HomeMy WebLinkAbout1928-02-14N_
REGULAR ME TING, FEBRUARY 14, 1928.
' A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the
Selectmen's Office at 8 P.I. Messrs. Custance, Ballard, Chamberlain,
and Robertson were present. The Supt. of Public ',,Yorks and the Clerk
pro -tem were also present.
Mr. Eliot Hadley came before the Board at 8 P.M. in response
to a request of the Board of Selectmen to discuss several matters.
The first item which was discussed was in regard to what matters
should be published in the local paper, and Mr.Hadley stated that if a
letter.was received by him signed, he published it in the.paper, because
he felt that the signature relieved him of any responsibility. But .
if he received an article which was anonymous, he does not publish same.
When asked about the article published in the paper on Feb.'3, 1928
relative to bus service, Mr. Hadley replied that it was a letter signed
by the Lexington Civic Association
publish it. , and he felt that it was his duty to
Mr. Hadley stated that he has not been satisfied with the infor-
mation received from the Selectmen and if an article is published in
his paper that may not be the correct opinion of the Board, he is not
altogether to blame as he secures information from different sources.
The Chairman stated that the Board is willing to give any information
to the Town that is reasonable, but there has not been much news
lately to give to the citizens. 1dr. Hadley suggested that the Board
give him the records of the meeting to look over, but it was.felt
that they are private records, and that they should not*be given to
' anyone. It was decided that the Chairman should look over the records
and give Mr.Hadley anything he sees fit.
Mr. Hadley stated that he had been inquiring from different towns,
in regard to publishing the town warrants in thepaper as a paid add,
and when asked by.Xr. Ballard for an estimate of the cost of the March
Warrant as a paid add, he replied that it would probably cost between
$24.00 and $25.00.. -.The Board could not see any special advantage
in doing this and Mr.Hadley stated that some people who are not voters
may be interested in town affairs.
Mr. Hadley also said that for the past year the Milk Inspector
has not had his monthly reports published in the paper, and he felt
that by printing them the milk dealers would try to raise the grade
of their milk, and.therefor it would be a good thing for the tgwn. It
was decided to ask Mr. Prentiss why a copy of his monthly repor•'t has not
been given to Mr. Hadley.
The matter of printing the ballots for the Town Electionwas also
brought up by Mr.Hadleyy, as he felt that he had bought the Minute Pian,
which was published.by C. S. Parker & Son, and he thought that he should
do that printing rather than having C. S. Parker & Son do it. 'V,4"r. Rob-
ertson stated that a special column should be had for any Town notices,
such as garage hearings, gasoline hearings, Board of Survey hearings,
registration dates etc., and they should be published in that column
instead of in any corner of the paper.
At 8.30 P.M. Mr. Everett N. Montague came before the Board and
' presented two finished plans of the Block Plan system, one on the 40'
scale and one on the 80t -scale. Mr. Montague stated that he could com-
plete eleven sheets with the ;1500 appropriated for this purpose.
The Fire Engineers, Messrs. Buttrick, H66per, and Taylor, together
with the Appropriation Committee came before the Board to discuss
the 1928 estims.te of the Fire Department. After a rather lengthy
discussion the Engineers and the Appropriation Committee adjourned, and
the Board took up each item on the estimate sheet separately and de-
cided to approve - two more permanent men, but no increase in pay of any
permanent men; three call men, but no raise in pay of call men; ten new
boxes, $1750; extension of wires, 3500; and purchase of new pump,
$125000.1 by the Selectmen provided that the Knox and Kissel engines are
sold. The estimate of $4200. for placing fire alar.L wires under ground
from Meriam Street to the Russell House was discussed, and it was
decided not to approve this expenditure until they had further in-
formation on the utter. The Supt. of Public Works was requested to
get a report from Mr. Louis W. Bills relating to this matter.
