HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-04-0298
REGULAR MEETING. APRIL 2, 1929.
Circular letter was received from the Dept.
of Animal Industry relative to enforcing the
law regarding the licensing of dogs, and
placing the warrant in the hands of Constables
to check the unlicensed dogs.
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A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office
Building at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Burnham, Blake,
Custance, and Shannon were present. The Supt.
of Public works and the Clerk were also present.
The Edison Electric Ill. Co. and the N. E.
Pole
Tel. & Tela Co. petition for.joint locate-
Locations.
poles
of fouroles on Hancock Avenue, westerly from
Hancock was granted by the Board.
Permission was granted to the N. E. Tel.
& Tel. Co. to remove five poles on Massachusetts
Avenue from Marrett Road northerly.
Hearing was declared open at 8 P.M.upon
the application of O'Connor & Quinn for per-
mission to erect a garage on a lot at the corner
�010onnor &
of Bloomfield Street and Highland Avenue.
Quiet garage.
Mr. Theodore A. Custance conducted the
hearing and informed the Board that no persons
objected, and it was therefore voted to grant
permission to erect -and maintain the garage.
Letter was received from Willard C. Hill,
of Elmer A Lord & Co. in which he enclosed
two policie't of the Centgry Co.
,Indemnity
one covering the janitors of the various town
Insurance.
buildings, and the other covering teach6re
and all the town employees other than lbborers
and mechanics.
Mr. Hill advised th^t after being in
communication with Mr. Waddell's office, he fould
that it was illegal for the town to pay a bill
for insurance covering other than laborers and
mechanics inasmuch as it was considered that the
town was purchasing personal accident insurance
which is not permitted. He stated that as far
as the company was concerned that they would
pay the bill for claims.
The matter was referred to the Town Counsel
to take up with Mr. Hill and report his advice
in regard to the matter.
Carpenter
Certificate for the admittance of George
certificate.
Carpenter of 11 Shirley street to a tuberculosis
hospital was signed by the Board.
Circular letter was received from the Dept.
of Animal Industry relative to enforcing the
law regarding the licensing of dogs, and
placing the warrant in the hands of Constables
to check the unlicensed dogs.
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Letter was also received by the Board
giving information of the various cases of
rabies that exist.
It was decided to request the Town Clerk
to insert notices in the local paper in regard
to the payment of licenses.
Letter was received from the Planning
Board regarding the development on School Street
of Robert L. Innis. They advised that the general
layout is worthy of recommendation for approval.
They recommended, however, that the width of
School Street be determined 60 feet.
The Supt. of Public Works reported that
he viewed School Street with the engineer,
and in making a layout of 50 feet if the entire
15 Beet was taken on the side of the new develop.
ment, several trees of value would have to
be removed, the Board felt, therefore, that this
could not be done, and that if at any future
time they desire to establish the width of
50 feet that the other side of the street could
be widened.
Mr. Innis was notified that as soon as
he filed.the proper plans of the entire develop-
ment, the Board will advertise a public hearing.
Mr. Innis was also notified to get into
communication with Mr; Custance so that the matter
of securing a deed of the 7 foot strip of land
along School Street -could be discussed.
Letter was received from the Planning, Board
asking the status of the cross connection ex.
tending from forth Hancock St, across.to East St.
The Board informed the Planning Board thet
they would view the plan of Bast Street on Tuesday
evening next, and advise them"whr.t action they
will take.in regard to the matter.
Two letters one dated March 26andthe other
April 2, were received from the Planning Board
in reference to the drainage of the Vine Brook
area and the layout of streets over the property,
and asking when sufficient engineering data can
be made for the study of this project.
The Board informed the Planning Board that
as soon as the sewer work is accomplished for
Metcalf & Eddy the Engineering Department will
'endeavor to secure the information for them.
Letter was received from the Planning
Board in which they state that they recommend the
approval of the Board of Survey plans of Vaille
Avenue and Kimball Road filed by Ernest McPhee.
The 'Board decided to advertise a public
hearing on the matter of approval of these plans.
Dog
Licenses.
Innis
matter.
Proposed
street.
Vine Brook
Area.
Vaille
Avenue.
