Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-05-28 209 SELECTMEN'S MEETING - MAY 28, 1929. IIThe regular meeting of the Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, May 28, 1929 at 7:30 P.M. . Messrs. Burnham, Custance, Blake and Shannon were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Frank Canisius came before the Board in response to the request of the Board to come before them at their meeting May 28. Mr. Canisius explained that it rained so hard last week and he did not have any car that he did not come down. The report of the Health Inspector on the inspection of his premises was read to him. Canisius Mr. Canisius explained that he was informed hearing. that the town did not grant any more permits to keep pigs. He stated also that there was no manure on the premises and that Mr. White had brought him a couple of loads of loam to put over the manure. He stated that Mr. Prentiss asked him to cover the pile a little better, and that is all he asked him to do. He asked why he did not tell him what he wanted. done . Mr. Custance informed Mr. Canisius that he was before the Board to show cause why an order of prohibition should not be served upon him for keeping pigs . Mr. Canisius stated that some of his neighbors would like to see him moved from the location, but some of these neighbors keep pigs themselves. He now has about twenty or thirty pigs. He stated that he colledts swill on Somerset Road and Upland Road on Meriam Hill, and that they wanted him to do the collecting in this section rather than have the Town do it. He also collects from places on Bedford Street. He stated that they have pigs all around him and he did not feel that he could be objectionable in the neighborhood, inasmuch as most of the people do keep-them. Mr. Custance asked the question how long he wanted to keep pigs, and he stated that he wanted to keep them just as long as he had to do the collect- ing or until such time as the town takes the collection of these places over. Mr. Custance informed him that he had received complaints that he did not collect from some of the places on Vaille Avenue. Mr. Canisius stated that some of these houses that desire him to collect the IIswill two or three times a week which he is unable to do, do not have enough swill to warrant his making so many collections. Mr. Canisius stated that he could not haul the manure on his premises out of his barn where his rigs are kept every day as it would be impossible to do it. 210 s t : ttfisms 4A4, ds sc i ere was y p ace a s d no r./ He asked him to cover the compost pole a little better. He stated that all of his neighbors kept pigs; when asked how many kept pigs. He stated that he did not feel that he was as much a muisance in keeping pigs as some of the neighbors were in making moonshine, and he did not feel that he should be driven out because of these neighbors whom he felt were ob- jectionable. The Board decided to lay the matter of action against Mr. Canisius on the table until such time as Mr. Prentiss gives further report on the matter. Report was received from Russell I. Prentiss in. regard to the application of Robert Cady for per- mission to keep four pigs on Greenwood Street. Mr. Prentiss reported that Mr. Cady had disposed Robert Cady of all his pigs except these four, and does not Application. intend to keep any more after these are sold, and recommended that the permit be granted. The Board voted to grant a permit to Robert Cady to keep four pigs. Pasteurize- Recommendation was also received of granting a tion of milk license to John A. Sellars of Concord Avenue for license, establishment of a pasteurization of milk plant. J. A. Sellars: The Board voted to grant a pasteurization of milk license to John A. Sellars. At 8 P.M. Eugene J. Viano came before the Board with the request that further consideration be given relative to his request for the removal of three trees in front of the Colonial Garage inasmuch as a granolithic sidewalk is to be constructed at that location. He felt that the trees should be removed before the sirwalk is put in. The Board previously had considered taking these trees down, and had posted them for that purpose. The hearing was held, and several women in the Town objected inasmuch as they considered that one Trees, of the trees next to the Leavitt property, was a rare ftme E. J. Viano. specimen of maple, mately •a dilverntaaple. Mr. Blake fouwd that upon investigation, the tree was only a swamp maple, and therefore not as valuableas though for at the time of the hearing. Inasmuch as the sidewalk is now to be constructed there, the Board voted to remove the three trees in front of the Viano property. Three members of the Committee on Forestry, namely Edward H. Sargent, Chairman, Mrs. Helen Noyes Webster, and Allen Chamberlain, came before the Board and informed them of the study that they have made in regard to obtaining a forest park reservation. They placed before the Board a plan showing the 211 location of 260 acres of land which, at the present time,, might be available to secure as a Town forest park. The tract of land eonsi3ts of the Simonds property, and at the present time it is in the hands of three real estate men and that it might be laid