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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-03-26 Z REGULAR MEETING, March 26, 1929. Ag A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Burnham, Custance , Chamberlain, Blake and Shannon were present. The Sunt. of Public Works and the Clerk were present also. State Aid The State Aid pay roll was signed in the pay roll. amount of $32.00. The following police commissions were signed: Hallie C. Blake Michael A. Pero Leonard Jellis Francis Chamberlain James H. Russell Albert A. Ross John Campbell Robert L. Smith John G. Fitzgerald Charles E. Moloy John J. Garrity Alex Ohlson Special Theodore A. Custance Thomas Griffin Police. Charles A. Manley Dennis H. Collins Mark Dodd Edward W. Taylor Albert H. Burnham William S. Scamman Charles M. Blake Clarence Shannon John Fopiano Edward J. Hogan Charles E. Hadley Letter was received fro-, Dr George H. Bigelow in which he informed the Board that he would come before them on April 2, 1929 to re- port on the health survey. He suggested that Survey the towns of Lincoln, Concord and Maynard be invited to this meeting. The Public Health Association, the Appropriation Committee , the Health Officer, tte School Committee, the Health inspector, and the Board of Health of Bedford were also invited to be present at this meeting. In regard to the application of Ashley W. Partridge for a gasoline filling station at the junction of Marrett Road and Waltham Street, ar. Custance reported that he felt the permit should be granted provided the petitioner agrees Partridge to install a granite curbing along his property, filling subject to the specifications of the Town , at station, his own expense, that the entrances be definitely defined, and that he install a granolithic sidewalk along the premises on both Waltham Street and Marrett Road. The Board voted to adopt the suggestion of Mr. Custance in regard to this matter. Notice was received from the County % Commissioners informing the Board that a hearing Northern would be held on March 27, 1929 at the State House Artery on House Bi),l #1148 in which it is proposed to 8! assess 0300,000 upon the County of Middlesex the same being l0I of the cost of the highway known as the Northern Artery. The assessment from the Town of Lexington would be approxi- mately 33 755.24. The Board requested Senator Cotton, Representative George E. Briggs , and Town Counsel, Sydney R. Wrightington, to oppose this bill. The Chairman stated that he would also attend the hearing. WLEX,ALEX, Conducted by Sydney R. Wrightington, Town Counsel. At 8 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the application of John E. Sweeney, owner of the property at the corner of North and. Adams Streets in Lexington, for permission to alter the existing buildings on his property for use WLEX. as a radio broadcasting station, and to use the said buildings as altered for the purposes of a radio broadcasting station in accordance with sections 15 and 16 of the Zoning By-Law of the Town, and Chapter 133 of the /acts of 1924. Mr. David H. Fulton, attorney, represented the petitioner and stated that the title owner 'of the property was Mr . John E. Sweeney. The land, however, was owned by the parties interested in WLEX. He stated that some time ago they were desirdus of imrroving the station, and the building which wns in use was located in Burlington and was too small. It was desirable to move into a larger building, where formerly the business of the Algonquin Spr;ngs was operated, and where Mr. Smith of this company lived. When operations were started on the repairs to the building, the Building Inspector informed them that they should have a permit for the use of this bui 'ding, and the right to make the repairs , therefore, they made this application to make the imrrovements rossible. He stated that it seemed to the WLEX broadcasting station that they were a help to the locality in the way of publicity to the Town , and that although they have been broadcasting under the name of WLEX they Wdr'e tottially located in Burlington. He stated that Mr. rote , the engineer on the 4r9ygdcastin a n w s des t sorer q estigns on an ue's ons - Fulto sta e th�he lc�, points . piece of property on which the bui ding is located was formerly, a number of years ago, a portion of the same niece of property on which the station at the present time is located, that is to say, both pieces of property whebe tbe broadcasting station is new located and the one upon which it is intended to operate were at one time in common ownership, and they are asking 88 IND for the use of the entire lot fob the same purpose as a portion of the lot mg was been used. Inasmuch as the Butterfield cottage now used is small, it is desirous of moving into larger quarters . "IlLEX has also purchased whatever rights and equip- s went the Boston Transcript Station owned, namely, station "MET, and therefore the larger building is desirable for the improvements. 