HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-10-08378
SELECTMEN'S MEETING - OCTOBER 8, 1929.
The regular meeting of the Board of
Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Office,
Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs.
Burnham, Custance, Chamberlain, Blake and
Shannon were present. The Supt. of Public Works
and the Clerk were also present.
Plan drawn by Mr. John F. Heaney showing the
location of the building he proposes to alter
for a garage on his premises and plan of the
Town Engineer showing his survey was presented.
Mr. Custance stated that he personally
J.F.Heaney visited the premises and did not believe it was
application. proper to allow this building to be erected as
proposed. He felt that the present building
should be torn down and a fire proof building
erected if he desired to have a garage.
It was therefore decided to refuse the
application of John F. Heaney of 55 Baker Avenue,
for permission to alte» the wooden building
to be used as a garage.
Report was received from the Town Engineer
of the conference of the Planning Boards at '
Town Engineer's Worcester. He gave a general outline of the
report on meeting and stated that hb was impressed with
conference. the fact that the Conference brought out the
idea that Lexington was progressing in the
proper manner, owing to -the adoption of the
Zoning By-law, which is one of the most compre-
hensive in the State.
The Town Engineer reported that the elevation
of the flow line of the soil pipe leaving the
house of J. C. Cairns, 56 Taft Avenue, would
have to be three feet higher than the floor
Soil pipe, in order to make connection for theoutlets in
J.C. Cairns. the basement of the house.
He also reported that the entire sewer in
the street would have to be lowered three feet
to take care of the sewage from the basement
of this house, and it was not thought wise to
Make this expenditure inasmuch as the flow from
the upper part of the house above the sills
could be taken care of.
In regard to the assessment of $182.06, it
was decided to have the Engineer make his
recommendation as to whether or net this entire
assessment should be charged to Mrs. Cairns.
,
Joint attachment of poles, New Enc_land Tel.
Poles. & Tel. Co. and E.E.I.Co. on Adams Street, and
removal of one pole was granted.
Notice of a meeting of the Massachusetts
Association of Boards of Health to be held on
' October 16 at New Bedford was received.
Notice of a meeting of the Selectmen's
Association at Worcester Co:uaty to be held
October 9, at Winchendon was also received.
Commitment of taxes to the Town of
Arlington in the amount of $410.95 and to
the City of Cambridge in the amount of
$463.63 was signed by the Board.
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Resignation was received from E.J.Remick
as a member of the Appropriation Committee
to take effect on October 3, 1929, the date
of his notice. He stated that he anticipated
that he would be absent from the Town part
of the coming winter, and he did not wish
to inconvenience the Appropriation Committee;
he therefore felt that he should resign..
It was decided that the Chairman should
call a meeting of the Moderator and the Chairman
of the Appropriation Committee to fill this
vacancy.
Letter was received from the Town Counsel
in which he stated that he did not see any
reason why a Town Meeting, similar to what we
usually hold, could not be held in the interval
between the acceptance of the new Act and the
first election of Town Meeting members under
the new Act. He felt, however, and 11r. Briggs
agreed with him, that nothing else should
be on the Warrant of the meeting fob the ac-
ceptance of the Act on Representative Town
Meetings.
The ,Board discussed the idea of mailing
two Warrants together for a Town Meeting at a
later date.
Meeting of
Boards of Health.
Selectmen's
Assoc. meeting.
Commitments.
Resignation,
E.J. Remick,
Appropriation
Committee.
Representative
Town Meeting Act.
Letter was also received from the Town
Counsel in which he stated that in all Date of Ryder case,
probability, the Ryder case would be called
Monday, October 14, 192 9, and he wished
to have the Board ready to be called upon for
testimony. ,
Alcohol license was granted to the
Standard Oil Company to sell alcohol at the
gasoline station located at the"corner of
Marrett Road and Waltham Street.
At the request of the Board, the various
residents owning property along the proposed
road from Massachusetts Avenue to Vine Brook
Alcohol license.,
1380
Hearing re
Proposed
Road.
Road came before the Board and presented their
regi.zests for payment of amounts for their
property which is to be taken for the
proposed highway, namely as follows:
Wm. M. &: Alice S. Crawford, 22001 of land to
be taken at assessment of 15� per foot, amounting
to � ; amount asked, $3000.
Susan A. Tracey, 23501 of land to,be taken at
assessment of 15� per foot, amounting to $352.50;
amount asked $2500, and $400. additional if the
garage was to be taken.
Mrs. Bertha F. Baker, representing the heirs of
Bernard S. Baker, explained that she was the sole
owner of the property left to her by Mr. Baker by
will; 42701 of -land to be taken at assessment of
75/ per foot, amounting to $3202.50; amount asked
$12,000.