out at any time for disposal. They felt that the opportunity for taking this property was now ideal before any complications might arise in the sale of the property to real estate developers. They explained that the hemlocks on this property were perfectly beautiful and that in a few years to come the opportunity may not be available for dscuring a tract of land of this kind; that the adjoining towns have lost their opportunity to secure a park of this kind and they felt that it was far- sightedness to make arrangements to purchase this land and preserve it. The generation in the future would extremely appreciate what has been done for them. There is a spring on the premises and a small pond and there is plenty of opportunity for develop- ment, and they felt that the land should not require a great deal of expense for development, inasmuch as theparkshould be left in its original condition with perhaps a few drives through it. Mrs. Webster felt that as California is noted for its redwoods and Waverley for its Oaks, Lexington would then be noted for its hemlocks. The Committee presented letters from Mr. Wrightington, Mr. Greeley and. Sheldon A. Robinson of the Committee who were unable to be present at this meeting, explain- ing their views on this project. A written report of the Committee was placed before the Board. Mr. Chamberlain explained that he felt that the Town should petition the Legislature to secure an enabling act so that this project could be carried out. It appears that approximately 22 acres of this Town land is in Burlington, and it might be possible that forest that strip of land could be purchased also. Mr. park. Custance brought up the point of possibly strainghten- ing out the line of Lexington and Burlington and establishing a new boundary. Mr. Blake agreed to purchase the land in Burlington and hold it until such time as arrangements 410. could be made by the Town to take it over. Mr. Blake also agreed to communicate with Mr. Edwin B. Worthen, who is guardian for Franklin P. Simonds, to see if he could secure to option on the property, and the Board advised the Committee that they felt that if this could be done, it would be better to have the details worked out and present the proposition to the Town at a Town Meeting in the fall rather than try to get it ready for the Town Meeting in June. The Committee expressed their appreciation for the cooperation of the Selectmen on their project. Application for a license to have a hairdressing and manicuring parlor was granted to Mrs. M. M. Heath License: . to do business at 1787 Mass. Avenue. 212 Special Police license was granted to Michael Hotz, Special Rotz of Lowell Street so that he could protect the Police property of WLEX. There have apparently been attempts at breaking and entering at the WLEX station and therefore the request for appointment for this man who is employed by WLEX. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works is as follows : For the week ending May 25, 1929. Highway Department. Pelham Road, Eliot Road, Washington Street, Eustis St. and Percy Road were dressed and tar and sand. applied. Surface patches were applied to the following streets : Eliot, Percy Roads, Meriam, Lincoln, Bow, Grant, Spring and Middle Stre.ets and Concord Avenue. Crushed stone dust placed on sidewalks on Mass. Avenue, Clarke Street, Bedford Streets Surface of trench in Massachusetts Avenue was replaced. Catch basins cleaned and other maintenance work Report of accomplished. Supt. of Next week the department will be occupied with Public Works the dressing of the streets surfaces and other regular maintenance work. Moth and Shade Tree Depts. The spraying equipment has been made ready. Nests of the tent caterpillar have been treated on Massa- chusetts Avenue, School Street, Lowell Street, and North Street. Next week the department will spray the Town trees. Park Department. Regular maintenance work carried on by this de- partment andwill occupy the time of the department next week. Water Maintenance. Water services have been installed as follows Rice, Cary Avenue; Robbins & Smith, Smith Ave. , re- newal for Luongo, Mass. Avenue, renewal for Piccariello on Shirley Street; started service for Partridge on Marrett Road. Water Construction. Laid 2 lengths of 8" pipe across Massachusetts Avenue to connect the 12" main in Massachusetts Avenue with the main in Muzzey Street. A carload of 12" sewer pipe was unloaded for the Park Dept. 213 Sewer Maintenance. The following services have been installed; Luongo, Massachusetts Avenue; Whalen, Massachusetts Avenue; McNamara, Curve Street, started service for Robbins & Smith, Smith Avenue. Sewer Construction. We have laid 24" corrugated iron pipe across the Park Road. One manhole has been built in Waltham Street. Regular routine work is planned for the week ending June 8, 1929. Engineering Department. Highways. Massachusetts Avenue curb grades between Wallis Place and Waltham Street. Grades for brick wall on Bertwell Road. Sewer. Grades for stubs in Waltham Street sewer. Miscellaneous . II Stakes on proposed swimming pool location. contourReservoir 2 ft. plan of Re ervoit property for School Committee. Completed checking one half of district des. criptions in new Zoning