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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1928-05-29283 REGULAR MEETING, MAY 291, 1928 ' 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 Supt. of Public Works reported that Sewer B111 #1300 was changed to Bill #1327, and that very slight change was made in the two bills. Mr. Custance stated that he was informed that the bill had passed the Legislature. In regard to the application of Prendergast Brothers, it was decided to request them to come before the Board on Tuesday evening next to discuss matters pertaining to the location of a filling station at the corner of Fottler Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Amos Holman of Hill Avenue, came before the Board at the Board+s request td discuss the matter of obtaining his Slaughter License and the keeping of pigs in connection with the Slaughter License. Mr. Holman stated that most of his pigs now were in Lincoln on a place that he hires there, but he desires to have a permit to keep some pigs as he felt that he was entitled to keep them as others in the neighborhood were given permits to do so. The Board informed him that Mr. B. Connors was ready to dis- continue his piggery business in the Fall, and Mr. Holman stated that he would be willing to do so if Mr. Connors would, and the others in the neighborhood, but for the time being, he felt that he should have a permit as well as the others. He stated that he had about 34 or 40 pigs, about 15 of which were old hogs. He stated that he did not want to build any more buildings to carry on the business. The Board discussed the Holman situation, and decided to grant him a Slaughter License permit and to reqim to sign a letter that he will get rid of his pigs in Novembe* d in the meantime he will conform to the regulations of the Board of Health in regard to keeping the pigs. Q The Planning Board came before the Selectmen to discuss the matter of building lines on Massachusetts Avenue from the Arlington Line to Maple Street. Mr. Frederick L. Emery, Chairman, accompanied by C. Edward Glynn, J. Henry Duffy, members of the Board, were present as was also the Town Engineer, John T. Cosgrove. Mr. Emery explained. that the Planning Board was in sympathy with establishing a building line 30 feet on the northerly side of Mass- achusetts Avenue coming from Arlington Heights. The reason for this is that it would be rather aoaemgtly proposition if at any future date the avenue was widened to the building line, the widening on the other side of the street would cast a great deal owing to ' the high embankment which exists at present, and it would have to be cut away to allow for the widening. He explained that the Planning Board considered this proposition for the last two years, and even during that time several buildings hove been built within the pro- posed building line, and he feels that a line should be established without delay, inasmuch as several more places may be built within 284 the 30 feet if action is not taken. For this reason it will make the taking much more costly to the Town especially if the street is ever widened. He felt that we should look ahead for at least twenty-five or fifty years hence as the section of Massachusetts Avenue at this point will probably be all a business section, and the town would hesitate to widen owing to the tremendous ex- pense. He felt that if this was done in the near future, the cost would not be great. The Board considered the plan made by the Engineer, and voted to express their approval of the plan for establishing a building line on Massachusetts Avenue from the Arlington Line to Maple Street, and also state that they would be interested to have further infor- mation as to the probably cost of laying down such building line before the matter is presented to the Town for action. Hearing was declared open upon the application of the Standard Oil Co. of N. Y. for permission to install an additional gasoline tank at 169 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Daniel T. Kenney, 3 Curve Street, came before the Board to protest against the permit being granted for the gasoline tank, inasmuch as he was annoyed by the odor of gasoline and oil. He'stated that he lived at 3 Curve Street which adjoins the property of the 1 Standard Oil Co. of N. Y. Mr. C. B. Thorborn, representative of the Standard Oil Co. of N. Y. was present and explained that there was no odor from the underground tank and there was also no danger of fire hazard from the tank. He stated that the only odor thgb might come would be from crankcase greast.' He also stated that some of the neighbors had taken the liberty of dumping upon their property, and they tried to stop this, ' and probably this might be objectionable, but he felt that this had been stopped and the place was cleaned up. The Board voted to grant the Standard Oil Co. of N. Y. per- mission to install the additional gasoline tank of 1,000. gallons at 169 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Frank P. Reynolds. Sr., and son, Frank P. Reynolds, Jr., came before the Board. Mr. Reynolds, Sr., requested that he be given a permit to continue keeping about 50 pigs, inasmuch as he and his son had now separated in business, and his son has gone to Lincoln, and he intends to remain in Lexington, and since he had been in the business of raising pigs for about 40 years in Lexington, 20 years at the present place, he felt that he should be allowed to continue the bus- iness in a small way. The Board informed Mr. Reynolds that they would visit his pre- mises on Tuesday evening next, June 5, 1928 at 7 P. M. and after view- ing the premises they would be in a position to advise him whether they would consider a permit or not. The Board viewed the rules and regulations of the Wire Inspector and several grammatical changes were suggested. It was also decided to ask the Wire Inspector to come before the Board at their next meeting so that questions might be asked him as to the meaning of the regulations which he had drawn up. Russell I. Prentiss, Health Inspector, came before the Board, ' and gave his report on the pigspermits that were pending.' --He stated that Rosa A. Wilson had a pig in a shed but she had no place to keep more than that. It was decided to notify Mrs. 