HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-02-07 33
SPECIAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 7, 1929
111
special meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held in Estabrook Hall at 8 ;00 P.M. Messrs .
Burnham, Ballard, Custance, Chamberlain, and
Robertson were present. The Sunt. of Public Works
and the Jerk were also present. Town Counsel,
Sydney R. Wrightington, conducting the hearing
on behalf of the Board of Selectmen.
Hearing was declared omen upon the application
of the County Commissioners of Middlesex County
Tuberculosis for permission to locate a tuberculosis hospital within
hospital the limits of the Town of Lexington, in the area
westerly of Walnut Street, northerly of Trapelo Road,
Waltham, and southerly of Concord Avenue, Lexington.
Mr. Lowell A. Mayberry, attorney for County
Commissioners , made a statement to the meeting on
behalf of the County Commissioners outlining the
facts that occurred in bringing about the establish-
ment of the proposition by the proposition by the
Legislature, and stating that the Commissioners viewed
different locations and finally came to ire decision
that the location in Waltham and Lexington would be
very centrally located, high elevation, near adequate
supply of water and entrance to sewer. He also
stated. that inasmuch as the location is in the one
family district, in accordance with the Zoning law
of the Town the Commissioners did not desire to
take the land and expend any money before they
appeal to the Selectmen, and it is for this reason
that the hearing was held under the Zoning Laws of
the Town of Lexington, and under authority of Chapter 123
of the Acts of 1924.
Mr. Walter C. Wardwell of the County Commissioners,
made some statements informing the meeting that the
Board of Health of the State desired that the County
of Middlesex should erect a tuberculosis hospital
for the care of tuberculosis patients, and inasmuch
as the site seemed suitable after visiting a great
many nlaces, they desired to locate upon this plot
of land. Mr. Wardwell gave other detailed testimony
as to the necessity of selecting this site .
Mr. Custance of the Board of Selectmen asked
Mr. Wardwell where they expected to get their water
from, and they stated that they expected to get it
from the City of Waltham.
Dr. Remick of the State Dept. of Health stated
that he had investigated the location of the proposed
hospital and while it had not been officially be-
fore him, he felt that the location would be
approved by the State Dept. of Healt1 , inasmuch as
it had all the facilities necessary for a tubercu-
losis hospital. Dr. Remick also stated t''at there
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was no danger from a tuberculosis hospital
being located in the district , inasmuch
Jig
as t e hospit.,l is up-to-date in every way.
Mr. Francis Chamberlain asked if the
patients would be permitted to mingle with
the people of the Town and if there would
be any danger of the disease spreading,
and Dr. Remick explained that there would be
no danger ns it was found that nearly 95%
of the people travel by automobile today
rather than by public conveyance . He stated
that he did not know just how the hospital
wouldbe conducted in Middlesex County, but
he did know that it would be donducted
in 'd!d best ,p6eatb e war to eliminate enI
(Unger-6V communichting the disease . He
stated that many of the people traveling today
are tubercular although people traveling with
them are not aware of the fact.
Mr. Nathaniel I . Bowditch of the County
Commissioners , spoke of the extreme expense in
connection with the building of the Beterans '
Hospital in Bedford, and stated that the County
did not want to have expenses of this kindfor
a drainage system, and they felt that in thets
location they would have adequate drainage
in addition to the water supply and sewer.
Mr . Ritchie, Architect, showed pictures
of buildings similar to those which are to
be erected, also a panoramic view giving the
proposedlocation of the group of buildings
on the premises, andthe outline of the terri-
tory to be taken, consisting of approximately
200 acres , one-half of which is in Lexington,
andonei.half in Waltham, the frontage to be
on Trapelo Road , Waltham. The pictures showed
the administration building, and two small
buildings , nurses ' home, and help quarters.
The house on Trapelo Road is to be the
Superintendent 's home , and the farm buildings
which are now located there are to be used.
The present owners of the property to be taven
for the location are Shea Brothers , and the
Runkle property.
In response to Mr. Ballard 's request to
show the dividing line of the Town of Lexington
and City 'or ""al them in connection with the
properfy,ex n}tn -waa presented showing where
the line is located.
Although about thirty persons were
present at the hearing, no persons appeared
to object to the petition of the County
Commissioners, and no one asked any further
questions of the meeting, it was therefore
3
declared adjourned at 8 30 P.M.
The meeting adjourned to the Selectmen's
Room, Town Office Building, Sydney R. Wrightington,
Town Counsel meeting with the Board.
