HomeMy WebLinkAbout1928-03-20 21-
REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 20, 1928.
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen Was held at the Selectmen' s
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Office at 7 30 P. l :Messrs Burnham, Custance; Ballard, Robertson, and
Chamberlain were present The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk- were also
present.
,ir Frederick J. Spencer appeared before the Board together with John
Russell and John Sweeney whom the Assessors proposed to hire as Assistant
Assesgor•s to assist Mr. Spencer, and desired to have them appointed so they
could start work on April I, 1928
after discussion on the matter the Board voted to appoint Mr. Frederick
J. Spencer as assistant Assessor for the year ending larch 31, 1929, also
John Russell and John Sweeney as Assistant Assessors for such time as the
Assessors desire their services
Mr Edward W. Taylor and Mr. Galt F. Parsons of the Committee on
Housing the Fire Alarm System, appeared before the Board and presented a
written report including their recommendations. The Board and the Committee
discussed the advisability as to whether it would bd proper for them to
report at the Town Meeting on Monday night, and als if they reported, could
an appropriation for the purpose of changing over the fire al. rm system be
secured. It appears that some arrangement can be made with Rubin & Seligman
in regard to the housing of the appar tus in the sheds in the rear of th-a
Town Hall, but the final arrangements for this were not made by the Committee,
and it was felt that perhaps the Selectmen should be the ones to make the
final arrangements with Rubin & Seligman.
The Board decided that they would think the matter over and after taking
the matter up with Rubin & Seligman they would be in a position to tell
whether they should report on Monday night.
Sydney R. Wrightington came before the Board in regard to the McCaffrey
case, which, he inforted the Board, was decided by Judge Hammond against
the town. He stated that Mr. McCaffrey was now in a position to bring another
suit for damages against the town, and the Town must pay the cost of Court
which in this case would be perhaps around $100. If the case-is carried to the
Supreme Court it might be more, but it might be possible that if they carry
the case to the Supreme Court, it might ward off Daniel J. O'Connell,
Attorney for Mr McCaffrey, from entering a suit for damages. He also stated
that the entry of the suit for damages must be made within six years and this
time was nearly up.
After discussing the matter, the Board decided to authorize the Town
Counsel to make an appeal and bring the matter before the Supreme Court.
The Board discussed the matter of Waltham Street damages. Mr. Custance
informed the Board that Mr Harry M. Aldrich would settle for $1,000. more
than the $3,000. award by the County Commissioners. This $1,000, to cover
the cost of changes to be made to the post Office entrance caused by the taking
of the 71 feet of land. Mr. Custance informed the Board that he felt that
$910. was sufficient and that the changes could be made for this amount.
After acme discji ion it was decided to offer to the Town the vote
designated by Mr Wrightington appropriating $3910, but inathe meantime Mr.
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Custance was to endeavor to see if he could get Er. Aldrich additional
estimates on the plans for the work to be done from the northerly side
of the Post Office Building adjacent to Waltham Street.
Article 23 of the Warrant was then discussed, and Mr. Ballard pre-
sented two written motions, first, one for indefinite postponement of
the article , and another one x -r action. He stated that he felt that
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this as the bet' er .f_ly to han1 e this article in re &ra to the __
it of the in the limit - f the town, in-smuch Fs he felt
th:.t it was up to the citizens to give the Board some i.iea as to C7
wh"t they desire to have done rather than for the Board to take �+
the initiative to put these men out of business After some
discussion, it was decided to offer tae vote as suggested by Mr
Ballard with Some slight ch. nges as made by the Town Counsel
It was voted to appoint Galen Russell as a member of the 19th
of April Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation
of William F. Young.
The Supt. of Public Works recommended the extension of a
water main in Outlook Drive for a distance of 125 feet at a cost of
approximately $400.00 to extend water to the home of E. W. Lawson
He stated that a guarantee had been filed to cover this ectension
The Board voted to authorize the Superintendent to have this main
extended.
A notice of the change in water rates to be sent out with the
water bills was approved by the Board.
Report was received from the Chief of Police in regard to the
action of the Police Department during the time that the restraint
order was being involved on dogs. The Board decided to give the
same to the local paper to be published.
State Aid return fox the month of March 1928 was signed in the
amount of $32 00
Permission was granted to the Edison Electric Ill. Co. and the
New E Tel. & Tel Co. , to seat^one pole and remove one pole on
Fallen Road.
Permission was granted to the Middlesex & Boston St. Rwy. Co. ,
and the New E Tel. & Tel. Co. , and the Edison Electric _.Iil. Co.
to transfer ownership of 67 poles on Waltham Street, betwmn Concord
Avenue and Middle Street to the Edis.on Electric Ill. Co. and the
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co.
Resignation of the School Dentist, Dr. Louis F. Mongeon, was
received and also the suggestion of the Dental Clinic Committee of the
name of Dr. E. E Morrill of Harding Road, Lexington, to take the place
of Dr. Mongeon.
The Board voted to aipoint Dr. Morrill to the position of School
Dentist.
Application for bonds for the Town Traasur.er and Town Clerk were
signed by the Board, satisfactory statement having been received from
the Town Accountant that he had examined the accounts, nd stating that
they appeared to be correct.
Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which he gave a
financial statement and advised the borrowing of $150,000 temporary loan
to carry the Town tr,r��uah the month of June, 1928.
The Board discusse0 the ma.tter as to whether or not interest savin
could be made on this amount; and it was finally decided to authorize
the Treasurer to borrow money in anticipation of revenue, and the Chair-
is to talk with the Town Accountant to see if any change could be made
in the amount or in the date of the notes to s ve interet 217
charges .
In regard to the letter from the Field and Garden Club, it was
decided to reply that the Board had no funds to pay the bill ior
the amount of $149 E5, and D:rthermore no previous arrangement had
been made with the Fie i* and Garden Club to pay any bill for expenses
incurred, and for this rer °on they did not feel that they could
make any nnyment The last expenditure by the Town to the Field and
Garden Club wa made in 1917 when $173 47 was paid for one-half the
cost of -..odding and cutting grass
It W"F decided to hold a meeting of the Town Office Building
committee on Wednesday evening, March 28, 1928, and the regular
meeting of the Selectmen on Thursday evening, March 29, 1928.
Meeting adjourned at 11 35 P. M.
A true record, Attest:
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Clerk.