HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-04-23179
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
April 23, 1929
A regular meeting of the Board: of Selectmen of.-
Lexington
f -Lexington was held at the Town -Office Building,
Selectments Roo3*, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Burnham,
Cvstanee, Blake, and Shannon were present. The Suppt.
of Public Works and the Clerk_were also present.
The following licenges were signed:
Bowling Alley License
C. E. Barnaby & Xz-.V. Davis 1804 Mass. Avenue.
Licenses Common Victuallerts License.
-Mike & Christy Hallos ,1761 Mass, Avenue
Ice Cream License
AhMh ey W Part*idge Marrett Rd. & Waltham St.
The license for Mike & Christy Hallos was to
be held until suchtime as the third letter of recom-
mendation was presented.
Application for pig permits were received from
the following:
Ryders Stock Farm Inc., to keep 1500 pigs at
the rear of 40 Maple Street, and 750 pigs at 117
Waltham Street, Ernest K..Ballard of Wood Street,
and John Sullivan of 2407 Massachusetts Avenue.
Application to keep three goats was received from
Ryder Carl Hauck, Barbell Street.
permit. The Board laid the'.applications_on the table
with the exception of the Ryders-Stook Farm Inc.
The Board voted to grant a permit to the Ryders Stock
Farm Inc. to 'keep 15013 pigs at the rear_ of 40 Maple
Street,
The Board discussed the matter of application of
Ryders Stock Farm Inc. to keep 750 pigs at 117 Waltham
Street and 4ecided to seek the advice of the ,Town Caunsel
before acting upon this application.
It was decided to notify Elmer A. Lord & Co.
Insurance to renew blanket insurance in the amountof SE3,OOO
expiring May 21, '1929.
Public Request was received from the Public Health Association
Health Assoe.that they be allowed the,use of Estabrook Hall May
7 at the charity rate. The Board voted to grant the
use of the hall at that rate.
Request was received -from the..Middlesea.County .
Extension Service that they be granted the use of
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Cary Memorial Hall on June " from 10:30 AmM.
to 4 P.M; inasmuch as the Town makes an ap-
propriation for the support of the Middlesex
County Extension Service, it was decided to
give them the free use of the hall as the meeting
is open to the public.
Letter was received from the_,Plumbing
Inspector in. which he answered the complaints
of Buckley & McCormack in connection with plumbing
matters,
The Board thought_ that the letter was
entirely satisfactory and directed that a copy
of it be sent to Buckley & McCormack.
Middlesex
County Exten.
Service,
Letter to
Buckley &
McCormack.
Letter was received from the Town Counsel
stating that in his opinion anyonecould kill Unlicensed dogs,
an unlicensed dog at any time, and that the
Board had the right to direct the Police
Department to kill all dogs unlicensed and uncollared.
The Board therefore sent instructions to
the Police Department to kill all un1_icens,ed dogs
found at large.
Letter was received by Mr. CuEtnce from
Misses Frances & Sarah Robinson living on Stratham
Road, asking that a pipe be placed on Massa-
ehus etts Avenue underground to keep surface
water drainage from running onto their premises
as it has done for many years.
This matter was turned .over tbethe Supt.
of Public Works so that he could arrange to
secure information as to the cost of doing this
eons true ti on work.
State Aid.payroll in the amount of $32.00 '
was approved by the Board,
Notice of a hearing at room 481, State
House at 10 A.M., May 62 1929 was received
whereby the subject of distribution of the cost
of building the Cottage Farm Bridge be dis-
uussed, It was contemplated distributing the cost
over the district Contained in the Metropolitan
Parks, Water and Sewerage District.
It was decided to request the Senator and
Representative to see that the Town was not
charged with expense on this Vooject at the hearing.
Letter was received from the United States
Flag Association asking that someone meet.the
children of that organization in Lexington on
June 3, at which time some of.the children who .
have been given a trip will be present.
It was ' decided to request -Dr.Fred S. Piper
to represent the Selectmen to -meet these.children
at that time.
Underground
pipe, Misses
Robinson.
State Aid
payroll.
Cottage Farm
Bridge.
U. S.. Flag
Association.
Bids,
atone.
Company #1: #2 Nut Pea
crushed Coleman Bros. 52,50 2.50 2.50
Gaffey Z_ 1.85 1.85 2.20
General Crushed
Letter was received from__the Town Counsel
Stone Co.
relative to the copy of letter sent him from
Malden. Crushed
Eugene J. Viano asking for information relati've
Board: of
to the status of the. Board _of. Survey layout
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Burveg'
of Rbveet from 'Massachusetts Avenue to Vine Brook
Layout,
Road, in which Mr. Wrightington stated that he
E.J..Viano.
did not believe that his duty as Town Counsel
gravel stone per
required that he give information to outsiders
yd.
other than town officers. This.infornation they
.should., secure. from _their own _attorne_y.