The Boarddecided to lay the matter of the
hearing on the tuberculosis hospital on the
table for one week befo-e making a decision
and requested the Town Counsel to prepare
the necessary vote for them in connection
with the matter.
Letter was received from the Town Accountant
Town giving the accounts which were credited to General
Accountant 's Revenue and Surplus Account and those which were
letter held in separate accounts.
Pasteurization of Milk License was granted.
Linense to F. F. Robinson & Son, 80 Hancock Street.
The Board decided to lay unon the table
the Building Inspector 's renort on the garage of
Pasquale Moretti, 80 Bow Street.
P. Moretti. The Board decided to inform the Building
Inspector that hereafter he must give no verbal
permits for moving or erecting buildings , he must
have allermits in writing.
�- g.
Rates, Car It was also decided to lay upon the table
ytherates theMemorial Hall.
question of fora .
Memorial Bldg. It was decided that the Pine Room, however,
was not to be rented.
The following amounts were approved for 1929
expenditures :
-Accounts.
s
Selectmen $6125.00
Summit Rd. 1910.00
Baker Ave. 800.15
Bennett Ave. 230.00
Memorial Day 250.00
Insurance 8500.00
Town Report 850.00
Middlesex Co. Extension Ser. $300.00
Unclassified 300.00
Reserve Fm d 2500.00
Applications were received for sewer in Chase
Avenue, Tarbell Avenue, Oak Street, Charles Street,
Sewer ap- and Baker Avenue.
plications. It was decided to insert an article in the
warrant, requesting authority to install sewers in
these streets.
The Supt. of Public Works presented the Board
with an estimate of $3,000 for widening. School Street
to a width of 40 feet taking in the additional 7
-+- - _ ,
36
feet which Mr. Innis is desirous of deeding to =
the Town.
The Board decided to inform Mr. Innis that
they would welcome the proposition of acceptance
School St. of a 7 foot strip of land and request that he
have his engineer get in touch with the Town
Engineer so that the lines may be established
for the width of 40 feet.
Letter was received from Mr. Felix Viano
owner of the Colonial Garage , 400 Mass . Avenue,
in which he requested that two of the three
trees that are in front of the garage be taken
Viano-trees . down, inasmuch as they interfere with the entrance
to the garage.
After discussing the matter, it was left
with Mr. Custance to act upon.
Schedule of the exhibits of the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts was received from Mr. Richard A. Mellen, Scout
Executive.
Inasmuch as Leonard Jellis, Ward Street, has
again called the attention of the Board to the
drainage Situation on Ward Street, the Board
Ward Street decided to request the Supt. of Public Works to
drainage. endeavor to complete the drainage on Ward Street
this next year.
Letter was received from the Town Counsel
informing the Board that Mr. Robert S. Sturtevant
was endeavoring to secure group life insurance
for the members of the Firemen's Relief Association,
and in order to do so the employer must sign the
application for the life insurance.
Group life : r. Wrightington advised the Board that in
insurance his opini"n the Selectmen, as officials, had no
right to sign any application whereby the Town
might be called upon to pay the premium for life
insurance.
Mr. Wrightingten called attention to the fact
that the Supt. of Public Works had signed the
application and that he did not believe that
the Town should become a party to any such application.
Mr. James G. Robertson brought up the fact that
the widow of Elinus Hadley of Fern Street was
having a hard time to- get along without funds
for her family and woddered if a special act of
Elinus the Legislature could be made to help her pay
Hadley's her bills , inasmuch as her husband was a call
widow. fireman and was on duty when the accident
occurred.
-- The Town Counsel was requested to look into
the matter, and advise the Board in regard to
an article in the warrant relating to this matter.
It was decided to request the Town Accountant
to make a statement giving the financial
J1
status of Westview Cemetery set up in such
a manner ao that the Board may be able to
Westview ascertain what the income has been from
Cemetery. the cemetery each year that the Board may
ascertain, if possible, when the cemetery
may be self-supporting.
Circular relatibe to books on design of
sewers was presented by 'r. Ballard, and it
Design of was decided that the Supt. of public Works
sewers should order sone of the books to add to '
the information for his department.
Schedule of insurance granted to the
Insurance different brokers was presented to the Board.
schedule
In regard to the report of Metcalf &
Eddy, it Was decided that the report should be
printed in the ToWn Report, and request was
Metcalf & Eddy made that the Medford Mercury get in touch
report. With Metcalf & Eddy to find out just what
they would advise in regard to reducing the
maps.
The meeting adjourned at 11;40 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
J