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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-02-13 REGULAR MEETING, 1JtsxUARY 13, 1929. vaLm mg A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Burnham, Ballard, Chamberlain, Custance and Robertson were present . The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Joseph Buckley & John J. McCormack of the firm of Buckley & McCormack, came before the Board to register complaint relative to the issuance of plumbing permits to jouneyman plumbers not having a master's license, and to plumbers using another master plumber's lieenseto obtain a permit. The Plumbing Inspector was also present., and it was found that there was not sufficient definite information presented in order to answer the questions asked. Buckley & McCormack presented letter showing the fact that Robert Watt did not hold a master Buckley & plumber's license, whereas the Plumbing Inspector McCormack stated that he was not informed by the Civil Service Department that he had not renewed his license. They presented ampy of the State Law whereby it was their understanding that all plumbers doing business should have a master plumber's license, and that no journeyman plumber could hire a master plumber for the purpose of doing the same business. The Board finally decided to request Buckley & McCormack to put their complaint in writing, and the Board would endeavor to furnish them with such information as they desire. Rearing was declared open upon the petition of the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to maintain ten poles on Baker Avenue from Butler Avenue north- easterly jointly with the Edison Electric Ill. Co . Mr. Francis J. Toye, Mr. Clarence Mao hee, and Mr. J. L. Van Steenburgh, appeared to ask why the petition came in for the poles. They stated no objectiin, but they did state that the poles had Pole lo- been thereffor some time, and that they did not cation. know why the petition was asked for in this location. Baker Ave. It was explained to them that the street has now become a public highway, and for that reason the petition was made. Application was received from the N. R. Tel. le Tel. Co. for permission to remove forty poles Pole lo- on Waltham Street from Marrett Road to Massachusetts cation. Avenue . Waltham St. It was decided to grant permission to the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to remove the poles . L _ 9 Application was received from the residents of Waltham Street from Forest Street to house of John E. A. Mulliken, asking that a sewer be placed in Waltham Street. The Board decided to insert an article in the warrant asking for this sewer, but in the meantime the Supt. of Public Works was Waltham St, requested to study the plan of Metcalf & Eddy sewer and McClintock and Woodfall relative to sewers, and to give the cost of the extension, and to just what point it can be made and to give any suggestions that he and the Town Engineer might have. Metcalf & It was also requested that Metcalf & Eddy Eddy report. proposal on the Sewer Survey be presented before the Board on next Tuesday evening. Town of Letter was received from the Town Counsel Arlington relative to highway betterment assessment on highway Cliffe Avenue against the Town of Arlington. assessment. The Town Counsel was instructed to proceed to make the best possible arrangement with the Town of Awlington. Application was received from the Battle Green Chapter, Order of DeMolay, for the DeMolay use of the Cary Memorial Hall on April 5, 1929 request. for the installation of officers and in which no charge is to made for admission. It was decided to grant the Educational rate for the use of the hall. Mr. Frederick L. Emery came before the Board to express to the Board the position of the Planning Board relative to a tuberculosis hospital being located in Lexington. He read a letter prepared by the Planning Board to the Selectmen expressing their views, and he stated that a certain stigma went with the location of a hospital in a town, and he felt it was similar to the situation of the Veteran's Hospital that was intended should be located in Lexington, and was opposed by the residents of the town when it was intedded to be erected. He stated that since the hospital was built that it has been an expense and nuisance to the town and he felt that a location of a tuberculosis hospital might bring an expense to the town, inasmuch as the land taken, approximately 200 acres, could be assessed, but the buildings erected upon the land could not be taxed. The number of families employed on the premises would probably have children who would attend the local schools and be additional expensesto the School Dept. He stated that if the hospital were to be located in Lexington, he felt that some arrangement could be made whereby the name might be called the Middlesex Sanatorium and not have Lexington 40 8OHnected with the name in any way, and if the main entrance to the hospital could be definitely •'�. located on the Waltham side, inasmuch as he understood from the County Commissioners that the main entrance was intended to be from II the Waltham side, inasmuch as he understood from the County Commissioners that the main entrance was intended to be from the Walnut Tuberculosis Street end. He suggested that the better hospital. way to decide the matter is to insert an article in the warrant, so that the townspeople might have an opportunity to vote upon the question and see if they desire to have a hospital in Lexington. Proposal of Mr. Robert L. Ryder was read in which he stated that he would consider taking 41.00 per square foot for the 10,777 square feet fronting on Massachusetts Avenue, and 200 per square foot for the balance of the area within this layout which fronts on Two proposed Vine Brook Road. For that portion which belongs streets. to Mr. Robert L. Ryder in the sixty foot layout from Waltham Street to Vine Brook Road; namely, 29,100 square feet, he is willing to take 100 per square foot. The balance of this layout which belongs to his brother; namely, 15,150 square feet he values at 201 per square foot as it fronts on the highway, namely, Vine Brook Road, whereas Mr. Robert