HomeMy WebLinkAbout1927-01-0411
REGULAR MEETING, January 4, 1927.
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the
Selectmen s Office, at 8:15 P.M. Messrs. Custance, Burnham, Miles,
Robertson, and Ballard were present. The Supt. of Public Works and
the Clerk were also present.
The records of last meeting were approved.
Mr. F. L. Emery, Mr. W. D. Milne, and J. Henry Duffy came before
the Board to discuss the matter of engineering serviees. The Board
replied to their letter advising the employment of a chief engineer
at a salary of $4,000 to $5,000 a year, and two or more field men,
that they felt the Planning Board should request an appropriation
for engineering services for their own department. The Planning Board
did not feel that this arrangement would be proper. They expressed
the view that the present engineering department was inadequate, and
that the Town is at the stage where studies should be made of all plans
of sewer, water, and street construction for ten years -to come. They
felt that the salary paid to a high grade engineer would be saved many
times over if proper preliminary studies.were made of all town con-
struction work. They did not feel that the Planning Board should ask
for a separate appropriation for engineering services, and asked that
the Selectmen reconsider their appeal.
Letter was received from Mr. Fenton of the Office of the Director
of Accounts, State House, giving the opinion of that office on the
proposed bill of the Legislature regarding the assessment of better-
ments for the extension of water mains. Their office objects to
betterment assessments and feels that special committee of the Legis-
lature should study the question of assessments.
Outside Aid committment to the amount of $237.50 alsoSewerFrontage committment to the amount of $281.94 were signed by the Board.
Letter was received from Albert B. Tenney in regard to bill of
Weston and Sampson amounting to $258.40 for expert testimony and
services in the McCaffrey suit. Mr. Tenney felt that this bill should
be paid inasmuch as the services were rendered, and were incurred by
the Water and Sewer board in 1922. He also called attention to the
bill of $44.90 also of Weston and Sampson which he himself paid and
for which he felt he should receive reimbursement. The Board considered
the matter and decided to ask the Finance Committee to make a transfer
of the amount of both of these bills so that theJ may be paid this
year, and so notified Mr. Albert B. Tenney.
The Board voted to appoint Osborne J. Gorman, Supt. of Moth De
partment for the ensuing year, subject to the approval of the State
Department of Conservation.
A list of probable sewer abatements were discussed. The plans of
the location of the sewer were viewed, and it was found that the parties
owning property on Bloomfield Street were assessed for the same lots
on therear of the property on Rowland Avenue. The Board therefor, did
not feel that it was fair to make the double assessment, and voted to
abate the following assessments:
Helen M. Little 13,130 sq.. ft. $148.08
George A. Woods 33,130 �� It. 148.08
George L. Goulding
Thomas S. Grindle
Henry C. Rowland
William T. Crowther
(Has connected to Rowland Ave.
Sewer.)
Breck-Robinson Nursery Go.
26,250 sq. ft.
$296.04
12,500 " "
140.97
17,840 " "
201.19
32,030 " "
361.22
105,940 " "
1194.75
Class 1 Agents license was granted to.Fred N. Viano to do business
at 400 Mass. Ave., and Colonial Garage. Class 2 Agents license was
granted to William G. Murphy to do business at 25 Massachusetts Avenue.
Letter was received from the Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. requesting
further consideration on their proposition of workmen's compensation
insurance. No action was taken on the matter.
Letter was received from the Animal Inspector in regard to
quarantine of dogs. He stated that a rabied dog had been in contact
with several of the dogs in Lexington, and he felt that an order re-
straining dogs should be passed. The Board therefor voted to restraim
the dogs for 90 days and sent the following notice to all dog owners
and published same in the local newspaper.
Lexington, Mass.
January 6, 1927,
Dear Sir: -
For the safety of the public and until all danger
from rabies is passed, the Board of Selectmen hereby order
that all dogs be muzzled or restrained from running.at large
for 90 days from date unless this order is sooner revoked.
Please see that your dog is kept under restraint or properly
muzzled, for after Wednesday, Janu%Lry 12, 1927, orders will
be issued to kill all dogs found running at large in Lex-
ington.
Per Order,
Theodore A. Custance Selectmen
Charles H. Miles
Albert H. Burnham of
James G.Robertson
William H. Ballad Lexington
Letter was received from the Town Accountant calling attention
to the fact that it was necessary to transfer from the Reserve Fund
the sum of $225.00 for the Police Department, and $75.00 for the
Town Hall Account to pay the bills for the year 1926. The Board
therefor requested the Appropriation Cormittee to make these transfers:
Letter was received from George C. Neal, State Fire Marshall,
enclosing copy of the Delegation of Powers to the Chief of the fire
Department.
In connection with this.ma.tter it was decided to notify the Chief
of the Fire Department in writing of all gasoline permits which were
granted so that he may approve the same.
William Roger Greeley came before the Board and showed plans of
the office building as suggested by Mr. Ballard. The pian showed a
building which would not cover so much ground space and which would
1
economize to the extent of $4,000 or $5,000 but which would not give
offices as well lighted as his original plan of the building. He
.stated that he did not favor this plan.