Relocation,
Notice was received of a hearing at
Waltham St.
the County Commissioners' office on May 24,
1929 at 10 A.M. on relocation of Waltham ..Street.
$7000 for/'
Letter was received from the County Commissioners
Mass. Ave. ✓
in which they stated that they would allow the Town
construction.
$7000 toward the construction of Massachusetts
Avenue from Waltham Street to Elm .Avenue. ..
Notice was received from George E. Briggs, ,
Ltd. Town Gov.
Representative, in which he stated that the
bill signed.
bill authorizing the Town of Lexington to e8-
tablish° a limited fom of town government was
signed by the Governor on April 11, 1929.
Letter was received from John Moakley in
Electrical
which he gave estimate of doing the.electrical
work, Stone
work in the. Stone Building as of $180.
Building.
Mr. Custance stated that he would make
request for bid from, another contractor and
would turn the. matter over to the Library.Trustees.
Copy of letter written to the Public
Letter,
Health'' Association by Dr. George He Bigelow was
Geo. Bigelow.
received by the _Board.
This matter was referred to Dr. Clarence
Shannon.
Swimming Pool
Letter was received frcm the Town Engineer
Drainage
giving information in regard to the swimming
pool drainage.
The Supt.of Public Works reported the
following bids on crushed stone.
Bids,
atone.
Company #1: #2 Nut Pea
crushed Coleman Bros. 52,50 2.50 2.50
Gaffey Z_ 1.85 1.85 2.20
General Crushed
Stone Co.
2.15
Malden. Crushed
-
Stone Co.
1.975
Mass. Broken Stone
Co.:
7
1.90
Rowe Cont. Co.
2.50
RHStevens„ Crushed
gravel stone per
cu.
yd.
2.00
Dus t
1.20
2.15 2.15`
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1.975 1.975 2.475 1.975
1.90 2.30 2.85
2.50 2,50 2% Gaff cash.
10 days
2.00 2.'75
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The Board decided to accept the bid of
R. H. Stevens for gravel and the bid of John
A. Gaffey for crushed stone and to purchase the
rough gravel from R. H. Stevens for construction
work. The following arebids for Sand & Gravel.
Specifications
Price.
Fine screened brick sand
$1.40
cu.
vd.
Coarde tar sand
1.40
Clean washed .Pea stone
2.75
#2 Washed stone 50% crushed
2.00
"
#1 n n 75%
2.00
n
n
Crushed bank gravel (nothing
60% stone larger than
1.60
"
n
2" spread any
depth
Rough bank gravel, 60% stone of
good binding material
1.25
"
n
Bids for
Sand & Gravel*
Charge for unloading in piles to
be done by highway employees .35 n n
At 8 P.M., as requested,, C. Eliot 'Hadley
and W. A. Rice came before the -Board, several
editorials having occurred in the paperedited
by Mr. Hadley where insinuations were made relative
to acts of the Selectmen. The Board felt that Mr.
Hadley should be questioned as to the reasons for
writing these editorials, especially those con-
tained in the paper under date of bril 12.
Mr. Hadley stated that he was the editor of
the Lexington Times -Minute Plan, his wife Mrs,
Hadley was secretary and he was also treasurer.
He stated that the paper was owned by the Hadley
Press, a Massachusetts Corporation, and he and
Mrs. Hadley and .john G... Raed. ,were directors _of the
corporation. Pyr. W. A. Bice' is his _adverti'sing man.
Cohn G. Reed is the Assistant Editor of the paper.
The Town Counsel, S. R. Wrightington, asked
Mr. Hadley whether he was the 'editor of the_ editorial
that occurred in the paper under.date of April 12.
Mr. Hadley stated that he did_not write it; that
it was written by the regular force. When_. asked
definitely whom it was written.by,-.he. stated that
Mr. W. A. Rice wrote_it.
When asked whether.it was written under his
supervision or direction. -he stated that it was
submitted to him by Mr. Rice, and he admitted. that
he had seen it before it was printed.
Asked whether he had any evidence that would
substantiatethe innuendos in the paper under date
of April 12 he did not care to answer. Asked
whether he had any evidence of th6se statements
that he made, the Board would like to hear the,
evidence. Asked by the Town Counsel whether or not
they considered. a statement in the form of a question
eliminated any responsibility of their statements,
Mr. Rice answered that he felt it did, and the Town
Counsel informed him that he was entirely wrong.
Hadley hearing
dkked again whether he._ has any evidence - to
substantiate the innuendos.in_the-paragraph.. he*
stated that Mr. Wrightington would have to
look to Mr. Rice to get the information.
Mr. Rice stated that he wrote. the editorial
and that he had the information. Mr. Rice•was
asked whether or not he was requested by anyone
to write the information contained in the para-
graph., and 'he stated "no". Asked whether Mr.
