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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1927-02-08REGULAR MEETING, February 8, 1927. ' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen vas held at the Selectmen's office at 7:15 P.M. Messrs. Custance*.0 Burnham, Miles, Robertson, and Ballard were present. The Supt, of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Everett N. Montague came before the Board at their request to talk over what might be done in the town toward establishing a Block Plan. Mr. .Montague explained his qualifications to the Board stating that he was five years with the Massachusetts Land Court, and since 1925 he has been in business for himself working at points be- tween Acton and Boston. He explained that he is now establishing a Block Plan irr Belmont. The houses are measured up and placed upon plans on a 40 foot scale, and then reduced to an 80 foot scale, and put on sheets 20 x 30. He stated that he could not give any definite figures as to the actual cost of the work inasmuch as it depended a great deal upon the information on hand in the Engineering Office. He stated however that,his usual charge amounts to.about $500 per month. Mr. Ballard suggested that Mr. Montague spend at least a week or whatever time is required to go over the engineering records of our town, and inform the Board as to what information'is available to assist in making a Block Plan, also what information will be necessary to obtain and to give an idea of the cost, the amount of work necessary, and what season of the year would be most fitting to do this work so that the Board may have a better knowledge and may be in a better position to judge how much should be spent upon this project. ' The Board also informed Mr. Montague that they would make their re- quest to him in writing, and desired to have him to make his reply in writing. At 8:30 P.M. hearing wax declared open upon the application of the Jenney Mfg. Company for permission to install an additional gaso- line tank of 1,000 gallons at their station at the junction of Waltham and Middle Streets. A representative of the Jenney`Mfg. Company appeared before the Board tona.ke his request. No persons appeared to object, and the Hoard voted to grant the permit. The Board voted to appoint Malcolm MacDonald., janitor of the High School, as a special police officer. Bid was received from the. Medford Publishing Company giving a price of $55.00 on 150 School Reports bound in separate books. The Board aokweledged receipt of the bid, and accepted same. Mr. Franklin L. Hart and Mr. Day Baker, attorney, came before the Board relative to the application of the Hart Motoreoach Company of 12 Park Square, Boston, for permission to pass through the Town of Lex- ington. Mr. Hart presented a list of twenty-four towns in which he held licenses at the present time on his route from Boston to Albany. ' He stated that they were willing to make a stop in Lexington if the Board so desired, but they were not anxious to make stops. They stated that the Boston & Laine Transportation Company were interested in pro- tecting their established utility, and therefor, objected to the Hart Motorcoach Company being granted a license. The Board decided to lay the matter on the table for one week. Abatements were signed for the Water Department to the amount of $83.20, and for the Sewer Department to the amount of $198.70. Application was received from John C. Phelps of 33 Bedford Street., Minute +uan Garage, in which he applied for permission to erect a sign over the sidewalk to extend 4 feet and hang approximately 10 feet in the air. The Board decided not to grant fir. Phelps a permit to hang the sign over the, sidewalk as they felt he had sufficient room and the sign could be easily seen if hung upon his own property. Letter was received from the Secretary of the Lexington Board of Trade commending the Board of Selectmen in their efforts in keeping the streets free from snow. Application was received from W. R. Warren of &--Maynard Street, Medford, requesting permission to install a gasoline filling station at the junction of Spring and Payson Streets. The Board decided not to grant a hearing on this application. Letter was received from the Planning Board in which they stated that a building line should be established an the northerly and easterly side of Mass. Avenue and Hancock Street from the northwesterly side of the Town Hall lot to the railroad crossing on Hancock Street. They also suggested the advisability of ordering underground all wires now overhead between Waltham Street and Elm Avenue on Mass. Avenue before the street constructionis begun. The Board replied to the Planning Board that they also felt that a building line should be estab- lished in this area providing there would be no expense to the town. In regard to the placing of the wires underground the Board decided to write to Chief Edward W. Taylor requesting him to ask for an appro- priation to place the wires in this section underground. Letter was received from the planning Board dtating #.t they declined to ,recommend establishing a business district in the section including and adjoining 118 Mass. Avenue which was petitioned for by Donald and Justin Shea. Letter was received from.the Planning Board asking whether or not the Board.