'Wilson that her spplication for a 2815 pig permit would not be granted. The Inspector reported that Herbert L. Wellington had complied with all the recommendations in regard to whitewashing the buildings and fencing the place off as he suggested. ' The Board therefore voted to grant Mr. Wellington a permit to keep 100 pigs upon his premises. The Inspector reportdd that C. E. Dalrymplets place was all cleaned up and in good condition and the garbage was no* being kept in the covered box that he collects the same in, also that the place had been whitewashed and the pens were filled with shavings. It was therefore voted to grant Mr. Dalrymple a permit to keep 20 pigs. The Inspector reported that Swenson Brothers had not yet com- plied with his suggestions, and it was voted to lay this application upon the table. The Inspector reported having visited the Ryder Stock Farm on Maple Street on May 70 1928, and found approximately 900 pigs kept there. He also reported,having visited the Kimball Farm where Ryder Stock Farm is no* keeping 24 sows and approximately 131 sAckers, and found that the garbage was kept out of doors without being covered. It was decided to lay upon the table the application of Ryder Stock Farm for a permit to keep pigs at 40 Maple Street, and also their application for permit to keep pigs at 117 Waltham Street. Inasmuch as Mr. Ryder did not appear before the Board this evening at his own request to be heard on the matter of pigs, it was decided to invite him to come before them next Tuesday evening, if he so desires, to disnuss the matter of pig permits. Letter was received from Mr. Edward P. Merriam in which he requested the use of the 48 fita#e flags and the flags of the Colonies to be used about the Common and Monument on June 11, 1928, when the British Congragationalists, numbering 1200 wM1 come to Lexington to be entertained, at the Hancock Congregational Church. - It was voted to have the flags displayed on that day and the Supt. of Public Works was requested to look after the matter. The report of the Supt. of Public Works was received as follows: May 29, 1928 Highway Department. Resurfacing of Watertown Street has been completed except that it will be necessary to add sand to the surface to take up the tar after action of the sun on warm days. Follen Road has been sealed. Pleasant Street is yet to be completed owing to the wet weather. Various streets have been patched and gutters have been cleaned. Drain at the corner of Meriam Street and Edgewood Road is nearly completed. About 15 feet of drain and one manhole is to be completed. Next week we are prepared to continUie the work on Massachusetts ' Avenue and Cedar Street. Water Construction. 220 feet of 8" main laid in Independence Avenue. 83 Water Maintenance. Seven water sereices completed and one started. \! Sewer Construction. ' 220 feet of sewer pipe laid in Independence Avenue. Sewer completed in Audubon Road and about 15 feet in Lincoln Street. Sewer Maintenance. One service completed. Moth Department. The department has been occupied destroying tent caterpillar nests on the following streets: Cedar Street, Lowell Street, Concord Avenue, Hill Street, Lincoln Street, Maple Street, Shade Street and Weston Street. Park Department. Regular maintenance work and construction of walk on Bedford Street side of Common carried on. Yours very truly, William S. Scamman. Supt. of Public Works. The Board called attention to the fact that the Water Dept. `hasbeen installing water mains in Smith Avenue the past week, and the information was not contained in the Supt.'s report. The report of the Supt. of Public Works on curbing was received. Be gave the cost of putting in curbing at the intersection of streets on Massachusetts Avenue and various streets between Parrett Road and Oak Street, total cost of which was $1455,50. The Board voted to authorize the Supt. to proceed with the work pf placing the curbiin accordance with his letter. Letter was received from the Supt. attaching photograph of safety device installed by the A. G. A. Co. This would be installed as an advertising matter and to be maintained without any charge to the Town. The Company was to install two of these signs on Waltham St. on either side of Marrett Road. The Board decided to lay the matter upon the table. The Supt. was requested in the future to send blanks for sewer connections to all abuttors upon streets where the sewer is to be laid very soon after the work has been started. Letter was received from the Edison Electric Ill. Co, enclosing applications for change of poles and service on Massachusetts ' Avenue at the Cary I'aemorial Building and Town Office Building. Application called for relocating two underground lamp posts and one new lamp post at a cost of $477.00. Letter was received from the Town Accountant calling the Board's Letter of the Tax Collector was read in regard to having his office at the New Town Office Building separated from the other offices by a ground glass partition. He stated that he felt that this was the original plan and that he still thought it should be carried out for his protection It was decided that after we move into the Building, if Mr. Earle still desires to have theptition, it can easily be placed there. attention to the fact that a loan should be made of $175,000. The Board approved of borrowing this money. ' Mr. Herbert Kellawayâ–ºs plan for changing over the condi#ion of the Hayes Fountain was laid on the table for one week. The Town Engineer was present and presented a written report of the drain which runs from a pond bordered by Lake Street and flows down through land of Helen C. Whittemore on to Massachusetts Avenue and down through the Robinson property. The Engineer re- ported that this drain must be maintained to carry off the water from an area of about five acres of land adjacent which sheds to a low point. Suggestion was made that the engineer make fubther study of the drainage problem tp see if by any chance the water shed could be conveyed down Dedar Street through Columbus Street and thereby diverting the water so that it would not go down Massachusetts Avenue through the Robinson property. Letter of the Tax Collector was read in regard to having his office at the New Town Office Building separated from the other offices by a ground glass partition. He stated that he felt that this was the original plan and that he still thought it should be carried out for his protection It was decided that after we move into the Building, if Mr. Earle still desires to have theptition, it can easily be placed there. It was decided to hold a special hearing for consideration of acceptance of highways such as York Street, prospect Hill Road, ' and Simonds Road. Mr. Ballard presented pictures of tables and chairs with the prices of same attained from Francis H. Bacon and Irving Casson. It was left with the Supt. of Public Works to dispose of the two clocks in the Town Hall by placing them in East Lexington, Emerson Hall, and Library, Stone Building, and placing the painted picture now in Cary Hall in Emerson Hall. it was also decided that the best half of the settees &n the Town Hall should be sent to the Memorial Building and placed in the storage liall, and the best part of the banquet tables should also be placed in the storage room and the balance of the settees and tables should be sold. The best chairs in the Masonic Room and . Legion Room should also be saved and stored in the Memorial Building. The meeting adjourned at 12:25 A. M. A true record, Attest: _ Clerk.