HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-08-2033.6za
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
discu8sed 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 159 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, N 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'
Vetetranst Hospital at Washington to furnish water to the
Hospital hospital in Bedford.
After some discussion in regard to the money
rate*,it was voted that the Board approve the
23� rate as the figure at which they will furnish
water to theGovernment 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 ghat 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 Avaue.
Hearing was declared open an the application
of Robert L. Innis and'Dou.gal McLennan for
approval of plans of A, B, C, D and E Streets on
Marrett Gardens located on School Street and
Marrett Road.
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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 by
Mr. Iridis 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 c rntinued 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 Mown
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.Hancoek Street
Bufl,lington and North Hancock Streets would cost Drain.
approximately $2800. to overcomep 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.
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It was called to the Board's attention
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.
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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 lst 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 Piaygrouhd, the hearing
on which is to be held Sept. 10 1929..
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Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Ryder and Mr. and
Ryder hteeting..
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 Uthough 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 zomplete the
w'bole 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 24 per foot whereas at the present time
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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 apiroved
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;oroved
double barrel highways which he stated he did not,
owing to the fact that it means the maintenance to
tothe 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. Shurtleffand asked
that Mr. Ryderss 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 loan 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
nut. He believed that this route would be one
w ere 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-
quirements of the new regulations.
Mr. Custance reported that he was endeavoring
to have the State and County join the Town in awarding
sufficient money to cover the cost of using Bermudez
asphalt on Waltham Street construction job. He
felt'that the difference in the cost would well warrant
..tile Money spent.
Waltham
St. asphalt
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Report of
Supt, of
Public Works.
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 MassachusettsAvenue
and Bedford Street between Waltham Street and
Elm Avenue and Hancock Street between Bedford
Street and Railroad crossing has been completed.
At the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and.
Percy Road, the street surface has been smoothed.,
gravel and surfacing material, applied and the
surface rolled. One manhold was constructed.
Surface patches have b enade on Ra
chusetts Avenue, and East StreeV go.
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 trimmed.
Trees on Mass. Avenue have been trimmed
and brush on Lowell Street has been burned.
Next week the Department will be occuped w:bth
Work on Belfry I-Vill,and other maintenance work.
Water Maintenance.
Water renewals have been installed for the
following persons; Walker, corner 'of Bedford , ay
Reed Streets; Trani, Haskell Street. `
Two men have been raising gates on Walthom Street.
Leaks have been repaired on Woburn Street and.on
Massachusetts Avenue at Independence Avenue.
Water Construction,
We have laid approximately 2001 of 8" pipe on
Simonds Road frim Burlington Street.
We have extended 40, of 6" main pipe on
Haskell Street to connect Tranits house.
Sewer Construction.
We have laid approximately 1501 of St? s® p
in Taft Avenue.
Approximately 650, of 8" sewer pipe has®dam d
in Charles Street.
Three manholes have been constructed.
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The contemplated work for the week ending
' Augu§t7-31 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 home 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.
leis cell aneous .
Made sketch.plans of land at south westerly
junction of Marrett Road and Walthard 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. Scamnan.
Supt. of Public Works.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
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.