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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1928-05-15 REGULAR MEETING, MAY 15, 1928 0 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Office at 7 :30 P. M. Messrs. Burnham, Custance, Ballard, Robertson, and Chamberlain were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. The records were approved. The N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. was granted permission to relocate one pole on Waltham Street from Forest Street southwesterly, ap- proximstely 249 feet. It was voted to insert an article in the warrant for the next Town Meeting to request an appropriation of $1500. for the continuance of the Block Plan. It was voted to approve the application of Clarence G. Eaton of 75 Reed Street, Lexington, to peddle groceries in the town. In regard to the proposal of Metcalf & Eddy to furnish information in regard to Vine Brook Drainage, the Board voted to approve the con- tract as submitted by the Planning Board. It was decided to request Mr. Custance to see Mr. Herbert J. Kellaway, landscape architect, about the drawing of a plan for al, change in the planting and sidewalks about the Haves Fountain. he Board felt that expenditure for this should not perhaps exceed $50.00 The letter of A. C. Kilgour in regard to abatement of sewer assessment was laid upon the table for one week. License was signed for the Boston & Maine Transportation Company to operate their busses i_n Lexington, with a non-stop service from Lexington Center to Kendall Square, or Park Square. It was voted to lay the proposal of Mr. xockwell C. Tenney to buy a part of Belfry Hill, on the table for one week. Application of Prendergast Brothers for gasoline filling station to be located at the corner of Fottler Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue was laidon the table for one week. Letter was received from the Planning Board asking that the Board have a joint meeting with them so that they may discuss the matter of Building Lines on Massachusetts Avenue. It was decided to set the date for the meeting as of May 29, 1928 at 8 P. M. The Board signed the permit of Rufus W. Blake, 446 Massachusetts Avenue, to erect a sign over the sidewalk, he having signed the state- ment that he would remove same upon notice from the Board if the Board shouldso decide to have these signs in the town removed. First Class Motor Vehicle Licenses were granted to Frank H., Carter, to do business at 119 Mass . Avenue, and Frederick K. Joinson, to do business at 35 Bedford Street. 273 Letter was received from the Town Counsel advising the Board that he felt the Building Inspector should proceed against Frank W. Perkins for operating an automobile repair shop at 26 Parker Street on property of Louisa G. T. Bean, inasmuch as from the information he had obtained, the building had not been used as a public automobile repair shop prior to the acceptance of the zoning law. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works giving estimate of the installation of a 12" water main on Mass. Avenue from Waltham Street to Clarke Street, 950 feet as of $4400. , and an 8" main in Mass. Avenue and Bedford Street from Clarke Street to Elm Avenue, 550 feet as of $2475. It was decidedto lay this matter on the table for one month. The Boarddiscussed the matter of installagion of additional water mains in Mass . Avenue from Oak Street to Marrett Road, previous to the construction of Mass. Avenue in that section, and it was decided not to install any additional water dains this year before reconstruction. Letter was received from the Mass . rept . of Public 'forks informing the Board that request would have to be made from the Board before they can advertise for bids on the construction of Mass. Avenue. ' The Board, therefore, voted to request the Mass. Dept. of Public Works to advertise for bids for the consgruction of Mass. Avenue from Oak Street to Marrett Road, andto provide the Board with plan and specifications and to advise them when the bids will be received. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in which he stated that when the increase in water rates was made there was no provision made for a person having one ftncet' and as the rate had been already increased January 1, 1928 from : 2,00 to $3.00 for single faucet, he felt that it was a hardship for the person having one faucet to again be increased to $3.75, and when they water used is about 1,000 cubic feet. He suggested that they be charged $3.00 a quarter with 30fl per 100 cu. ft. for such ex- cess use. The Board felt that inasmuch as there are only 120 of these services in town, that they should accept the recom- mendation of the Supt. of Public Works, and have him put a rubber stamp on the bills to the effect of a "Special One Faucet Rate, " and allow the rate as suggested. It was also felt that in the future there will not be as many of these services . Letter was received from the Supt . of Public Works in regard to the salary of Helen E. Ready, Clerk of the Assessor's Department) He stated that in the assessor 's budget $1300, was allowed for salary and the Assessors felt that she sheuld have an increase in pay to that amount. The matter was laid on the table awaiting such time as the request of the Assessor 's Department could be looked up. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received as follows May 14, 1928 Highway Department Work of scarifying, shaping, and. grading Watertown Street was continued through the week, also, a short piece on Pleasant 271 r7 Street. Surfacing material will be applied next week. Two men and a team were occupied patching various streets. Some few weeks ago, Mr. Willard C. Hill requested that Massachusetts Avenue in front of his property opposite Cedar Street should be brought to a proper grade. Consequently, this work commenced this week by the employment of a steam shovel to take out the high bank in front of this property. Several trees were removed, and as soon as the steam shovel has completed that pant of the work, filling will be brought ins, and that part of the roadbrought to a proper grade. This work was ordered to be done by the County Commissioners in 1907, when a decree was issued ordering a layout andspecific repairs in Massachusetts Avenue from Lincoln Street to Marrett Road. When the Board of Selectmen in 1908 did this work, they exhausted the money, and asked the County Commissioners to approve what was done My understanding is that the County Commissioners did not approve the stopping of the work where it was , but expected that this work would be done at a later date. At the time the decree was issued, the County appropriated 3500.00 towards this work. While in this vicinity, it seems well to do some work on Cedar Street at its junction with Massachusetts Avenue, Mrs. Whittemore, who owns property at the corner of Cedar Street and Massachusetts Avenue, will deed seven (7 ) feet on Cedar Street, bringing Cedar Street at this point to a width of 40 feet. She will also give sufficient to round the corner on her side of the street, and Anthony Ross, on the opposite side of the street, will also give enough land to round his corner. This will make the approach into Cedar Street much safer than it is at the present time; and, if, as we expect, the automobile traffic increases at this corner, this will make a much safer traffic condition. Parks With the usual maintenance work, was added the work of constructing a walk and grass plot on the Bedford Street side on the Common. This work is still under way. The Supt. was given assistance from the Highway Department. Tree Warden Department Trees on Massachusetts Avenue opposite Dedar Street were removed on account of cutting away the bank and bringing the steeet to a pro- per width. Also, three elm trees were set out in Massachusetts Avenue near the old historic well at the Bashian farm. This was done because there are some old trees in the street at this place, andfrom their appearance, it would seem that they will not last a great many years. Water Construction. 200 feet of water main completed in Shade Street. One hydrant set in Spring Street and one in Shade Street. 50 feet of water main laid in Independence Avenue. 275 "later Maintenance. Two services have been installed. Sewer Construction 170 feet of sewer laid in Lincoln Street and Audubon Road. En- countered considerable ledge in this work. 50 feet of sewer laid in Independence Avenue . Sewer Maintenance. Three sewer services have been laid during the past week. Brooks. Two men have been cleaning the brooks for the past week. Yours very truly, William S. Scamman Supt. of Public Works. The Supt. of Public Works was requested to make arrangements to have the fire alarm apparatus removedfrom the Town Hall building into the Town Hall sheds, in the rear , inasmuch as the agreement of Rubin & Seligman has been returned from the Town Counsel with his approval. Report was made of the work being done on Mass . Avenue about opposite Cedar Street and on Cedar Street. The work of widening the avenue to the line designated by the County is now being accomplished. The Board approved the work now being done on Cedar Street to widen same. It was voted, however, that no work be done on changing the water course which goes through the Whittemore place at the corner of Mass. Avenue and is then carried down Mass. Ave. until a complete study is made of the situation. John F. Tibbetts , Building Inspector, came before the Board in regard to Arley A. Burgess . He stated that Mr. Burgess had built a stone crusher and elevator and operates same on his premises at the corner of Voburn St . and Webb Street, and that this is a violation of the building law. The Board decided to hold a private hearing for Mr. Burgess on Tuesday evening next at 8 P. M. at which time they invited the Town Counsel t6 be present. In regard to bills for materials furnished for different de- partments , it was decided to request the Bupt. of Public Works to advertise for bids on all material and equipment which would exceed $1,000. in accordance with the by—laws of the town. He was also requested to furnish the Board with a form of proposal for request of bids at this time, andto find out what other towns do in regard to obtaining prices on equipment to be used throughout the sfiason. e was also requested to furnish the Board with a list of materials of the town which in the course of the year will exceed $1,000. sa, The Board aprrovethe purchase of the following equipment for the new Town office Building to be ordered by committee in charge of the enuipment, 1"ir Ballard and Mr. Chamberlain. 