the southwesterly side of Middle Street. The Board simply requested the 30 foot drive on the southwesterly side where it is proposed to place the filling station. Mr. Ballard agreed to take the plan and deed and have it corrected, and also to take the matter up with Mrs. Capper. The State Aid pay roll for the month of September was signed. M'r. Carl Hauck came beforethe Board relative to his application to keep five goats. It *as voted to grant him permission to keep the goats on his premises on Harbell Street. It was voted to grant the Edison Electric Ill. Co. permission to remove poles on Nass. Avenue as follows: Mass. Avenue approximately 560 ft. south of Curve St., 1 pole: Mass. Avenue approximately 15 ft. northwest of private way to East Lexington Railroad Station, 1 pole: Mass. Avenue approximately 260 ft. southeast of private way to East Lexington Railroad Station, 1 pole. The application of Mrs. James J. Burton,. Francis Street, for per- mission to board two infants was signed by the Board. Mr. Frederick L. Emery came before the Board to present them with a plan of the general scheme which has been studied by the landscape architect, William H. Shurtleff. Mr. Emery stated that owing to,the fact that no funds have been appropriated for this purpose the Planning Board had not secured any detailed plans of this lay out, but showed:on the blue print something of the idea which will be worked out in con- nection with the drainage of the property in the rear of the play ground and in the vicinity of Waltham Street along Vine Brook. Upon this plan it was shown that house lots could be readily established upon all this property if it were properly drained. The report of Metcalf and Eddy stated that details of the work of investigations relative to the drain" r 1 0 361 age of this area could be worked out for a sum between $1500 and $2000. The Board of Selectmen are in sympathy with this project and desire to have the ' work done. With this in view, a request will be made to the Town to transfer an expected balance from the Highland Avenue drainage account to do this work. Notice of a hearing at the State House on the subject of County aid to towns in tuberculosis cases was received. Hearing is to be held November 17, 1926 at 11:00 A. M. An opinion was received from Sydney R. Wrightington, Town Counsel, relative to mutual insurance for workmens compensation. Mr. Wrightington advised that he could see no reason why the town could not insure with the mutual insurance companies. The Board discussed the matter, but it was decided to lay it on the table untili.future date. In regard to the application of John Ricci for a permit to keep pigs, the Board received a report from Mr. Russell I. Prentiss stating.that the piggery was not in a clean condition. The.Board, therefor, decided to notify Mr. Ricci that he would have to dispose of his pigs owing to the fact that no permit would be.granted him to keep pigs, and he was therefor violating the regulations.of the Board of Health. In regard to the pay of the engineers of the Fire Department about which Mr. Charles H. Callahan, assistant engineer, inquired, it was de- cided to send copy of the letter from Mr. Callahan also the one sent to the Town Counsel, to the Chairman .of the Appropriation Committee, and inform Mr. Callahan that no action could be taken upon the matter this year but that it was referred to the Appropriation Committee for action in 1927. Notice was received from the Mass. Day Sesqui-Centennial Committee stating that September 27, 1926 is Massachusetts day in Philadelphia, and invited the Board of Selectmen to attend the exposition on that day. They reported, hhwever, that they had no funds for furnishing the trans- portation for those invited. None of the members of the Board were able to attend the celebration, and the writer of the letter was informed to that effect. Mr. Robert Cady and Mr. Raymond S. Thompson, Mr..Cady's uncle, came before the Board relative to securing a permit for the addition to the piggery which is now operated by them on Greenwood Streets. Mr. Cady stated that Mr. Rugene Pattee had a permit to keep pigs since the permits were issued. He also stated that eight years ago Mr. Pattee had secured a permit to build the piggery, but no record of the permit could be found in the Building Inspectors Office, neither could Mr. Cady find any permit in his home. Mr. Carl Hauck objected very strenuously to the -addition being made to the piggery. He suggested that Mr. Pattee did not have a permit for a piggery, but that the building was originally a wagon shed. He stated that he has tried to sell his property, and is unable to do so owing to the fact that a piggery is in the neighborhood. He also stated that - he had not complained before, but is complaining now as he object s to the piggery being enlarged. Mr'. Raymond Thompson stated that he was a part owner in the piggery, and explained that Mr. Hauck had, until recently, been on friendly terms, but was complaining at this time as a matter of spite. Air. Howard S. 8, Nichols, Chairman of the School Committee, and Mr. Thomas S. Grindle, Superintendent' -of Schools, came before the Board in 362 -c reference to the construction of the roadway between the sidewalk and the macadam surface of