Law. Line and grade and stakes for playground drain. Very truly yours , William S. Scamman. Supt. of Public Works. The Supt. of Public Works was instructed to Trees , remove three trees on Clarke Street which were Clarke Street condemned by the Board as unsafe to be on the highway. Mr. & Mrs. William A. Granfield came before the Board and presented three blue prints with different locations of tanks in front of their property on the corner of Spring and Middle Streets. Mrs. Granfield stated that she was before the Board to explain that when they first received their permit, the Standard Oil man told them that the only locetion for the pumps would be out nearer the street and informed them that the matter would be alright inasmuch as he knew the Selectmen would agree to it. They, therefore , let him place the tanks where they 214 are loc'ted at the present time . 416 The Standard Oil Company also felt that they should not remove the tanks even though they had notice to do so inasmuch ns they felt that the Selectmen would grant a location there. Mrs. Granfield explained that she was a teacher in Arlington and she would retire in a couple of years; she hoped to be able to have something by which Mr. Granfield could earn a living in addition Granfield to her pension, and she felt that these pumps would hearing. give that extra assistance. She stated that Mr. Granfield had been running a market in Arlington and that he hadrun into debt and she had paid his debts. The Board discussed the matter of whether or not a hearing should be granted on the last application of Mr. Granfield or whether they would reverse the decision on the other application. It was decided, , however, that they would grant a new hearing on the last application. Proposals were received from the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Company for a fire puthper. It was decided that the Supt. of Public Works should get together with the Engineers of the Fire Fire Department and talk with the three Companies, the pumper. American LaFrance, and Seagrave and. the Ahrens- Fox Companies in regard to proposals and submit to the Selectmen definite propositions . In regard to the swimming pool, it was definitely decided at the meeting on Friday, May 24, 1929 that Swimming the location of the swimming pool be unchanged from Pool. the original location designated by the Committee. Mr. Custance reported that progress would be made on the digging of the drain in the playground very soon. It was decided in connection with the swimming pool matters that a Committee of three members of the Board carry out the swimming pool construction. Dr. Clarence Shannon, having been a member of the Committee, Hallie C. Blake being in charge of the parks and Theodore A. Custance to whom the construction work was handed, were des- ignated as the members to carry out the conktruetion of the pool. It was reported that Mrs. Franklin R. Kimball, 2117 Mass. Avenue was negotiating with Mr. Henry Kitson, sculptor, to grant litim a deed of some of her property upon which is to be located the Minute-Man Memorial Statue . Mr. Edward C. Stone is Chairman of Minute Man the Committee to confer with the Minute-Man Memorial Memorial. Committee and he notified the Board in regard to a :-y action which might be taken upon this matter in him, absence. It was decided to inform him of the rumor of progress that is being made on this matter. -. 215 The Board signed contract with Simpson Bros. , Corporation for construction of sidwalks in the Town, Sidewalk in accordance with their bid submitted previously. Construction, Mr. Albert H. Burnham reported that he had consulted With Mrs. a. W. Glass in regard to deeding to the Town a strip of land so that a suitable en- trance might be made to the Parker playground . He stated that she would deed 10,650 square feet of land at the rate of 10W per foot plus 25% increase above the Glass valuation or at the rate of 122d, per foot, making property. $1331.25 for the total sum. The Board felt that this was a very reasonable proposition and decided to insert an article in the Town Warrant asking for authority to enter into negotiations with Mrs. Glass in regard to purchasing this lsnd. Mr. Burnham reported that he and Mr. Gustance attended the hearing on Waltham Street before the Waltham St. , County Commissioners. There was strenuous objections County Com- from Mr. George Gibson in regard to widening of missioners. street in front of his property. It was decided that some of the curve in the street should be modified along the Ryder property and the street be not widened in fronCof the Gibson house at this time. ¶'he following commitments were signed by the Board. Water Commitment $4733.16 , Sewer Commitment 207.52 The Board voted to authorize the Town Counsel to make an offer of $200. to settle the case of the Settle Estate of Ella Louise Lawrence for land damages on Lawrence case. Waltham Street. It was agreed to include Mr. Scott of the Scott Tea Co. in the agreement of the Stuart Stuart- Marshall Realty Realty Co. inasmuch as he requested Marshall that this be done, and the Town Counsel has no Realty* Co. objection to this being done. The meeting adjourned at 11:25 P.M. A true record, Attest: , Clerk.