Town Counsel, Sydney R. Wrightington, came before the Board to
discuss the so-called Shaler case. This was a claim made by said
Shaler for accident claimed to be due to a defect in the highway on
Waltham Street which caused his car which was being towed to run
through a fence into a field. This case has been pending for some
time, and a new attorney has been engaged by said Shaler. This
attorney has offered to settle thecase for $100.00 otherwise he
states that he will have to mark rhe same up for trial. Town Counsel
advised that it might be possible that the case would Jo to jury trial
a
and verdict awarded, consequently, he felt that a settlement of
$100.00 should be made.
The Board authorized Town Counsel to make settlement for an
amount not exceeding $100.00.
Town Counsel was requested to draw up the articles for a Town
Meeting presumably to be held on January 24, 1927, the articles to
contain provision for the acceptance of the memorial building to be
located upon the Blake-Plumer lot on Mass. Avenue, also for appoint-
ment of committee to Consider the location of a municipal building
upon the same lot and the sale of the old town hall building and lot
or repair of the same.
The Supt. of Public Works was again requested to present in
detail all committments which are presented for their signature.
The Supt, of Public Works was also requested to secure the
further information from Grant Street water extension which was
requested some time ago.
department
The Board discussed the schedule presented by the engineer charg-
iz g the time for engineering .service to the different departments.
The Board decided to request the Engineering Department to keep
track of all time beginning January 1, 1929 and also to charge cost
of materials to different departments.
Miss Eleanor Lowe of the Water Department requested an increase
in pay. It was decided to leave this matter for discussion when
salaries are discussed generally.
The Board signed an abatement for the Water Dept. $494.27, and for
the, Sewer Department $62.58.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 Midnight.
A true record, Attest: �(_I' n�Z'
Clerk.
REGULAR MEETING, January 12, 1927. C7
R!
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the
Selectmen's Office at 8:00 P.M. Messrs,.Custance, Burnham, Miles,
Robertson, and Ballard were present. The Supt. of Public Works
and the Clerk were also present.
The records of last meeting were approved.
The State Aid a roll was signed for the month of Januar
pay g y
to the amount of $32.00.
Letter was received from the Lexington Civic Association in-
viting the Board to be present at a meeting to be held on the 13th
inst. at Emerson Hall at which time Mr. John B.Lovell of the Lovell
Bus Line, Inc. was to talk on bus service. The Chairman agrd to
attend the meeting and the Civic Association were notified to this
effect.
Letter was received from H. Dudley Murphy of Summit Road in
which he informed the Board that the value of the picture of the
Battle of Lexington, was $25% and that the value of the picture in
Cary Hall was about twenty-five dollars. He stated also that
Mr. Frank W. Bayley of the Copley Gallery in Boston, also concurred
with him in his opinion.
The Board directed a letter of thanks to be written to Mr. Murphy
for giving his time and advice. ,
,fhe Board voted to transfer the sum of $50 from Sewer Assessment
Fund•to Sewer Construction Fund.
4
Letter was received from the Massachusetts Agricultural College
of Amherst inwhich they informed the Board that they felt that the
Board of Health Regulations in regard to the keeping of pigs that were
in force in Lexington were very good and they had no suggestions to
offer as to new methods of feeding garbage.
It was felt that certain other regulations should be revised at
this time. Therefore the Board of Health regulations were not officially
approved, but action will be taken on the revisions at a later date.
Mr. Ballard reported the conference he and Mr. Robertson had -had
with Mr. Keniston, of the Metropolitan Dixtrict Commission.
He stated that Mr. Keniston informed -them that the town engineer
or any of the Town Officials could place before the Metropolitan
District Commission any of their plans and they would be glad to offer
any suggestions or help in any way possible and furnish what information
they had on hand.
He also made the suggestion'of lowering the minimum amount of water
to be used quarterly.by water takers, but increasing the rate, and he
felt that additional revenue would hereby be gained. The Board felt
that this should be mentioned in their report published in the Town
Report. •
It was decided to secure a copy of Public Document #92 of the
State Treasurers Report on Aetropolitan District Commission, as
Mr. Keniston referred to same at:the conference.
Mr. Scamman was requested to find out how the skating rink at
Jamaica Plain was laid out, so that the information may possibly be
used in cb taining a rink for Lexington.
' The Board approved the letter drafted by Mr. Ballard to be sent
with the Isaac Harris Cary Educational Fund report to the citizens.
This letter is to be circulated with the Warrant for a Town Meeting
to be held on January 31st, 1927 at 8 P.M. and reads as follows:
To the Citizens of Lexington:
We enclose a warrantfor the Town Meeting to be held on Monday,
January 31, 1927, at eight P.M., to consider the enclosed proposal
of the Trustees of the Isaac Harris Cary Educational Fund to present
a .Memorial Building to the Town. This proposal we recommend for your
favorable consideration, since we are convinced, after careful study,
that it would be for the best interests of Lexington for you to
accept the gift of this Memorial Building.
