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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-07-23 300 REGULAR SELECTMEN'S MEETING - JULY 23, 1929 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, Custance, Shannon and Blake were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. At 8:50 P.M. Mr. Walter G. Black came before the Board to discuss the sewer tax filed against property in the name of Minola M. Black of 19 Highland Avenue. Mr. Black claimed that she owned four lots of Black sewer land on April 1, 1926, and on April 27, 1926 she sold Assessment. lot #3 to Walter Trowbridge and on May 19, 1926 she sold lot #4 to Clayton Hilliard. In the Fall of the year after the Town Meeting of May 12, 1926 a sewer was constructed in Highland Avenue and Minola Black was assessed for the entire sewer assessment of the four lots amounting to $524:41 It was found later that the Engineers had assessed too much against her name and an abatement of $73.22 was allowed for this error leaving a balance of $451.19. Mr. Black claimed that he came in and found out what the amounts would be assessed against each lot, and that he told Mr. Trrwbridoe and Mr. Hilliard about the sewer tax. Mr. Trowbridge paid the amount of the tax on his property, but Mr. Hilliard has not done so. Mr. Earle wouldnot accept Mr. Black 's taxes on his property unless the entire betterment was paid. The Board inquired as to why this had been allowed to go on for three years, but Mr. Black could not give any reason for this. Mr. Black also felt that the Assessors should assess the amount to Mr. Hilliard rather than to his wife. The Board felt that they should obtain all the facts of the case and obtain advice from the Town Counsel as to whether they would have any authority to abate the tax on Minola Black and charge a part to Mr. Hilliard, and inform Mr. Black that the matter would be straightened out in some way before Mr. Earle closes his warrant on August 1, 1929. Bids on Mass. Letter was received from the Dept . of Public Works, Ave. & Bed- State House, in which they stated that they would allow ford St. $2,200 under Chapter 90 for the improvement of Bedford Street, from Elm Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue, and Massachusetts Avenue from Bedford Street to Meriam Street, a distance of 700 feet. Spencer gaso- At 8 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the ap- line he acing'plication of Richard J. Spencer for permission to install a private gasoline tank in the capacity of 500 gallons at his premises at 16 Waltham Street. No persons appeared to object and it was voted to grant the permit. 3O At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the application of the Edison Electric Ill. Co. and the York St. N. E. Tel . & Tel. Co. for joint location of seven Pole location. poles on York Street. This is legalizing the former location on York Street when it was a private highway, and which has become an accepted street, in w hich case this order is necessary. In regard to the petition of Dominic Modoono Burgess nuisance. and others for abatement of nuisance caused by the noise of machinery at the Arley A. Burgess cement block plant at the corner of Webb and Woburn Streets, Mr. Burnham reported that he went to the premises and listened while standing on the highway to the noise, and felt that the clattering noise of the buckets being carried up would be annoying to anyone that had to listen to it all day. He suggested that it might be possible to cover the outside of the building with some asbestos or cork covering that would diminish the noise. Mr. Custance agreed to go down and look over the preses to see if there was anything he could recommend to be done to remedy the condition. It was voted to grant a Common Victuallers License Pratt License , to Mrs . Lillian J. Pratt to do business on Marrett Road as soon as she complies with the request of the Board. The Board signed an order to the Constable declaring Proposed their intention to layout a street running from Massa- Street chusetts Avenue about opposite Grant Street to Vine Brook Road, and decided to hold a hearing on the same on August 8, 1929 at 7 :30 P.M. Letter was received from the Supt. of the Water Dept. Pipe in in which he stated that Charles L. LaPorte has petitioned Shade Street. for approximately 250 feet of pipe in Shade Street to supply the new house he is building. It was voted to authorize the installation of this water main. Request was received from the Supt. of the Water and Sewer Dept. and the Supt. of Public Works for an Lowe salary increase in pay of Eleanor M. Lowe from 422 .00 per week increase. to $25.00 per week, to date from July 29, 1929. The Board, after considering the matter arra understanding that &hiss Lowe was offered another position at this salary, voted to grant her an increase in pay to this amount. It was voted to renew the insurance falling due during the month of August as follows : Edwin B. Wor then Wor4wants Compensation and Contractor's Public liability Insurance of the Water Department expiring August 13, 1929. Renewed. 30.2 Richard Whittemore Liability and property damage on automobiles expiring August 19, 1929. A.A. Marshall & Son. Workmen 's Compensation and Contractor 's public liability an the Tree Warden Dept. expiring August 19, 1929. Report was received from Russell I. Prentiss Health Inspector as follows : July 23, 1929. Board of Selectmen Lexington, Mass . Gentlemen: I beg to submit the following reports : Ryder Stock Farm, Waltham Street. I inspected the piggery on Waltham Street; on July 23, 1929 and find that the brood house has 'teen whitewashed and two large platforms were in a very Health Inspector dirty condition. There is an accumulation of old pig report. refuse and garbage on the platforms , which looked to me as if it were half decomposed. Apparently this condition has existed for several days because the gates at both ends of the platformk were up. There is considerable swill and garbage around the small platform, but not as bad as last spring. The fly situation is very bad, and in the large brood house I find that the place is literally alive with flies . C. A. Fogg, Woburn Street. I inspected the piggery of Mr. Fogg on Woburn Street, and find that the conditions that I objected to this Spring have been remedied. The compost heaps have been removed and the garbage receptacles covered. I see no reason why a permit should not be granted if you desire to do so . I find that two other men are collecting garbage, and should be sent a l&tter notifying them of the action taken at a recent meeting, these men are Dominic Modoono, Woburn Street anc. Johnson Armstrong, Woburn Street. Very truly yours, Russell I. Prentiss Health Inspector. In accordance with Mr. Prentiss ' recommendsatiin, Fogg pig it was decided to grant a permit to keep 200 pigs permit. to Chester A. Fogg of Woburn Street, said permit to expire on May 1, 1930. 303 In regard to Dominic Modoono and Johnson Armstrong both of Woburn Street collecting garbage, it was deitd.ded to get more information as to how much garbage they collect and how many piccs they are keeping. The Board discussed the matter of the curbing around the Hayes Fountain, and it was felt by Hayes Fountain some of the members that the curbing should hgtie been lower than it was placed. The suggestion of cutting down the curbing was made and then placing the field stones on top. Mr. Custanee stated that he would see Mr. Relloway and ask his advice as to what is the proper thing to do to remedy the condition there . Mr. Burnham reported that he and the Supt. Bids, Waltham of Public Works went into the State House to hear Street. the bids on constructinn of Waltham Street, and there were sixteen bids received. The lowest bidder was John A. Gaffey of Medford, his bid being *35,271.20 The Supt. of Public Works presented bids on the Pumper fence and also on an ornamental fence Belfry Fence. to be erected around the Belfry on Belfry Hill . It was decided to obtain a bid from the Security Fence Bo. before accepting any of these prices. The Supt. of Public Works was requested to Pole, Gran- see the Edison Electric Ill. Co. about removing the field location, pole at the corner of Spring Street and Marrett Road near the Granfield property. The weekly report of the Supti of Public Works is as follows: For the week ending July 20, 1929 Highway Department . Supt. of Public Works report. The department has continued the construction of Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford Street, completing that section between Elm Avenue and Meriam Street. Cable for automatic traffic signals has been laid between Elm Ave. and the east entrance to the Railroad station. Surface patches have been made in Fern Street, Forest Street, Lincoln Street, Lowell Street, Massa- chusetts Avenue and insseveral side streets in East Lexington. Brush et.was cut from the sides of the road on II North Warning signs have been placed in Waltham Street, directing people to drive carefully. Next week the department will continue the construction of Massachusetts Ave. and necessary maintenance work. 304 Moth and Shade Tree Department. Z 4E One large dead tree on the Battle Green has been removed andtrees on the Green and on Massa- chusetts Avenue have been trimmed. Next week the department will be occupied with the work of trimming trees and cutting out brush. Park Department. The regular maintenance work occupied the department during the past week and will be attended to next week. The switnhing ppol at the Center Playground is now under construction by the contractor. Water Maintenance Two men/ have been overhauling hydrants. Water Services have been installed as follows : Tullgren, Mass. Avenue cor Hill Avenue; service to curb for proposed building on preselt Hudson-Essex buildi _g site ; three services renewed to curb where Ma's . Avenue is being rebuilt. Two men have been tieing in shut-offs , and two men have been raising gate boxes on Mass. Avenue. Water Construction. We have laid approximately 100 ' of 8" water pipe in Hill Avenue. This job is now complete. Sewer Maintenance. Laid service to curb for proposed building on present Hudson-Essex building site. Sewer Construction. We have laid approximately 75' of 8" sewer pipe in Smith Avenue. The work contemplated for the week ending August 3rd is as follows : Smith Ave. sewer; water and sewer services, etc. Engineering Department. Water. Locate and tie in gates at Summit Avenue. Sewer. Lines and grades for construction at Smith Avenue. Lines and grades for construction at Belfry Terrace. Sidewalks. Lines and grades for Granolithic. Completed measuring 27,749 sq. ft. of new granolithic and figured individual quantities fronting 32 separate parcels. . r )UO X Miscellaneous. Cross sections made at Follen Road and Pleasant Street to figure amount of material excavated. Two men assisted in laying curb at Standard Oil Property, Marrett Road and Waltham Street . Assistant S. A. Higgins spent all but four hours of this week supervising construction of swimming pool. Yours very truly, William S. Scamman Supt. of Public Works . The meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M. A true record, Attest: r Clerk. Highways Staked out Lincoln Street line for proposed width of 40 ft. and started survey of old lines. Measured first section of new construction from 1(er±riaiiStredt to Elm Avenue, including Hancock St. Measured length of all curbing set by Anthony Ross. 1