Eugene J. Viano, 10,7771 of land to be taken.,
amount assessed $500, amount asked 12,000.
Miss Anstiss S. Hunt did not appear in response
to the request of the Board as did neither
Mr.. R. L. Rydery Mr. Ryder however, requested
opportunity to talk the matter over with the
Board at a later date.
Letter was received from the Town of
Winchester explaining that the E.E.I. Co. were
Reduction planning to establish a reduced rate, probably
E.E.I&rat es. of 20% on the operation of ventilator systems
in the schools, and after a conference with
the Counsel of that Company, it was ,decided to
defer any action until after the hearing October
23, 1929 at which time it is understood that
the reduction may be adopted by the E. E.I. Co.
In the meantime, however, he asked for the
information on that matter contained in the school
bills.
Letter was written to the Supt. of Schools''`
asking him to forward this information to Mr.
I. W. Worthen, Chairman, Board of Selectmen of
Winchester.
Dr. Shannon reported that various persons
Fitzgerald in the vicinity of Hancock Street called his
dog, attention to the fact that a dog owned by
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, 66 Hancock Street, has
been a nuisance in the neighborhood. He has
bitten people and is a dangerous dog.
Mr. Leslie Bull and Mr. Guy E. Dennison,
whose son was bitten by the Fitzgerald do,
came In to complain that even though this dog
was quarantined by Dr. Blakely, it was still -
running about and was not kept in quarantine.
Complaints`were shown by the Police Register
Of the dog and it was decided to request the
Town Counsel to inform the Board what action should
be taken against the owner.
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381
Complaint
against
Mr. T. Moore.
Layout of Five
Forks discussed.
Supt.of Public
Worksf Report.
Report was received from the Chief of Police.
regarding the complaint made by Celia Forsythe
against Mr. Thomas Moore of Bedford Street.
The Planning Board having been in session
with the Committee on. Fire Engine sites and
that meeting having; adjourned, requested the
Board of Selectmen to discuss with them the
possibility of making _ a change in the layout of
the present Five Forks.
Mr. Emery explained that at a meeting 'held
the previous evening on petition of Mr. Sarano
and others for a change to return the business
section on all sided but the south and east sides
of the State Road and Lincoln Street into a
business section, there was considerable objection
to any change being made to take away the business
section and possibly cause for the objection.
They felt that the situation there needed
considerable study and that -the triangle owned
by Mr. Eliott should be done awaT with and
Lincoln Street brought up to four corners to
shut off the connection between Lincoln Street
and the State Road, pushing the triange to the
other side, to Mr. Eliott Is property.
The Planning Board felt that inasmuch as
they would probably deal wi_th.the present owners
of property on all four sides, that now would be
an opportune time to make a change in this
location, and therefore they requested that the
Town Engineer be instructed to make a study of
this layout, and t, -at the Board defer action
on the present application for a t asoline station
on the south corner until this study is made.
MIr. Emery requested that the Engineer make this
study- immediately.
The following is the weekly report of the
Supt. of Public Works.
For the week ending October 5, 1929.
Highway Department.
Construction work was continued in Coolidge
Avenue, Hillside Terrace and Harding Road.'
Catch basins and gutters were cleaned in
all parts of, the Town.
Next week the department will be occupied
with the construction of new streets and the
regular maintenance.
'
Moth and Shade Tree Dept.
This department is proceeding with the work
of treating, with creosote, the gypsy moth nests
on Lowell Street, North and Grant Streets to
the Snow line, and they will continue at this
work during the next several weeks.
381
Complaint
against
Mr. T. Moore.
Layout of Five
Forks discussed.
Supt.of Public
Worksf Report.
382
Park Department.
Extension of a part of the drain to the
proposed skating rink was accomplished and the '
regular maintenance work was attended to.
Next week the department will be occupied
with maintenance.
Water Maintenance.
A service has been installed for Morgan
on Hancock Street, and one for Webster on Simonds
Road.
Water Construction.
We have laid approximately 6001 of 8" water
pipe in Spring Street.
Water and sewer services, etc. are planned
fob' the week ending October 19, 1929.
Engineering Dept.
Sewers.
Continued work on Town Study making profiles
of streets totalling 13,000 feet.
Flow measurements October 3rd along main outlet.
Highways.
Figured and marked Harding Road grade stakes
from Simonds Road to Williams Road.
Set line stakes along Harding Road from
Bedford to Simonds Road.
Levels at Fottler Avenue for profiles.
Started field wo-k for relocation of Hill Street.
Miscellaneous.
Attended conference of Iuiassachusetts Planning
Boards held at Fitchburg, Mass., October 1 and 2.