L. Ryder's does not. This is in connection with the Board of Survey layouts made by the Board in 1916 and 1918 over land of Mr. Ryder. Mr. Frederick L. Emery suggested that he felt the layout of the Board of Survey should not be disturbed until such time as the Planning Board have an opportunity to decide upon the layout of streets, taking in the Vine Brook area. He stated that the Committee on Review of the Zoning Law was taking all the time of the Planning Board for work and hearings relative to the Zoning Law, and the Plannigg Board would not have an opportunity to work upon the matter until after March 1st, 1929. He felt that Mr. Ryder would be willing to wait until such time assthe Board took action. The Board after discussing the matter, decided to notify Mr. Ryder that the matter would be taken up at a later date as soon as the Planning Board has an opportunity to study the entire layout. Dr. Clarence Shannon, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee , came before the Board in reference to discussing the Fire Department Fire Dept. matters with the Board of Selectmen, inasmuch as the entire report of the investigation of the Fire and Water Departments was referred to the Appropriation Committee for a report to the Town Meeting. 41 It was dedided that the Appropriation Committee should meet with the Selectmen at a later date. Mr. John H. Devine, Chairman of the Committee on the Review of the Zoning Laws , came before the Board to get an expression of opinion as to how the Board of Selectmen feet in regard to their intended recommendation for a Board of Appeals. a stated that in the various hearings held, it appeared that the person having an appeal on the Zoning Law felt that they were not justly treated. ne stated that in changing over the Zoning Law it appears that there will be a great many changes for requests of appeal and therefore a Board of Appeals should be established to hear the requests of property owners. His committee felt that Board of the Zoard^bf B6lpet enttaadwenttrely too much to Appeals occupy their time to burden them with the position of Board of Appeals. For this reason, they suggested that ona member of the Board of Bpteetaen serve on the Board of Appeals, one member of the Planning goad, and three citizens from three diferent districts. he Board did not seem to object to this arrangement. He also asked whether or not the Board felt that the depth of 75 feet front lots should be 100 feet. The expression of opinion of the Board was that 6,000 feet area would be sufficient and that the depth of 100 feet would be a hardship. Letter was received from Mrs. Henry C. Davis, President of the Public Health Association, wherein Public Health she set forth the activities of that association. Association. The Board voted to approve $500. for use of the Public Health Association for the year 1929 and to write a letter to Mrs. Davis expressing their appreciation of her letter in which she gave the information. Upon being informed that the Public Health Association would be given *500. the Appropriation Committee felt that public funds should not be ap- propriated for any private association, and asked for the opinion of the Town Counsel upon same. The Chairman of the Board was authorized to pro- ceed to present bill #18 being an Act to enable the Town of Lexington to have representative form of Rep. Form of Town Government with but two slight changes suggested. Mr. Robertson suggested that the Supt. of Public Town Governmentgg p sorks find out from other towns how they proceed in regard to assessing the cost of curbing, also doing the concrete work on driveways and ramps. This arose out of the discussion relative to placing curbing on Massachusetts Avenue adjacent to the IITown property. The Supt. of Public Works was also requested sr Dix Lumber to look into the matter of the Dix Lumber Company Co. sign. sign placed on the State Road. L7 � pmT State Aid pay state Aid pay roll in the amount of $32.00 roll. was signed by the Board. Letter was received from the Town Counsel giving his opinion relative to amount of money that could be paid to the widow of Elinus Hadley. It appears that she is now receiving money from a State Firemen's Fund, and it does not appear that the Town of Lexington can be Elinus Hadley-180f much assistance to her unless they assist *idww. her from the Welfare Department. It was left with Mr Burnham to take up with Mr. Edward W. Taylor, his co-trustee of the Lexington Firemen's Fund, and to find out how much is left in the Firemen's Fund for Mrs. Hadley, and how much assistance she is receiving from this fund. Application was received from the residents Coolidge Ave . of Coolidge Avenue fpr the acceptance of same as far as the E. C. ''now property. The matter was laid upon the table until such time as the estimate of the cost of con- struction is received from the Town Engineer. It was decided to hold a special meeting on Feb. 14, 1929 to discuss the estimates. For the week ending February 9, 1929. Highway Department. The Department was occupied with the work of cutting back the high bank and widening a dangerous corner in Grove Street, cleaning catch-basins, patching street surfaces , and sanding slippery sidewalks. Neat week 'the regular maintenance work will be continued. Moth Department. Gypsy moth nests were treated with creosote on Lincoln Street and on the Playgrounds. Park Department. Regular maintenance work carried on. Engineering Department. Highways Made suggestions on plan for a 50 foot layout of Hill Street. V Miscellaneous. Staked out Massachusetts Avenue curve opposite Grant Street and also its curved intersection with the proposed 100 foot street along Vine Brook. Work on 800 scale Town Map. Visited all places along Massachusetts Avenue fvom Arlington to Lincoln and gave out new street numbers. Work on Block Plan. Supt. of Public Water Department. Works Report. Painting hydrants, painting and repairing equip- ment, and reading meters in the first section. Regular routine work is planned for the weal ending February 23, 1929. Very truly yours, William S. Scamman Supt. of Public Works Meeting adjourned at 11 :50 P.M. A true record, Attest: r Clerk.