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Letter was received from the Planning
Board relative to the layout of W. R. Rice
of the Baker Estate on Massachusetts Avenue.
The letter stated that the Planning Board
voted to recommend that the plan be not
approved on account of the steep grade
in proximity to Massachusetts Avenue for
Rice th6mtering street, on account of lack of
Layout. continuity of the street for other develop-
ment uses, and on account of the general
effect of the present status of the
neighborhood.
The Board decided to inform Mr. Rice
of the decision of the Planning Board, and
to state that they were in accord with the
decision of that Board.
An abatement of the sewer assessment
of lots 603, 604, and 605 of Harry L.
Coolidge Coolidge on Massachusetts Avenue in the amount
sewer of $116:98.` *as signed by the'Board, inasmuch
abatement. as the property of Mr. Coolidge has been pur-
chased by other parties.
A commitment covering this amount was
made to Harry L. Coolidge $49.67, S. J. Dolan
.$17.49, and Frank J. Clare $42.45.
Commitment for water charges in the
Commitment. amount of $6432.92 was signed.
Notification was sent to the State Dept.
Animal of Animal Industry relative to the qualifi-
Inspector. cation of George A. Warner as Slaughtering
Inspector.
Not1fication of the hearing on
B. B. I. Co. additional stock issue of the Edison Electric
hearing. Ill. Co, hearing being held under date of
April 17, 1929 at State House, Rm. 166 was
received. -
Application for granolithic sidewalks-'
in front of the property at 1668 Mass. Avenue
and 1792 Mass. Avenue to Muzzey Street was
Sidewalks. received from Felix Viano.
The Supt. of Public Works was requested
to secure estimates on the construction of''
sidewalks so that the Board would be ready
to request bids.
The Supt. of Public Works was also
requested to secure the cooperation of owners
of property on Massachusetts Avenue from
the Munroe School to the High School for
a strip of granolithic sidewalk to be laid
in front of these properties waking a connecting
link of sidewalk construction.
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In this connection the Sunt. was also
requested to secure bids on setting
granit6''ctrbing, he having reported that
granite curbing would cost $1.00 per foot
to lay.
Mr. Custance informed the Board that
he felt curbing could be laid for from
409 to 500 per foot by men who were in
this line of work, and that a saving could
be made.
In regard to the laying of granite curb,
the Board voted to install granite curbing on
the Massachusetts Avenue side of the Common
starting at the Fountain and running around
to Elm Avenue. It was felt that this should
to done inasmuch as the work around the Fauntain
was to be done this year. The Supt. was there-
fore authorized to purchase the curbing to be
used around the Common.
It was voted to approve the suggestion
of Mr. Blake to divide the entrances to the Convenienk
men►s and women's convenient station by Station.
planting sufficient shrubbery to prdeet the
view to the entrance of each.
In regard to the Stuart -Marshall
' proposition which is to be taken up at the
Town Meeting on Monday evening, �t was voted Stuart -Marshall.
to make a direct arnropriation of $15,000.
of the sum of $30,000. to carry out the project
so that bonds would only have to be issued
for the $15,000.
Mr. Cua tance reported that he had viewed
Clematis Brook and found that the brook had
not been cleaned out for some time and had Clematis Brook..
almost grown in and the brook could not flow.
He stated that if the Board would authorize
him, that he would have the brook cleaned out
for $300. or $400., and he felt that would
decidedly relieve the situation above.
The Board authorized Mr. Custanee to
contract to have the brook cleaned out.
It was decided to set the date of hearing
onithe Ryder piggery complaints as of tpril 17
1929 at 8 P.M. Estabrook Hall, Cary emorial
Building instead of on April 110 1929 as Ryder piggery.
previously decided Notice of the hearing
was to be inserted in the local: paper and to
be sent to all those who objected to the odors
' of the piggery.
Letter frog the Supt. of Public Works
calling attention to equipment necessary for Equipment,
the Building Inspector was laid over for
Mr. Oustance to look into the matter.
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Commitment for garbage sold in the
Commitment. amount of $340.40 was signed.
Town Counsel informed the Board that ,
no action could be taken on the petition
WLEX of 11LRX inasmuch as the full Board must
be present to take action.
Request was received from theAmerican
American Legion for permission to extend a banner
Legion across Massachusetts Avenue advertising
Banner, their dance.
The Board informed them that they
did not wish to establish a precedent by
granting permission for this banner.
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In connection with doing work in private
streets brought up by the request for gravel and
tr'e use of the road roller in Coolidge Ar7enue,
Private
the Town Counsel rendered an opinion that
he could find no authority for the Town to do
Street
work of this nature and the Town of Arlington
Wank.
has discontinued doing any work of this kind,
and he would recommend that the Town of
Lexington should not do any work of this
nature.
Charge,
It was decided to charge $10. for each
for Zoning
person desiring to have an alteration of
change.
the Zoning By, -law, the same to be collected
when the application is made for the change.
Dr, George B. Bigelow together with
his Assistants, Drs. Scamman, Sullivan,
Foresbeck appeared before the Board at which
higelow
time Dr. talked on the Health Survey
made by the State Dept. of Health,
Invitations had been extended to the
Towns of Lincoln, Concord, Bedford, and
Maynard, also the Lexington Public Health
Association officials, School Committee,.
Health Officer, Visitdng Nurses, Town
Counsel and Health Inspector.
Health
Mr. Howard S. O. Bichols and Mrs. C.
Survey
Edward Glynn and Mr. James Stuart Smith of
the School Committee, Henry
Mrs. Davis Mrs,
S. Randolph. Kelly, and Mrs. Sydney R. *rightington
of the Public Health Association, Mr, Russell
I, Prentiss, Health Inspector, Sydney R.
Wrightington, Town Counsel, Bars. Hosmer of
the Board of Health of Concord, the Visiting
Nurses of Lincoln and of Concord were present.
Dr. Bigelow gave introductory sum*rary
of what he prpposed in regard to health
matters, and stated that he would deal only
with the things that should be done in regard
to health matters rather than making statements
in regard to what is being done in health matters
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now being done by the Town. He stated that
last year in the Legislature a billswas passed
allowing towns to cooperate in an arrangement
to get the health work of the town done ,by persons
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trained for that work. He stated that formerly*
there was an arrangement in Wellesley of a
cooperative system of Boards of Health but
the towns included in that system felt there
was sufficient work in their ewn towns, so
that they have now separated. Professor Hilliard
was instrumental in securing the passage of
this act in the Legislature inasmuch as Wellesley
and Weston are interested at the present time in a
cooperative system. Dr. Bigelow mentioned the
epidemic in the western part of the state, and
stated that it was not for the town to await a
calamity of this kind before organizing. He
stated that the com-unicable diseases should
be followed up more closely than they ars, at
Vie present time, and histories of all the
members of the family should be kept. Immunization
of the pre-school children should be exercised
against diphtheria, canvas of all the births
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in the town should be made and records kept so
that these children could be checlked as to whether
they had the immunization or not. Cultures
of all persons handling food should be made, and
all cases of typhoid fever ff&ll wed very closely.
Deaths from communicable diseases should be
checked and the remaining members of the family
should be watched for the spread of the diseases.
The vital statistics should include more
Information as to the death rate, the birth rate,
manses of death as set fort}, by the international
classification of causes of death, and this form
of statistics should replace the list of names
of persons born and the deaths and marriages that
now appear in the town report.
The nursing on tuberculosis cases sho-ld be
increased, and a clinic should he established.
Children who are inclined to be t*xbercular should
be given special privileges in the schools and an
opportunity to rest. Parents should be invited to
examinations at the schools. This, of course, would
mean more time for the examination, but it is felt
that the results when the interest of the parents
is secured, are well worth the additional time.
The School Department now have 2100 persons in the
care of the School Nurse. 2,000 children is the
average that should be cared for by the one nurse.
He felt that this work should be carried on by the
School Nurse if she were relieved of truancy duty.
He felt that the School Nurse could not do her duty
in houses where she will be called into do
truancy duty, because the type of the work was of
a very opposite nsture.
Dr. Bigelow stated that many states have
uniform health regulations relative to quvrantine.
He stated that there was some value to having the
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regulations uniform inasmuch as persona with
a communicable disease in one town wh(bre-!
the quarantine is three weeks go to another
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where the quarantine is five weeks and are
held there by the Board of Health, and
cannot see why this should be done.
In regard to the tuberculosis cases he
stated tihat fourteen cases were ren_orted in
Lexington last ye!r and there were ten deaths.
This was entirely too large a percentage
inasmuch as the average should be five cases oiit
of the active fourteen eases. He stated that
the visiting Nurse sho-ld not be asked to do what
is sometimes called Social Service work, but
Is really poor relief work, inasmuch as her
time should be devoted to nursing.
He stated that it appeared that Lexington
is rather extravagant in the expenditure of
7,249. for health work, and thnt some of the
work done should not be charged to the Board
of Health. Most of the work being done is
parttime service., He felt that a cooperative
board of health system with one physician
trained for this work, a nurse and inspector
and a secretary, the work for a community of
10,000 persons could be done at a cost of
$10,000, or 505e per capita against 62� per
capita being expended at the present time.
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Dr. Bigelow went on to inform the meeting
how the spread of typhoid is carried from
Canada to the States, and why adequate health
facilities should be established for the
control of the spread of these diseases. He
stated that an ice box should be ket)t`iA--thd
foliie:>Station"wherelanti-toxin would be
available for physicians at any hour of the
night. He stated th9t other communities
are interested in this health unit, but none
have been formed as yet under the new act
of the Legislature.
Mr. Burnham informed the meeting that
a letter had been received from Mr. Richerdc
K. Conant of the Lincoln Boare' of Health
in which he expressed regret that he Vould
not be present, but perhaps at a future date
conference could be had in regard to this
matter.
Mr. Prentiss, Health and Milk Inspector
of the Town, stated that althoughtthia
change would perhaps effect him more then
anyone else he desired to be recorded in '
favor of the proposition.
Dr. Scamman caked for an expression of
an opinion of the meeting as to whether they
were in favor of the cooperative system or not.,
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and. all those present expressed the fact that
they were in favor of procedure of the Board
to looIr further into the matter of cooperative
system.
The weekly report of the Supt. of Public
Works is as follows:
For week ending March 301, 1929.
Highways.
T' -:e road graders and roller were employed
leveling and rolling the surfaces of the
following gravel streets; Allen Street,
Blossom Street, Burlington Street, East Street,
Edgewood Road, Glen Road, Grove Street, North
Street, Old County Road, Robinson Road, School
Street, Walnut Street, Weston Street, Westview
and Wood Street.
in
Supt. of Public
Works' report.
St.
Ine surfaces of many streets were patched.
Drainage at Massachusetts Avenue and Forest
Street completed.
Snow fence has been removed and stored.
Next week it is planned to continue the
regular maintenance work and the preparing of
the street surfaces for tar or oil application.
Moth.
Gypsy moth nests were treated with creosote
on Bedford Street, Ash Street, North Hancock
Street, Reed Street, Ward Street, and:Maple Street.
Park.
Regular maintenance work carried on. The
regular maintenance work preparation of grounds
and repairs to equipment will occupy the
r-?epartment during the next week.
Water Maintenance.
Approximately 3001 of 12" pipe has been laid
in Massachusetts Avenue from the High School
northerly.
At Elm Avenue the 12" main has been connected
with the f#" At Meriam Street the 12" main
has been connected with the 8"; at Woburn St.,
a 6" main has been laid on the southerly side of
the triangle, with gate so that at some future date
it may be connected with the 6" main in Woburn Street.
The work contemplated for the week ending
April 13th is as follows: continuation of the laying
of the 12" main; water and sewer services, etc.
Engineering.
Sewer.
Completed and filed sewer record plan of Waltham
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Street,
Water
Location of 120 main from High School to
present dead end.
Miscellaneous.
Completed new 800 Scale Town Map with
changes_ to date.
Continued work on Lexington Sewer Studer.
Final agreement with owners for layout
of Marrett Gardens.
Elevations at and ner Baker property
opposite Munroe School for development study.
(Development not recommended by Planning Board.)
Very truly yours,
William S. Scamman
Supt. of Public Works.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.
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