A more detailed report of this is contained in a
letter to the Board of Selectmen.
Completed plan showing Five Forks" acid vicinity
for hearing on Zoning, October 7, 1929.
Yours very truly,'
William S. Scamtian'
Supt..of Public Works.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.I-
.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.
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383
MEETING 0'F COMMITTEE ON.PROPOSED FIRE SITES, OCT. 811929.
'
The meeting was declared open at 9:30 P.M. at
'the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, Chairman
Hallie C. Blake, Edward `"d. Taylor Chief of the Fire
Dept., John Ii. Devine, Albert H. hurnham, Theodore A.
Custance, Francis Chamberlain and. Dr. Shannon were
present. In. response to the request of the Chairman
of the Committee that the Planning Board. meet with them,
Chairmar_, Frederick L. Emery, C. Edward Glynn, Nelson J.
Bowers and Wm. D. Milne were present.
Letter was received from the Planning Board in
which they recommended the present site at East Lex-
ington for a new fire station, providing there were
no outstanding objections to the site.
The Chairman read the report of the last meeting
to acquaint the Planning Board, members with the action
that had been taken.
He also reported that no information had been
received from Miss Caroline Barrington as to the amount
she would request for her property. He st-•ted, however,
that in his opinion the property could be secured at
some figure between $30,000 and $40,000.
The Chairman of the Planning Board stated that
the Planning Board felt that the location owned by
Harry Aldrich at the junction of Woburn Street and
Fletcher Avenue was the best location; for one reason
that it would clean up the property which has been an
eye -sore in the Town for some time, and although
this particular property is now in a residential district
under the Zoning Law and the Town received that
much protection, however, future demands might mean
that this lot would be brought into the business district
and if it were the type of business that would be placed
there, it would probably not be of any great benefit
,to the Town. Another reason is that the lot, they
felt, could be developed similar to the Arlington Fire
Station. That with the triangle at the junction of
Fletcher Avenue and Woburn Street, on Mass. Avenue,
removed, the approach to Mass. Avenue would be very
goof... They also felt that the lot was larger than
the lot in Arlington, where the central fire station
was detreloped.
Chief Taylor stated that he did not believe the lot
would be of sufficient size to store the arparatus, and.
also that the lot was not of the same type as the lot
in the Town of .Arlinr*ton, inasmuch as they have access to
the station from all sides. The price of the Aldrich
lot was unknown, but it was stated by a rumor, the price
mentioned was $10,000.
Chairman of the Planning; Board suggested that the
Chief of the Fire Dent, should draw 9 sketch of what he
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needed for space to house the arparatus, and then, by
means of cardboar's the locations could be worked out.
The Town .Fn'Pineer stated that there was approximately '
28,0001 in the lot at the junction of Fletcher Avenue
and Woburn Street, owned by Mr. Aldrich.
It'was explained. to the Planning Board by Mr. Devine
that the Committee had. an offer for the lot on 'Valtham
Street near the brook and almost directly opposite
Forest Street, owned by Mr. Blake. The Committee
considered this lot from a point of view that probably
the men living at the station would want to sit about
in front of the station and if they had room enough
on a lot of this kind to have a sort of recreation yard
in the rear of the building, it would perhaps be less
objectionable than for a station on Mass. Avenue with
the men sitting about on the main highway.
The Chief stated that the lot owned by Mr. Aldrich,
if it could be used for a fire station, would be a
better lot for access to the main highway than the lot
on 'Naltham Street, and. that the lot on '"laltham Street
would be second choice to that inasmuch as the turn onto
Massachusetts Avenue from Waltham Street into a busy
section would not be very good.
Mr. Devine stated that in spite of the fact that
this turn goes into a busy section, in their investigations '
they were never able to le-rn of any accidents on
accouri# of this„condition.
The Planning Board seemed to be of the opinion that
a location on Massachusetts Avenue would be much better
for a fire station. They also felt that in taking the
lot similar to the Leary or Dr. Barnest lot that it
would be taking too much property out of the business
area, inasmuch as the Town has already taken out a large
amount of business area for the municipal buildings.
The Planning; Board. thought that the business area would
have to grow in this direction and probably within fifteen
to twenty-five years time, it would be extended to
beyond.the.High School. They felt too, that in Leiington
the conditions in the Town were such that there were
no great fire hazards like in cities.
The Planning Board felt that .they could not contribute
anything more on the situation until the Chief of the
Fire Dept, had given information as to the space that he
needs for the apparatus.
It was suggested that the Committee view various
engine houses in other Towns, and after viewing them and
securing the information from the Chief, they nould hold
another meeting in a months' time. ,
A true record, Attest
Clerk.