You are all familiar with the first proposal of the Trustees
made to the Town of Lexington on February 15, 1924) the appointment
of a Committee of eleven at the Town Meeting in March, 1924, their
report made to the Town under date of March I3, 1925, and the subse-
quent action of the Town on June 25, 1925,.dedlining to accept the
firtt proposal of the Trustees.
Your Board of Selectmen were approached by many citizens of the
Town with requests that.they endeavor to secure another proposal
from the Trustees for consideration by the Town, and they prepared
and circulated, in January and February, 1926, the following petition
which was signed by more than seven hundred voters of the Town,--
rTrustees of Isaac Harris Cary Educational Fund,
Gentlemen:
"The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Lexington and the
other undersigned citizens of Lexington hereby inform the Trustees
of the Isaac Harris Cary Educational Fund that they believe it
would be for the best interest -of the Town of Lexingtonthat the.
Town should accept from the said Trustees and agree to maintain
the larger of the two buildings described in the letter of the
said Trustees to the Town dated February 15, 1924, to contain a
public hall suitable for customary town meetings; and they there-
fore respectfully request the said Trustees to prepare definitive
plans and specifications for the erection of such a building and
submit the same, together with -such agreement, to the voters of
the said Town in town meeting for their consideration.
"We are confident that the vote taken on this subject at the
comparatively small meeting in June 25, 1925 was not fairly
representative of the sentiment of the Town &Ad that the decision
will be reversed by an emphatic vote if definite plans and apeci-
fications are put before a future meeti{i.g.
"It is understood that if the Trustees shall comply with the
present request, the plans and specifications submitted will be
for a building located upon the lot formed by a union of the Plumer C.7
and Blake estates, extending in the northeasterly side of Massachu- N,
setts Avenue from Vine Brook to the estate of Dr. Barnes.."
In response to this petition, which was delivered to the Trus-
tees on March 5, 1926, complete plans and specifications for a
Memorial Building were prepared and bids were secured for erecting
the building which can be accepted up to and including March 1, 1927.
The site selected for the Memorial Building is on Massachusetts
Avenue between the estate of Dr. Barnes and Vine Brook.
We believe that the Trustees' proposal which we submit herewith
for a Memorial Building as'.described, to be placed on a specific site
on Massachusetts Avenue, answers all of the doubts and questions which
arose during the consideration of the proposal made by the Trustees to
the Town.on February 15, 1924, which suggested an und-eseribed building
to be located at an indeterminate point.
The site which is offered contains 126,706 square feet and'is
adequate not only for tae Memorial Building which will be placed on lot
X,-- the central portion,-- but for such additional buildingsas the
Town may, in the future, wish to erect adjacent to the Memorial Build-
ing on lots w and Y. This will make it possible for_the Town either
now or at a later date to consider the erection of a Town Office
Building perhaps on lot Y between Vine Brook and the Memorial Build-
ing.- The provision in the Trustees' proposal, page 5, paragraph 4,
and the Draft Form of Vote, page 13, suggest a practical way to over-
come the objection previously raised as to the use of any portion of '
the site for a Town Office Building or other Town Buildings.
When you have accepted the Trustees''proposal, we recommend
that a Committee be appointed to advise the Town as to how soon and
in what manner it would be best to proceed with the erection of a
Town Office Building on lot Y and if this is recommended, what action
the Town should take in respect to the sale of the present Town Hall
property, or if the Committee does not recommend the erection of a
Town Office Building, and the sale of the Town Hall Property, to
recommend what action should be taken in respect to repairing and
remodelling the present Town Hall Building. Repairs on the present
Town Hall have been postponed so many times that a decision should
be made before long as to whether permanent repairs should be made
at a"cost of probably $25,000. These repairs consist of rebuilding
the roof and repairing the outside of the building, tefinishing the
entire interior of the building, providing adequate toilet facilities
and storage vaults and various other changes and improvements.
We think if you decide either now or within the next few years to
erect a Town Office Building adjacent to the Memorial Building, that
the cost of maintaining and operating both'.the Office Building and the
Memorial Building will, for the first few years, be no greater, and
over a period of years, probably less than the cost of repairing,
maintaining and operating the present Town Hall Building. You should '
also consider that if the Town continues its rapid growth, presently
more office space will be required than will be available in the
present Town Hall Building. while the income from the rental of
the Memorial Hall will be modest at first, as the Town continues to
grow this income will increase subatantially.
As an appreciation of the proposed gift by Mrs. Eliza Cary
Farnham and Susanna E. Cary, we hope there will be an -unusually
large attendance at the Town Meeting and a unanimous vote of the
Citizens of the To7-rn to accept the Memorial Building.
Theodore A. Custance
Albert H. Burnham
Charles H. Miles
James G. Robertson
William H. Ballard
Selectmen of the
Town of Lexington.
The Board signed the Warrant for the Town Meeting to be held
January 31, 1927.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M.
A true.record, Attest:
1
0