Rice had written previous editorials, he stated
that he did and could do -so if he wished;'
that it was a Part of his duty. Asked how he was
paid for this information, he stated that it was
his own affair. Asked whether he desired to state',
any evidence of his statements printed in the
Raper of April 12, he stated that he did not,.
not a word."
Mr. Rice questioned whether the letter that
Mr. Wrightington wrote was written in proper foist
and asked the definition of "allegation:". Mr.
Rice stated that -if the letter ha d.bee n..written in
the proper language, that he -might _ have..been.willing
to answer questions.
He stated that he ob ject&d to the question
of allegation.
Mr. Wrightington stated that inasmuch as
Mr. Hadley and Mr. Rice did not care to answer
any of the questions, he would assume the hearing
was at an end.
The Board considered the editorials further
and decided that they would await the next week's
issue of the paper to see that editorials would be
contained therein before making any decision in.re-
gard to same.
Mr. Daniel J. O'Connell. came_. before the Board
Healey Claim with,Mr. Dennis J. Healey to talk over his claim.
'Hearing, Mi?. O'Connell requested, a hearing to discuss the
matter of a sidewalk along the property of Mr.
Healey. He stated that when Massachusetts_ Avenue
was rebuilt along Mr. Healey's premises.. the c
Crete sidewalk that was in front of his premises
was destroyed and was promised by the Supt. of
Public Works that the sidewalk would be replaced
by a sidewalk of some kind.
Mr. O'Connell stated that inasmuch as 3880
square feet of the best part .of Mr. Neale '
running in front of his house had been taken
felt
felt that he should be given consideration in
addition to the award of the County Commissioners
of $582. The taking in front of his hots a was,
made for a depth of 36 feet. The Town removed
the trees from, the prembes, some of them were 75
years old and were considered valuable to Mr. Healey.
The wall was replaced but the gravel and loam were
piled up upon it and Mr. Healey had to employ a
man to carry it away. He had to work himself on
i various occasions inasmuch as the work had to be
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done to put the premises in condition.
Mr. Custance stated that he felt that Mr.
Healey had been pVt'to a disadvantage with, the
operations of building the street and recommended
that the figures be set forth showing the
frontage of 322 feet on Massachusetts Avenue in
front of. Mr. Healeyts premises and the estimated
cost of, the entire sidewalk removed to be about
$325, and to replace about $450. Granolithic
sidewalk for this distance would coot $575.
After figuring the value,of.the trees taken
down and the disadvantages and expense, Mr. Healey
was as put to to fix up his place,,the Board decided
to offer the sum of $750� the Town to complete the
sidewalk. - I . I
It was also understood that the Town place
tree's 12ong the street lines.inasmuch as Mrs Healey
would not agree to have them placed on his premises.
Aft�-r iwm bbunsiilfi. 6"i, - o An-
Aireement to -s Ott"-.. for .-the'ate __6f $80% (`iiid ... the Town
to complete the sidewalk.
Chief Edward We Taylor., came before the Board
to go over the specifications for underground wires.
Mrs Custance requested Mr. Taylor to come before the
Board' to go over this matter, inasmuch as he felt
that these underground wires should be installed in
Massachusetts Avenue before any construction work
is started.
It was decided to request bids from whatever
companies that dealt in this work so that the bids
would be in to the Board by_May 7,_1.929.
It was Also decided to invite the American
LaFrance and Foamite Industries... Inc . *Uand Maxim
Company, the Sbagrave Co., and the Ahrens -Fox
Company to present bide on a 750 gallon.pumper.
Mr. Taylor spoke of obtaining.a foamite apparatus Fire Apparatus.
to fight the fires_ starting in a line of automobilesp
inasmuch as the Town did hot have any equipment of
this kind. He felt that the American LaFrance.Compan:7
was the party that could offer this.-propositiont.and
he felt that if a pumper was purchased from them,
that they could afford to give the Town this $500 item,
Mr. Custance reported that two trees in front
of the Barnes property should be removed owing to Trees, Barnes
their condition, property.
He also stated that application for sidewalks
from the owners of property in that vicinity were
being requested,, and he felt that these trees should
be removed before sidewalk work is started,
Mr. Blake reported that he again viewed some
of the trees on Belfry Hill and felt that some Trees.s,-Belfry
of them should be removed; that they were in.a Hill
very bad conditions '
Mrs Custaned reported that Mrs Allen
452
Trees, A. Chamberlain suggested that the ash trees
Chamberlain. around the Common and Buckman Tavern property
should be taken down.
Bill in the _amount_.of_$48. for file equip -
Selectmen's went for the Selectmen's Office was approved.by
File. the Board for Town Office. Building. Coiguittee.