'Yr. A. J. Pote stated that the "LEX station intended to equip the larger building so that they could orerpte with the WBET equipment , and the improvements will bring the station up to the standard that is re- quired by the Radio Commission. The power will be the same as that of station WEEI and will be connected by wire with the Springfield station and other stations . The new location is to be about 300 feet from the one now operated. The power is greater be twice than the power they had been,using. Externally and internally there will be no great change in the looks of the premises, except that the equipment will need re- arrangement of the rooms . Possibly the only changes will be to make two small rooms into a large room for convenience . The noise from the operation of the station is little more than that of a telephone switch- board, The only noise is that from the loud speaker. The power is furnished over the Edison Electric Ill Co. lines , which is alternated to them. The power is comparable to the power used in two electric flatirons. In the operation of the station, they would zerhaps use all of the a-rliances ordinarily used r'-,r household purposes. Dr. Shannon asked to what extent the interference would be with local procedure. Mr. Pote stated that the interference of the present station is very slight, and that the new station will be about the same. No persons appeared in opposition to the petition. Mr. Edward L. Fenn, President of the Board of Trade, presented a letter from the Board of Trade favoring the petition. The hearing was declared closed. The Board decided in favor of the petition of ',ILEX and the necessary vote will be rresented at the next meeting for the sig- natures of the Board. The Town Counsel, Sydney R. Wrightington, Ryder pigs. informed the Board that he had a consultation with Mr. Robert L Ryde^ relative to getting rid 89 of the pigs on Waltham Street, and he was unable to make any headway or to get any promise from Mr. Ryder that he would make any effort to get rid of the rigs. Mr. Ryder informed him that he felt the Town was holding him up on the sale of his land by not taking action on the Vine Brook Drainage situation, and that until this was done he Vine Brook could not sell his land for houselots, and. he Matter therefore felt that he was entitled to operate his farming industry. The Town Counsel also called attention to t°'e letters of the State Board of Health con- demning the water for swimming pool nurnoses . Swimming Pool After discussing the matters the Board decided to start proceedings end to hold a hearing at which time all of the objectors would be requested to be present together with Mr. Ryder It was decided that tkis hearing should be made a public hearing, and advertised in the local Daper. The following report was received from the Health Inspector: March 26, 1929. Chairman, Board of Selectmen Lexington Massachusetts Dear Sir: I beg to submit a report of the inspection of Health Insp. the Ryder piggery, Waltham Street, on March 19, report, Ryder 20, 23 and. 24. piggery. March 19, 8:00 A.M. I made an inspection of the premises with Mr. Freeman, the foreman, and found the following conditions : Estimated number of pigs - five hundred to six hundred . The brood house which is a two story building was in goo' condition, except that it needed. whitewashing. The troughs are me' a of wood and are in good condition. There are two feeding platforms , eighty feet by fourteen feet, and four feeding platforms, fifteen feet by ten feet. One of the large platforms h d two nil-s of garbage on it, and the foreman said it had been put there the day before, and that the pigs were fed three times a week. The other large platform had about four inches of refuse on it. The foreman said the platform was to be cleaned that day. March 20, 7:30 A.M. I went over to the place that is known as the ole' pageant grounds , and found by count over one hundred and fifty compost heaps, consisting of bones , grape fruit peels, 90 shells, manure and other refuse . These compost reaps are not covered with loam or acid phosphate. It was quite noticeable that there was an odor from these compost heaps. Some of the heaps have been there for a long time and are decayed, and others are quite