- intends to request an additional appropriation for the Engineering Department, also whether the Board had considered employ- ment of a competent man for the position of Building Inspector, and receipts received in that department for the year 1926. The Board replied that they were working upon the Engineering Department to see if they could make an arrangement which would give more satisfactory results. They also informed Mr. Emery that the receipts of the Building Department were $1059.00 for 1926, and that they felt that the present incumbent was handling the affairs of the office properly. Opinion was received from the Town Counsel to the effect that the five foot strip of land covered by a concrete -sidewalk laid and V maintained by the town in front of the Boutelle Block so-called still I belonged to the owners of the block. The Chairman stated that he would endeavor to make an agreement with the owner of the property relative to the widening of the street. It was voted to grant the Florence Crittendon Circle a license to hold an intelligence office in Lexington center. A petition was received from the residents of Fletcher Avenue requesting that the street be accepted as a public highway. The Clerk was directed to set a hearing for action upon this petition as soon as the information can be obtained from the Engineering Department. A petition was received from the residents of Grove Street asking that the street be widened and graded from the junction of Robinson Road to the Bedford Town line. Ido action was taken upon the petition. fir. Miles reported that the Milk Regulations as presented by Cdr. Prentiss were worthy of adoption, and recommended that they be made a part of the Board of wealth Regulations. The Supt. of Public Works reported that he had received an appli- cation for a water main on Haskell Street, and he proposed to place the estimate before the Appropriation Committee for action. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 P.M. A true record,,Attest: Clerk. 1 1 Z• FEBRUARY 83 1927. Present Messrs. Custance, Burnham, Miles, Ballard and Robertson together with Messrs. -Albert B. Tenney, Arthur 4. Maddison, Edwin H. Worthen., Fred H. Moulton, George W. Nary, and Merman C. Hooper. In accordance with the vote of the Town Meeting held January 31, 1927, the following action was taken under Article 4. Afticle 4. To see if the Town will appoint a Committee to consider the advisa7gility of the erection of a town office wilding, or of repairs to, or sale or other dis- position of the Town Hall building or property. Article 4. Voted, that a committee of eleven be appointed to consider the advisability of the erection of a town office building, or of repairs to, or sale or other dispo- sition of the Town Hall building or property, said committee to consist of the five Selectmen and six citizens to be appointed by the Moderator. The above named committee organized with Theodore A. Custance as Chairman. The committee requested information from the hoard relative to repairs to the present town hall building. It was found from the information presented that it would cost approximately $25,000 for repairs to the present building. This figure consists of re -roofing the present slate roof which is badly leaking; taking off laths and plaster from ceiling of the main hall, putting on wire laths and plastering and patching plaster; carpenter work for making toilet rooms, and cutting for plumbers; new windows and other repairs; paint- ing, plumbing, and new vault. 1 1 With the above expenditure of money it was contemplated that the Town may be able to get along for possibly two years. Then there would be the demand for more space for the Engineering Department. This would mean the use of the third floor. Inasmuch as there are six flights of stairs it would almost necessitate the installation of an elevator. If this had to be installed, the Public Safety Department would make other demands upon the Town in the way of the construction of the building. The Town is now violating its own Plumbing Regulations by not providing separate toilet facilities for men and women, and this should be corrected. The Commissioner of Records has recommended and advised the Town that they are not complying, with the regulations of their department by exposing to fire the Engineers plans and Assessors records. These should be in a vault, but the present vault facilities are not adequate. Thousands d' dollars of plans which could never be replaced if lost by fire are being stored in a steel cabinet, which is less fire resisting than wood, in our main hall. It was suggested that subject to the call of the Chairman, the committee view the present building in day -light. The Committee then considered the proposition of erecting a new town hall as compared with the possibilities of the old hall. The propo- sition of building a town office building which would be of brick similar to the memorial building, decorated as artistically upon the 1 M b ew outside, but including inside plain business offices, and which could be added to on the rear in the event of necessary added space, was considered. The Board informed the committee that they had a tenta- tive plan drawn by Kilham, Hopkins, and Greeley -of a proposed building for offices on the lot adjoining the memorial nall. The approximate figures on this building amounted to between $90,000 and $1001000. Inasmuch as the Board had no authority to incur expense in this direction, no definite figures could be presented. An offer in a letter from Eugene G. Kraetzer was -received offer- ing the sum. of $50,000 for the present town hall property, and an offer of $12,000 for the Rindge property at 514 Massachusetts Avenue. Inasmuch as this definite offer had been received, and perhaps a larger amount would be offered, the committee felt that if a'building could be built for from $75,000 to $90,000 the sale of the old building would bring $50,000 at least, and the cost of repairs to the old build- ing would be $25,000 the proposition of the new building was one to consider from the standpoint of economy. The added taxes which would be received from the town hall lot when sold were worthy of consideration. After summing up the information so far received it woald seem the consensus of opinion that the old town hall building be not repaired but a new office building built upon lot Y on the plan showing location of the proposed memorial building, and the committee so voted unani- mously. It was also unanimously voted that an article be placed in the I warrant to provide funds for preliminary study of a new municipal building. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk. 1