The follo-�&ring estimate sheets were approved: Village Hall, $780.;
Library Treasurer, $100.; Accountant, $2700.1 salary; Inspector of
Plumbing, $1200., salary, $50., stationery; Engineering, salary of
Assistant Town Engineer, adjusted to $39.00 per week; Sewer Con-
struction, 2192000.; Sewer Maintenance, 9`12,000.; Vine Brook Drainage,
$1500. Mr. Ballard read a letter from Metcalf and Eddy to Mr. Fred- ,
erick L. Emery in regard to ih.t service would be given for the $1500.
Mr. Robertson suggested that if the Town bought the swamps that this
project is proposed to drain, he felt it would be more economical than
trying to drain that area.
It was felt that the Town Engineer should not turn out anything
for different boards, and departments until it has been approved by
the Supt. of Public Works or Board of Selectmen. In connection with
this matter it was deci:ied to bring up for future discussion._;specific
instructions regulating the work of the Engineering Department.
2r. Ballard made a brief summary of some of the items contained
in the Traffic Committee report, and stated that there should be three
large lights in front of the Memori:jl Building.
The Board granted permission to the Eaison Electric Ill. Co. and
the la. E. Tel. & Tel. Company for a joint pole location on Yeriam
Street for two poles beginning at a point approximately 200 feet
southeast of Hayes Avenue and running southeasterly.
The meeting adjourned at 12: 45 �. M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk pr tem.
202
Hr.
Montague was asked if an aerial survey of the Town
would help
V �
0
him
in his work, and he replied that
he didn't see how
it would as
the
photographs do not shot; boundary
lines, and the
photographs would
have
to be enlarged before they could
be used. The
Board requested
'
Mr.
Montague to give them an estimate
of the cost of
making a block
plan of the entire town.
The Fire Engineers, Messrs. Buttrick, H66per, and Taylor, together
with the Appropriation Committee came before the Board to discuss
the 1928 estims.te of the Fire Department. After a rather lengthy
discussion the Engineers and the Appropriation Committee adjourned, and
the Board took up each item on the estimate sheet separately and de-
cided to approve - two more permanent men, but no increase in pay of any
permanent men; three call men, but no raise in pay of call men; ten new
boxes, $1750; extension of wires, 3500; and purchase of new pump,
$125000.1 by the Selectmen provided that the Knox and Kissel engines are
sold. The estimate of $4200. for placing fire alar.L wires under ground
from Meriam Street to the Russell House was discussed, and it was
decided not to approve this expenditure until they had further in-
formation on the utter. The Supt. of Public Works was requested to
get a report from Mr. Louis W. Bills relating to this matter.
The follo-�&ring estimate sheets were approved: Village Hall, $780.;
Library Treasurer, $100.; Accountant, $2700.1 salary; Inspector of
Plumbing, $1200., salary, $50., stationery; Engineering, salary of
Assistant Town Engineer, adjusted to $39.00 per week; Sewer Con-
struction, 2192000.; Sewer Maintenance, 9`12,000.; Vine Brook Drainage,
$1500. Mr. Ballard read a letter from Metcalf and Eddy to Mr. Fred- ,
erick L. Emery in regard to ih.t service would be given for the $1500.
Mr. Robertson suggested that if the Town bought the swamps that this
project is proposed to drain, he felt it would be more economical than
trying to drain that area.
It was felt that the Town Engineer should not turn out anything
for different boards, and departments until it has been approved by
the Supt. of Public Works or Board of Selectmen. In connection with
this matter it was deci:ied to bring up for future discussion._;specific
instructions regulating the work of the Engineering Department.
2r. Ballard made a brief summary of some of the items contained
in the Traffic Committee report, and stated that there should be three
large lights in front of the Memori:jl Building.
The Board granted permission to the Eaison Electric Ill. Co. and
the la. E. Tel. & Tel. Company for a joint pole location on Yeriam
Street for two poles beginning at a point approximately 200 feet
southeast of Hayes Avenue and running southeasterly.
The meeting adjourned at 12: 45 �. M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk pr tem.