the street. The Board explained to Mr. Nichols . that if the town put in the curbing, they would like to have the School ' Committee pay for the excavation of the loam and -carrying same away. The Board estimated about 600 square yards of loam. This work should be done before the Highway Department construct the street, owing to the fact that gravel from the street job can be dumped on the part excavated, and this would save considerable expense -of obtaining the same at a later date. The Superintendent of Public Works explained that there wouX be about 525 feet of construction. The School Department had to furnish additional equipment for the school buildings, and pay for the grading from the acco_t of $10,000 u�spossible secured at the last town meeting, but they felt it woul to contribute to the work in front of the school to have a finished job. They objtected to a grass plot next to the sidewalk, owing to the fact that there are so many children that the grass would not have a chance to grown ,as it would be trampled upon. They preferred that the gravel be placed next to the curbing. # See end. The School Department was informed that a Town Meeting wound probably be held the latter part of October, and they requested the Board to notify them when the.warrant would be drawn. Mr. Russell I. Prentiss came before the Board to talk over Health Inspection matters. Mr. Miles stated that.he had talked with Mr. Prentiss and Mr. Prentiss agreed to see the Waltham authorities to find out what they were doing in regard to piggeries. Mr. Prentiss stated that he found in Waltham that some of the oamers of piggeries did not have permits, and the authorities have instructed their City Counsel to see what means can e be tte:ken to prohibit the piggeries. Mr. Prentiss informed them that the Town of Lexington was taking steps toward abolishing piggeries, and the City Counsel of Waltham was therefor requested to list in toubh with Mr. Sydney R. Wrightington to see if they could work out matters together, Mr. Prentiss was requested by the Board to make a.general survey of the town and visit all the piggeries, and bring in the facts to the Board. On recommendation of Mr. Miles, the Board voted to grant $25.00 per month from July lst as compenstation to Russell I. Prentiss 'for services as Health Inspector, the same to continue until December 31st. Mr. Scamman reported that the final fi ures had been obtained upon the Waltham Street construction, which are 17,057, and that the StAte had accepted the street. The matter of having the Middlesex & Boston St. Ray. Company take up the tracks on Waltham Street between the road now finished and Lexington center was discussed. The Superintendent of Public works advised -that it be not done at this time, owing to the fact that the macadam construc- tion would be torn up at least 18" outside of the tracks, and unless some construction work was contemplated, it would not be wise at the present time. The Town Clerk reported that the election officers should have sufficient light on the platform in the make hall, so that they could make a proper tally of the votes at elections. The Superintendent of Public Works was requested to look into the matter, and have sufficient lights in the hall .at the next election. Mr. Robertson stated that he would consult with the Town Engineer to 363 find out why information in regard to building lines on Mass. Avenue and BWord Street had not been furnished. ' The Superintendent of Public works stated that the Salvation Army requested permission to dollect pennies at the road construction job near the Arlington line. The Board did not feel that the line of trafficsdi Id be bothered at this point, and requested the Superinten- dent not to give permission for the collection. ` Letter was received from Robert L. Ryder requesting the Board to build a sidewalk along*Maple Street. The Board acknowledged receipt of Mr. Ryder's letter, and informed him that inasmuch as most of the property on the north side of the street consists of land owned by the Ryder Estate, they requested him to set a price that he would consider proper to build the sidewalk. Petiti6n was received from the residents of Audubon Road, Lincoln Street and Hastings Road requesting the installation of a sewer in that vicinity. The Board acknowledged receipt of the petition to Mr. Hubert Grieves, and informed him that they saw no reason why an article could not be inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting. In the meantime the Board would secure figures as to the cost of the installation. The Superintendent of Public Works was requested to have figures on habd for the construction work on Highland Avenue drain ready for the next meeting. ' The question of assignment of the Fire Department was considered, and it was felt that this department should be assigned to some member of the Board. It was voted to have meetings of the Board of Selectmen on each Tuesday evening at 7:30 PT„M. except on the first Tuesday in the month when'the meeting will be held at 8:30 after the meeting of the Library Trustees. J Meeting adjourned at 11:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: OL �- Clerk. l # The School Department agreed to reimburse the Highway Department the cost of the work.