2 - 81 tables 3 - 51 tables 4 - D. flat desks 60 x 48 6 - " " " 60 x 34 6 - " " " 60 x 34 Type 7 - Swivel desk chairs 5 - Stenographers chairs 3 - Royal ypewriters. Letter was received from 1r. Willard C. Hill in regard to the changing over of the schedule of insurance to include the new town office building and Cary Memorial Building, stating that he would get in touch frith the Town Counsel to secure the proper release for the insurance when the change is to be wade. The Board took the following action on permits to keep swine: Voted to decline the aprlication of Ryder Stock Farm, Inc. to keep pigs on the Kimball Farm on Concord. Avenue . Voted to lay on the table the application of Ryder Stock Farm, Inc. to keep 1,000. swine at 40 Maple Street, andto keep 1,000 swine at 117 Waltham Street. Voted to grant a permit to Jennie E. Cady of Greenwood Street to keep 35 swine. Voted to refuse a permit to John M. Miskell to keep 400 swine, on Concord Avenue. Voted to refuse permit to Frank P. Reynolds , Sr , Mass. Avenue and School Street, to keep 100 swine. Voted to refuse permit to George J. Bai]ey, East Street to keep 50 swine, inasmuch as Mr. Bailey has no swine upon the premises. Voted to request the Health Inspector, Mr. Russell I. Prentiss, to re-inspect the premises of the following to see if they have carried out his recommendations: Michael Carroll, Est. , Allen Street application for 50 swine. Swenson Brothers , Allen Street, application for 100 swine. August Young, Laconia Street, application for 200 swine. Herbert L. Wellington, Mass. Ave. , application for 100 swine. It was voted to inform Mr. Bartholomew Connors , 656 Mass. Avenue that his verbal request made to the Board at the regular meeting on May 8, 1928 for extension of time for keeping pigs until November 1, 1928 so that he might have time to transfer his pigs to Lincoln and build brood houses on his premises there, was discussed by the Board, and it was voted to grant him permission to continue keeping pigs not later than November 1, 1928, provided he complies with the regulations of the Board of Health in the meantime. 277 It was decided to call the attention of the Chief of Police to the traffic situation in front of the Catholic Church as complaint was received that cars were being parked two deep in front of the hydrant on the thoroughfare. He was requested to see that this was corrected. It was decided to request the State to paint signs on the state highway at the junction of Waltham Street and Marrett Road warning traffic of the intersecting street , andto also paint Dangerous Curve sign on Summer Street near Lowell Street. It was also voted to request the Supt. of Public Works to take up with the American Gas Accumulator Co.tbe location of the traffic beacon at the junction of Woburn and Lowell Streets, inasmuch as it does not appear thA.t this beacon is in the proper location. It was also suggested that when some work is being done in the vicinity that part of the north banking off Lowell Street be removed near the junction of Maple and Lowell Streets when it can be arranged, so that traffic may be able to sight the intersection of streets more readily. The Board discussed the traffic report of the committee appointed by the Board on traffic and decided to request the Supt. of Public Works to carry out the following recommendations of the traffic committee by painting stop signs on the street at several places, namely, as follows Bow Street at its intersection with Mass. Avenue. Hancock Street at its intersection with Hayes Avenue. Also to remove the shade from the electric light at that point. Grant Street at its intersection with Mass. Avenue. Locust Avenue at its intersection with Mass. Avenue. Independence Avenue at its intersection with Mass. Avenue . Elm Avenue at its intersection with Bedford Street. It was also voted to request the Supt. of Public Works to see that the sign similar to the sign used on the State highways that was to be erected on Bedford Street near Elm Avenue be erected immediately. It was also voted that the Supt. of Public Works be requested to install a traffic beacon at Concord Avenue and "Ialtham Street in the center of the highway. The meeting adjourned at 11 45 P. M. A true record, Attest 1 / d&eik.