fresh. These heaps are apparently tip-cart loads , and are dumped around the grounds andthrough-the woods . March 20, 4 30 P.M. I went over to the pageant grounds accompanied by Mr. Percy I. Merry of Newton, a photographer, and he took several photographs of these compost heaps . March 23, 5 30 P.M. I anrroached the piggery from the direction of Mr. Briggsq home. While I was walking aroundthrough the yards the truck arrived at the piggery and the men drove the rigs from the platform, closed the gates and dumped a truckload of garbage on the platform. The garbage was left in three piles , not covered, or in a water tight receptacle. March 24, 7:30 A.M. The garbage dumped on the platform on the night of the twenty-third was still there, and had not been stored in a tight receptacle and covered . I found a new pile of refuse and manure on the Pageant grounds . This had been dumped sometime between March 20 at 7 30 A.M. and March 24, at 7 :00 A.M. It was not covered with loam or acid phosphate. Respectfully submitted, Russell I. Prentiss Inspector. Twelve persons in the vicinity of Clematis Brook came before the Board to find out what had been done relative to cleaning the brook out. Among the persons present were Mr. Clarence Cutler, Clematis Mr Arthur Hutchinson, Mr. Swenson, Mr. A. J. Lima, Brook. Mr. James Moran, Mr. Charles B. Meek. The Board expl 'ined to the men present that the estimate of the Sunt . of Public Works for lowering tris brook an' building culverts was 6Q,i000. The Board explained that the Supt. had been asked to take the matter up with Metcalf & Eddy, engineers , to see whot they would advise. The suggestion was made by Mr. Moran and others that if the lower end of the brook was cleaned out, it would greatly facilitate matters, and if the cultert on the lower end *as lowered, it would help the situati ,n above. 91 The Board decided that the Supt. should look into the matter of dynamiting to clean out the brooks , and to find out what the ex- penditure would be. Mills Letter was received from Mr. Charles F. application. Mills in answer to the telephone report made by the Supt. of Public Works to Mr. Mills that the Board had refused his application to use his garage to rep^ir chairs. Mr. Mills requested a hearing, and after discussing the matter, inasmuch as the garage is located in an R I district under the Zoning Law, it was decided to grant him a hearing. Application for the admittance of William Videtti Videtti, 59 Bow Street, to a State Sanatorium application for tuberculosis was signed by the Board. Mr. Blske agreed to consult with the Field & Garden Club in regard to planting of trees, Tree-ti inasmuch as an appronriation of $1900. was made Plaftingi n. this yesr to make available tree planting on the Bow Street hill section. It was decided to renew compensation insurance on teachers and other town employees other than laborers and on the janitors Insurance. II exptMing April 1st, 1929 through the office of Elmer A. Lord & Co. Letter was received from Mr. Robert H. Holt in which he informed the Bosrd that he would be unable to serve on the Tercentenary Committee , inasmuch as he was serving on Tercentenary another committee for the Lexington Historical Committee. Society. It was decided to request Mr. William R. Greeley to serve on the committee, and to snggest the other four members of the Committee to the Board. Mr. Theodore. A. Custance reported that the sewer should be installed in Waltham Street Waltham St. from the present end to John E. A. Mulli"en 's Sewer. property. Report was received from the Supt. of Public Works in regard to the construction of a sewer in Waltham Street in which he recommended that the sewer be not installed in aceorda•-ce with the McClintock srd Woodfall plan, and he gave an estimate of $3960.00 as the cost of the installation. The Board therefore signed the order to be recorded in the Registry of Deeds authorizing the sewer construction. The order is as follows : 92 COM'J!'' NVEATTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 314 Middlesex, ss. Town of Lexington. WHEREAS, the Town of Lexington at a town meeting Ouly called and held on March 11, 1929 duly adopted under Article 18 of the Warrant the following vote : VOTED: That the Board of Selectmen be authorized to construct a sewer in Waltham Street from near Forest Street to John E. A. MulliUren ' s property, a distance of approximately 890 feet. VOTED by the Selectmen, acting as a Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners under the authority conferred by Statute 1897, Ch. 504 and acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto , and of votes of the Town of Lexington pursuant thereto, that a sewer be constructed in Waltham Street from the north branch of Vine Brook neer Forest Street in a southerly direction about 740 feet substantially in accordance with plan made by John T. Cosgrove, Town Engineer, dated March 26, 1929 and entitled, "Plan of Proposed Sewer in Waltham Street, Lexington, Mass , March 26 , 1929, Scale 1 inch - 40 feet, John T. Cosgrove , Town Engineer. " Betterments will be assessed for this improvement in accordance with the provisions of Charter 221 of the Acts of 1926. The area which it is expected will receive benefit or advantage other than the general advantage to the community from such improvement is described as follows : That portion of those properties on eac 'i•F side of Waltham Street. The said area comprises the several tots shown upon the pian hereinbefore referred to which are designated in the schedule hereto annexed and made a part hereof. We estimate the betterments that will be assessed upon -each pnrcel of land to be os shown in the sbaddale which is hereto annexed and merle a Hart hereof. Witness our hands at Lexington aforesaid this 26th day of March, 1929. Theodore A. stance Albert H. Burnham Selectmen Hallie C. Blake Francis Chamberlain of the Town of Clarence Shannon Lexington. 93 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss. Town of Lexington March 26, 1929. Then personally appeared the above named, Albert H Burnham, Francis Chamberlain, TI-eor?ore A. Custance , Hallie C. Blake and. Clarence Shannon and severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument and statement by them subscribed to be their free act and deed and t=ie free act and deed of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the Town of Lexington; before me, John H. Kane Notary Public A true cony of the records , Attest Helen C. Whittemore Clerk, Selectmen SCFEDULE OF ESTIMATED BETTEzMENTS REFERRED TO IN THE FOREGOING ORDER II WALTHAM STREET Owner as of April 1, 1928 Assessment. John E. A. Mulliken $130.00 George H. & Emma A. Gibson 110.00 Ada C. D Bellows 100.00 Florence H. Gilcreast 100,00 Mildred Beatty 95 00 Anna M. Lane 95.00 Stella M. & Frank P. Herrick 95.00 Charles W. Ryder 110.00 Town of Lexington 80.00 Charles W. Ryder 335.00 Eliea.beth F. McIntosh 21B.00 Mary S. H. Ellis 105.00 Charles H. Wiswell 100.00 Alice iii. Ross 135.00 Charles W. Ryder 140.00 94 Mr. Cristance reported that he conferred wits_ Robbins & Smith in regard to the in- stallation of sewers in Robbins and 'vatson Robbins & Roads , n.,nd Smith Avenue, and he was inflamed Smith sewer. that unless they sell a great many more lots than they have sold at the present time, they will not need the sewer installed this year. He reported that he had not had any conference with the East Lexington narties in regard to the installation of the sewer in that section. Invitation was received by the Board to Outlook Club. attend a meeting of the Civics Committee of the Outlook Club to be held at Buckman Tavern at 8 P.M. on April 4, 1929. It wns voted to increase the pay of Salary Charles E. Moloy, Janitor from $1620 to $1700 same to become effective April 1, 1929. Ih regard to the request of Daniel J. 01C-nnell to have his gasoline permit continued, the Sunt. of Public Works reported that unon looking at the plans of Vine and Woburn Streets no entrance between the two ' streets on the east side of the Railroad right-of-way exists O'Connell It wns decided to inform Mr. O ' Connell Permitl that if he would present a proposition to the Board to deed some of this property so that the street entrance might be possible, the Board would then consider his application. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Worms in which he stated that the residents of Coolidge Avenue, a private way, requested that something be done to put the street in passable condition. He made the Coolidge Ave, suggestion to them that the street could be scraped and a coat of crushed gravel could be applied if the property owners would guaranty the cost of $150.00. Mr. Scamman stated that the road grader owned by the Town was the only one available. Question arose as to whether this was the pruner thing for the Town to do on an unaccented street, and whether if this request is complied with numerous reouosts will be received of a similar nature. It was finally decided to do the work and charge the same to the abettors . 