Mr. Custance .read a letter received from
Mr. Groer at the corner of Concord Avenue and
Waltham. Street in which Mr. Greer stated that he
Further infor- desired to give information in regard to the Midst
oration, dills ease which he_did.not Irish to give at the-h:earinge.
Case. He stated that some of the witnesses for Mr.
Mills were parties who did not believe in the 18th
amendment; that he had seen some sad sights of
drunkenness coming from the Mills' property, and
that he did not believe Mr. Mills should be allowed
a permit.
The Board discussed the.:'_ application_ of
Charles F. Mills for variation of the Zoning Law
and reviewed the evidence presented, and voted to
refuse the petit ion_of.Mr, Mills for, variation of
the'Zoning Law.
"The reasons for the decision of the Board
are that the Board is not convinced by the evidence
presented by the applicant that enforcement of
the Zoning Law in this instance would involve
practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship
or that desirable relief may; be granted without
substantially derogating from the intent and.
purpose of the Zoning By-law."
The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works
is as follows:
For week ending April 20, 1929.
Report of Supt, Highway Department*
of Public forks. Surface patches made on Revere Street,
Mass. Avenue, Concord Ave., Highland Ave., Slocum
Rd., Lowell St., Waltham St., Reed St., Oakland St.,
and Woburn Street.
Gutters and streets cleaned in the vicinity
of the Common and playgrounds.
Gravel applied and surface mulled on water
trench in. Maes. Ave., and sewer trench in Woburn St.
On account of wet weather, the Department was
unable to apply surfacing material on any streets.
Next week will be occupied with regular
maintenance work and the application of tar or oil
to street surfaces.
Moth Department,
Gypsy moth nests in the _Town Wood were treated
with creosote. Trees.were_trimmed_in_the'Colonial
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Sewer Department,
A sewer aerviee has - been installed for_Gr.eenlay
on Hancock Street. Sewer service has been installed
for Bend on Somerset Road. This connection has been
made with the sewer in Edgewood Road through land
owned by Mr. Bond. The.exeavation and backfilling for
this service was done by A. Ross & Son, and the pipe
was laid by the Town.
Regular routine work water and sewer services
etc. is planned for the week ending May 4. 1929.
Engineering Department
Sewer
Elevations for Sewer Study.
Highways.
Layout curb at Common.
' Survey for added study of East St. near Ridge Road,
Mi.s c el l aneous .
Inked in various changes in original 400 scale.Town
Map.
Cemetery and on Massachusetts Avenue. Neat week
the Department will be occupied with the work of
trimming trees and setting out new trees.
Park. Department.
Regular maintenance work carried_on and.als:o
preparation for the 19th of April celebration.
Next week the Department will attend to regular
maintenance.
Water Department.
Dater services have been installed as follows:
Green.lay, 19 Hancock Street; Blake, badman Circle;
Dias, Waltham Street,
The 12" main in Massachusetts Avenue has been
completed from Elm Avenue to the High School, with
the exception of the connections_across_Massa-
chusetts Avenue a.t_ClarkeStreet.-Muzzey Street and
Waltham Street,_, .and__the_ setting of _two_ hydrants
one opposite Waltham Street.and the other at the
railroad station. At Grant Street the 12" main has
been tied in with the 8% The water was tiarned.on
April 22, 19290 from th&.High School to Grant Street.
We have dug up the.41.meter at.Westminister
Avenue to install the 6" meter,
's
We have started the extension of 2201 of 6"
water pipe in Sunnyknoil Avenue, and the extension
of the 6" main in Oakland Avenue_ from present.. dead
end to Oakland Avenue,. for a_distance of about 1501.
Sewer Department,
A sewer aerviee has - been installed for_Gr.eenlay
on Hancock Street. Sewer service has been installed
for Bend on Somerset Road. This connection has been
made with the sewer in Edgewood Road through land
owned by Mr. Bond. The.exeavation and backfilling for
this service was done by A. Ross & Son, and the pipe
was laid by the Town.
Regular routine work water and sewer services
etc. is planned for the week ending May 4. 1929.
Engineering Department
Sewer
Elevations for Sewer Study.
Highways.
Layout curb at Common.
' Survey for added study of East St. near Ridge Road,
Mi.s c el l aneous .
Inked in various changes in original 400 scale.Town
Map.
154
Appointment with State Engineer Sabin for
his approval.of layout of thru street from
Bedford Street to Lowell Street.
Very truly yours,
William S. Scamman
Supt of Public Works.
Thdmeeting adjourned at 11:58 P.M.
A true record, Attest: ni
C7 �
Clerk.
��---- It was also decided to notify Edwin. B. Worthen
Worthen's to renew Wormen's Compensation and Contractor's
insurance. Liability for the Sewer Department expiring May 12 1929.
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