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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-04-02 98 REGULAR MEETING APRIL 2, 1929. nig 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. end the N. E. Pole Tel. & Tel. Co. petition for joint locatddn Locations. of four poles on Hancock Avenue , westerly from Hancock Street 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 t lot at the corner -O 'Connor & 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 policiet of the Cen �Y IndemnityCo. � one covering the janitors of the various town Insurance. buildings and the other covering teachbee and all the town employees other than laborers and mechanics. Mr. Hill advised th t after being in communication with Mr. Waddell 's office, he found 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 enforci^g the law regarding the licensing of dogs , and placing the warrant in the hands of Constables to check the unlicensed dogs. 99 Letter was also received by the Board giving information of the various, cases of Dog rabies that exist. Licenses. 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 gerYeral layout is worthy of recommendation for approval. They recommended, however, that the width of School Street be determined 30 feet. Innis The Supt. of Public Works reported that matter. 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- meat, 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 desi"e 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 North Hancock St. across to East St. The Board informed the Planning Board that Proposed they would view the plan of Bast Street on Tuesday street. evening next, and advise them wh"t action they will take in regard to the matter. Two letters one dated March 26 and the other April 2, were received from the Planning Board Vine Brook in reference to the drainage of the Vine Brook Area. 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 Vaille II Avenue and Kimball Road filed by Ernest McPhee. Avenue. The Board decided to advertise a public hearing on the matter of approval of these plans . 100 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 theemtering 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 was 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. Notification of the hearing on E. E. 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 making a connecting link of sidewalk construction. 10 In this connection the Sunt. was also requested to secure bids on setting granite curbing , 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 400 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 he 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 Convenient men's and women's convenient station by Station. planting sufficient shrubbery to prem ct 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 annropriation 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. Custance 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,$700. or $400. , and he felt that would decidedly relieve the situation above. The Board authorized Mr. Custance to contract to have the brook cleaned out. It was decided to set the date of hearing ontkhe Ryder piggery complaints as of April 17, 1929 at 6 P.M. Estabrook Hall, Cary emorial Building instead of on April 11, 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 from the Supt. of Public Works calling attention to equi pent necessary for Equipment. the Building Inspector was laid over for Mr, Custance to look into the matter. 102 Commitment dor garbage sold in the 3S Commitment. amount of $340.40 was signed. Town Counsel informed the Board that no action could be taken on the petition WLEX of WLEX inasmuch as the full Boar4 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. In connection with doing work in private streets brought up by the request for gravel and the use of the road roller in Coolidge A""enue, the Town Counsel rendered an opinion that Private he could find no authority for the Town to do Street work of this nature and the Town of Arlington Work. 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 H. Bigelow together with his Assistants , Drs . Scamman, Sullivan, Foresbeck appeared before the Board at which time Dr. Bigelow 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, Visiting Nurses , Town Counsel and Health Inspector. Health Mr. Howard S. O. Nichols and Mrs . C. Survey Edward Glynn and Mr. James Stuart Smith of the School Committee , Mrs . Henry Davis Mrs. S. Randolph Kelly, and Mrs. Sydney R. Wrightington of the Public Health Association, Mr. Russell I. Prentiss, Health Inspector, Sydney R. Wrightington, Town Counsel, Mrs. Hosmer of the Board of Health of Concord, the Visiting Nurses of Lincoln and of Concord were present. Dr. Bigelow gave introductory summary 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 103 now being done by the Town. He stated that last year in the Legislature a billewas passed allowing towns to cooperate in an arrangement to get the health work of the town done by persons trained for that work. Be 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 awn 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 are at the present time, and histories of all the members of the family should be kent. Immunization of the pre-school children should be exercised against diphtheria, canvas of all the births in the town should be made and records kept so that these children could be checked as to whether they had the immunization or not. Cultures of all persons handling food should be made, and all cases of typhoid fever ffallwwed very closely. II 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 , aauses of death as set forth 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 tebercular 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 intim do truancy duty, because the type of the work was of a very opposite nature. Dr. Bigelow stated that many states have uniform health regulations relative to qurrantine. He stated that there was some value to having the 104 mg regulations uniform inasmuch as persons with a communicable disease in one town where- the here the quarantine is three weeks go to another where the quarantine is five weeks and are held there by the Board of Health, and cannot see why this should be done. In regarr to the tuberculosis cases he stated that fourteen cases were reported in Lexington last year and there were ten deaths. This was entirely too large a per-tentage inasmuch as the average should be five cases out of the active fourteen cases. He stated that the Visiting Nurse sho-ild 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 $7,248. for health work, and that some of the work done should not be charged to the Board of Health. Most of the work being done is part time 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 50fi per capita against 62fi per capita being expended at the present time. 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 ke,t= in3tbd Polibe Station'whdrd} anti-toxin would be available for physicians at any hour of the night. He stated that 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 Boara of Health in which he expressed regret thcit he would 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 althought.this change would perhaps effect him more then anyone else he desired to be recorded in favor of the proposition. Dr. Seaman asked for an expression of an opinion of the meeting as to whether they were in favor of the cooperative system or not, 105 and all those present expressed the fact that they were in favor of procedure of the Board to loolr further into the matter of cooperative system. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works is as follows: For week ending March 30, 1929. Highway s. T1-e road graders and roller were employed leveling and rolling the surfaces of the following gravel streets ; Allen Street, Supt. of Public Blossom Street, Burlington Street , East Street, Works , report. Edgewood Road, Glen Road, Grove Street , North Street, Old County Road, Robinson Road, School Street, Walnut Street , Weston Street , Westview St. and Wood Street. The 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 planred 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 department 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 e" 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 106 CD Street. C? .j. Water Location of lge main from High School to present dead end. Miscellaneous. Completed new 800 Scale Town Map with changes to date. Continued work on Lexington Sewer Study. Final agreement witr owners for layout of Marrett Gardens. Elevations at and ne.,r 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. ,