95 Contract was presented to the Board for block plan work. Mr. Everett N. Montague made a plan showing the section covered this year. He showdd that in addition to the cortract, he cohered additional ground all for the sum of $1500. Outline showing (look the section intended to be done in 1929 was Plan shown on the plan. The Board signed the contract to have Mr. Montague complete the section designated upon the plan during the year 1929 for the Sum of $1500, said work to be completed March 1, 1930. The Supt. of Public Works reported in regard to the removal of a tree on the Viano property, that he talued. with Mr. Viano and Mr. Viano wanted to stand only a part of the expense of removing Viano the tree and one-half the expense of the gran- tree. olithic sidewalk, but he did not think the Town was justified in charging the cost of the curbing to him. The Board informed the Supt. thet they felt the cost of the curbing should not be charged to him, but the entire charge of removing the tree should be rendered to him. The Sunt. was requested to talk with Mr. Viano again in regard to the matter. Commitment for water charges of the Water Department in the amount of $5904.69 was signed Commitment. by the Board. Mr. Chamberlain reported that he consulted with Mr. Ballard in regard to being ready to act Marshall upon the Arthur A. Marshall proposition at the Proposition. adjourned Town Meeting, April 8, 1929, and Mr. Ballard informed him that he would give 4 report to the Board previous to that time. Mr. Blake reported that he consulted with Mr. Kelloway in regard to changes at the Hayes Fountain. He stated that Mr. Kelloway was in favor of moving the bubbling fountain to approximately opposite the Hancock Congregational Church on the Common. He stated also that on the back of the fountain the suggestion was made Hayes that some weathered rock be placed there and on Fountain. the outer side perhaps some Siberian barberry. Mr. Blake suggested that if the tablet on the rear of the fountain could be moved to some other place , that the whole section could be filled in so that parties could not get up in the fountain to climb upon it. 96 IND Dr. Shannon suggested the possible arrange- ment of the extension of the 600 c. p. street lights from Meriam Street up around the Common and possibly doing away with the flood light on Hayes Fountain. It was left with the Supt. b6 place the location of street lights on the plan, and Mr. Blake agreed to again see Mr. Kelloway to get another plan showing the definite layout. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works is as follows : For week ending March 23, 1929. Highway Department. Drainage was constructed in Forest Street from Massachusetts Avenue to the present drain which runs through Jackson Court and Parker Street to Vine broo''. This was done to relieve a situation at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Forest Street. The surface was so flat that surface water remained in the gutter Supt., of continaally. Public Works ' Gravel was applied spread, and leveled in Report. Vine, Bowman, Shade, Lincoln and Burlington Streets . Surface patches were made in Woburn and Pleasan 3 -Streets , and in Massachusetts Avenue. Gutters were cleaned in several streets. Next week, it is planned to continue with the regular maintenance work. Moth Department. Gypsy moth nests were treated with creosote on Pelham Road, Percy Road, Warren Street, Washington Street, Bennington Road, Eustis Street, Bloomfield Street, Highland Avenue , Winthrop Road and Vine Brook Road. Park Department. Regular maintenance work was carried on by this department . Water Melbatenance. The water service for O 'Connor and Quinn on Highland Avenue has been completed; service has been installed for George Panton on Outlook Drive ; two men have been stencilling hydrants. Approximately three hundred feet (300' ) of 12" pipe have been laid in Massachusetts Avenue. Sewer Maintenance. The sewer service for O ' Connor and Quinn 97 on Highland Avenue has been completed. The work contemplated for the week ending April 6th is as follows: regular water and sewer maintenance • continuation of the ex- ten9inn of the 124 main in Massachusetts Avenue. It is probable that the connection at Elm Avenue with the 12" main will be made. Engineering Department. Sewer.. Elevations taken at all houses fronting proposed Waltham Street sewer. Work on record plan of same. Highways. Completed final record plan for takings on all four corners and along North and Lowell Street. Miscellaneous. Work on A. W. Partridge layout corner of Marrett Road and Waltham Street. Work on Block Plan at Dix developemtn, North Hancock Street. Work on sewer information for Metcalf & Eddy. Very truly yours , William S. Seaman Supt. of Public Works. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk.