Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-08-20 33.6 ' REGULAR MEETING„AUGUST 20, 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. In regard to the loan of $10,000. which was discutised at the last meeting, it was decided to $10,000 loan authorize the Town Accountant to arrange for the Water Construe- loan of $10,000 in anticipation of the issuance tion. of bonds or notes under the vote of the Town passed April 15, 1929 authorizing $50,000 for water con- struction. Mr. Burnham reported that the Lexington Trust Company agreed to loan $10,000 at the rate of 5%. Alteration It was voted to grant permission to the order. Edison Electric Ill. Co./to set and remove one pole on Marrett Road. and N. E. Tel. dE Tel. Co. It was also voted to grant permission to the Edison Electric Ill. Co. and the N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co. to set and remove two poles on Waltham Street. Mr. Sydney R. Wrightington came before the Board to discuss the proposal to the U.S. Veterans ' Veterans ' Hospital at Washington to furnish water to the Hospital hospital in Bedford. After some discussion in regard to the money rates, it was voted that the Board approve the 23rate as the figure at which they will furnish water to the Government at Bedford. The Town Counsel stated that he would therefor re-draft the form of proposal to include the rate voted by the Board. It was also found that the distance between the Lexington line and the property line of the Bedford Hospital was longer than what the estimate had been previously based upon since the actual measurement of the distance had been made. The Board signed an agreement to indemnify Indemnity the Commonwealth in connection with the construction agreement . of Massachusetts Avenue from Waltham Street to the Hayes Fountain, and Bedford Street from the Hayes Fountain to Elm Av me. Hearing was declared open nn the application of Robert L. Innis and Dougal McLennan for approval of plans of A, B, C, D and E Streets on Marrett Gardens located on School Street and Marrett Road. G.) 1.7 Or) f Mr. Innis and his attorney, Mr. Goldman, with his engineer, appeared before the Board and presented plans showing the layout of streets and the lotting. Mr. Goldman had with him a deed granting to the Town a seven foot strip of land along School Street to be used for highway purposes . The plan presented Innis hearing, showed the discontinuance of streets through to Massachusetts Avenue parallel with School Street . When this original layout was studied by the Planning Board streets were laid out to Massachusetts Avenue, since that time part of the land has been sold Mr. Innis to one Thompson and the part adjacent thereto Mr. Innis felt could not all be developed for house lots, and that he did not want to extend the streets. The Board felt that a layout of these streets should be ccntinued through to Massachusetts Avenue and therefore it was suggested that Mr. Custance communicate with Mr. Thompson in an endeavor to have him cooperate in having a layout made in accordance with the line of the streets laid down by the Planning Board. The hearing was therefore adjourned for one week. Petition was received from the residents of Lincoln Street in which they complained of the use Lincoln St. of the Pumping Station for a business purpose by petition. the Town. The Board decided to inform the residents that they are now making negotiations to secure a public works plant that will house all of the materials and equipment of the various town departments, and as soon as the town votes to purchase wuch a place, this location will be abandoned and the nuisance will cease. The Supt. of Public Works reported that the water that collects in the vicinity of Hancock, No. Hancock Street Bufilington and North Hancock Streets would cost Drain. approximately $2800. to overcome, by constructing a storm drain or carry the water to the brook in the low part of the Irvington Park development. The Board voted to lay the matter on the table. It was voted to lay upon the table the matter Highway of appointing a committee to serve with the Governor 's Safety Com. Committee on Highway Safety. Letter was received from the Town Counsel regarding the proper procedure of laying mains in Private private ways . way water It was decided that each member of the Board main. should have a copy of the letter so that they may look it over before the next meeting. 338 It was called to the Board's attention 'G that the Building Inspector desired to know whether or not he was to carry out the regulations on advertising signs by advising all parties who now have permits that they should comply with the regulations on September 1, 1929. It was discovered that the regulations require that the permits granted annually must Overhanging expire on April 1 of each year, and that if the Sign Permits. parties are now forced to file an application, they would only have part of a year. It was decided that all new applications for signs should meet the requirements of the regulations, but that all persons having signs be notified and sent a copy of the regulations so that they would have an opportunity to prepare themselves to meet the requirements on April 1st next. S*imming Pool Suggestions were received from the Supt. of Regulations. Parks, John J. Garrity relative to use of the swimming pool, which were handed over to Dr. Shannon for his attention. Clarke St. The Board signed a notice of their intention Extension to lay out an extension of Clarke Street from Parker Street to the Parker Playground, the hearing on which is to be held Sept. 10, 1929. Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Ryder and Mr. and Ryder Meeting. Mrs . Charles W. Ryder together with their engineer, Mr. Barnes, came before the Board. Mr. Robert L. Ryder stated that he has been discussing for some time the laying out of streets , and developing a large tract of land that he owns in the Town lying in the vicinity of Vine Brook, and Although this land is higher than the Bunker Hill Monument yet there is water there a great deal of the time. He claims that the Town in main- taining the present culvert under Massachusetts Avenue is causing a nuisance upon his land by backing the water up, and he feels that the culvert should be enlarged and dropped for a distance of about seven feet as Metcalf & Eddy, Engineers , have reported. The water would then pass off and he would be willing to spend a great deal of money in developing this tract of land. He stated that conferences had been held with Mr. Emery of the Planning Board in regard to arrangement of entering into the drainage of this area. He stated that Mr. Emery's idea was to xomplete the wl,ole quarter of a million of drainage laid out by Metcalf & Eddy, but that he felt that a great deal could be accomplished if they could open the neck of the bottle on Massachusetts Avenue and let the water run away. He felt that immediately after this is done the Town could then assess the property for at least 20X per foot whereas at the present time 30C7ei he is being assessed for a very low acreage value. They would agree to submit to an assessment for drainage and sewer spread over a period of years. They presented a plan laid out by Mr. Shurtleff for the Planning Board upon which lots were designated showing the development of the territory. They desired to know whether or not the Board aparoved the general layout, inasmuch as they are anxious to get started and wanted to have a general layout approved, so that they could draw their plans to meet the main arteries laid down by the Board. Various matters were discussed with their Engineer and he was asked whether or not he ap.roved double barrel highways which he stated he did not, owing to the fact that it means the maintenance to to the Town of two highways and also an open stream in the center of two highways is more or less dirty and the edges are hard to keep clean. He would much prefer a covered drain and a one hundred foot highway. They also discussed the fact that the plan appeared to have a duplication of the double barrel highway and perhaps this could be altered slightly. After discussing the various matters the Board informed the Ryder Brothers that they approved the general layout made by Mr. Shurtleff' and asked that Mr. Rydertd Engineers communicate with our engineer and endeavor to work out a definite plan. Discussion was also had as to whether or not two or three streets should enter on Waltham Street . Mr. Charles W. Ryder suggested that now would be an opportunity to make arrangements for a more direct route to bring Lexington closer to Boston, and that this could be done now at a low rate of cost by running a highway through low land the other side of the Belmont Hill through Belmont, meeting the new parkway which is an extension of Alewife Parkway, now being built to meet with Concord *mu*. He believed that this route would be one where traffic would not be heavy and save at least fifteen minutes of time in going to Boston from Lexington. Application was received from H. P. Hood & Sons, Overhanging Inc. for permission to erect an advertising sign Sign, Hood. on the premises at 1719 Massachusetts Avenue. The Board voted to grant permission to erect a sign provided that they comply with the re- qa*irements of the new regulations. Mr. Custance reported that he was endeavoring to have the State and County join the Town in awarding Waltham sufficient money to cover the cost of using Betmudez St. asphalt affiphalt on Waltham Street constructiin job. He felt that the difference in the cost would well warrant tete -money spent. 3 4O It was therefore voted that providing the State and County contribute toward the cost of this additional expense that the Supt. of Public Works be authorized to use Bermudez asphalt. The following is the weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works : For the week ending August 17, 1929. Highway Department Construction of Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford Street between Waltham Street and Elm Avenue and Hancock Street between Bedford Street and Railroad crossing has been completed. Report of At the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Supt. of Percy Road, the street surface has been smoothed, Public Works . gravel and surfacing material, applied and the surface rolled. One manhold was constructed. Surface patches have been made on Mga�,,� thusetts Avenue, and East Street Rat .rtm Next week the Department will be occupied. with regular maintenance. Moth Department. One tree on Highland Avenue and one on Oakland Street has been removed and the top of a large poplar tree on Bloomfield Street has been trued. Trees on Mass . Avenue have been trimmed and brush on Lowell Street has been burned. Next week the Department will be occuped with Work on Belfry Hill and other maintenance work. # 9 Water Maint enance. Water renewals have been installed for the , following persons ; Walker, corner of Bedford .apd.{ Reed Streets; Trani, Haskell Street . Two men have been raising gates on Walther Street. Leaks have been repaired on Woburn Street and on Massachusetts Avenue at Independence Avenue. Water Construction. We have laid approximately 200 ' of 8" pipe on Simonds Road frcm Burlington Street. We have extended 40 ' of 6" main pipe on Haskell Street to connect Trani 's house. Sewer Construction. ' We have laid approximately 150' of 8" seer ptDe in Taft Avenue. 1 ;3 y, Approximately 650 ' of 8" sewer pipe has bqa aiad in Charles Street. Three manholes have been constructed. 341 The contemplated work for the week ending Augu§t731 is as follows : Charles Street sewer, water and sewer services, etc. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Sewers. Lines and grades for construction at Charles Street. Lines and grades for hose connection at Waltham St. Continued work on Lexington Sewer Study. Highways. Survey plan and computations of Clarke Street extended to Playground. Lines and grades for guard rail fronting Hastings Park on Massachusetts Avenue. Set line and grade stakes for curbing at junction of Massachusetts Avenue and Follen Road. Miscellaneous. Made sketch plans of land at south westerly junction of Marrett Road and Waltham Street to be used in connection with drainage. Assistant Higgins completed sixth week in charge of construction of swimming pool Yours very truly, William S. Scarmnan. Supt. of Public Works. The meeting adjourned at 11 30 P.M. A true record, Attest: 01 @j iIr air Clerk. Park Department. * •The department has attended to the regular maintenance work and has also accomplished considerable work at the Center Playground leveling a large amount of filling. Next week the department will be be occupied with the regular maintenance work. The Board signed the order for construction of a sewer in Chase Avenue from Taft Avenue to Tucker Avenue.