HomeMy WebLinkAbout1929-11-12 410
SELECTMENTS MEETING - NOVEMBER 12, 1929
A 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 , Chamberlen,
Blake and Shannon were present. The Supt. of Public
"forks and the Clerk were also present
Street lights Report was received from the Supt. of Public works
Middle St. stating that five street lights are needed on Middle
Street between Marrett Road and Lincoln Street .
The Board accentedthe recommendation of the Supt.
and requested him to order the lights for this location.
Mr. Harold Lamont, 20 "iinthron Road , having
accepted the chairmanship of the '"ercen.tenary Committee,
came before the Board to talk with them regarding a
Committee to be farmed on the Tercenterc"y.
Mr. Lamont e-plained that he had read considerable
about the nronosed celebration, and he stated that the
central committee had a program i ,,__._1-13 from June 1st
Tercentenary to October 30. He talked with Mr 'E B 7orthen and
Committee. from him he received some suggestions . Mr. Lamont
suggested a committee to be a sort of a "Ways and Means"
Committee of a membership of from 5 to 12 men and women
with perhaps a representative from the American Legion,
Chairman of the 19th of April Committee, a man connected
with the banks , one or more or probably the whole Board
of Selectmen, one or more from the Historical Society
and one or more from the churches and schools He felt
that this Committee could then act as a sort of Advisory
Committee and that they in their indiv4dual capacity
on the Committee , could serve as chairmen of other
Committees.
He suggested the names of Mr. Elwyn C. Preston,
Fred S. Piper, George E. Briggs , Harry A. Wheeler, and
Frank Shepard as members of the Committee . He also
suggested that the central committee have in mind
securing the cooperation of the persons in the Town to
clean up the Town as much as possible.
He also suggested that the Town might appropriate
money to place permanent markers at all of the Historical
spots in the Town, and possibly he could secure the
cooperation of the parties on whose premises these
markers should be placed.
He stated that the Historical Society hada
book about the historical places in the Town, and they
can make up this book for 34 ' and sell it for 50d, thereby
making a profit and also giving to the Town the benefit
by improving their historical places . It was suggested
that the historical places be kept open until a later
hour so that parties from out of Town could have an
opportunity to view the buildings.
Mr. Lamont stated that he would bring in suggestions
at a later date as to the other members of this
Committee if the general outline that he had planned met
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with the approval of the Board. the Board exnressed to
Mr Lamont their aprreci'tion of his ac entance of the
chairmanship of' this committee and informed him th^t
they were entirely in accord with his nrogress in this
connection.
At 8 P.M. hearing was declared open upon the
application of the Lovell Bus Line Inc. for permission
to operate busses in Lexington from the Woburn-Lexington Lovell Bus
line over Woburn and Lowell Streets to the Arlington- hearing.
Lexington line.
Mr. S. R. Wrightington was present and conducted
the Daring.
Mr. James Henchey of 'Woburn appeared for Mr.
Lovell and 38 persons were present Mr Henchey stated
that the Lovell Bus Line -was incorporated in 1919, and
at that time operated a route between "oburn and Reading
and one from Woburn to Billerica , and the Eastern Mass .
R.R. Co. took over the line from the Lovell Bus Line Inc. ;
then the Lovell Bus Line Inc took over the Concord
Maynard and Hudson Street Railwa— Co. operating between
Concord and Arlington Heights and adjoining towns along
the line.
The Lovell Bus Line Inc . now felt that there was
a demand for service from Woburn to Lexington and from
Arlington Centre through to Watertown Square, going
` by the way of Belmont.
All of the persons present voted in favor of the
bus line nrovided the line came down along Lowell
Street, inasmuch as this is where they desire to get
to Boston from.
Mr. Henchey stated that the Lovell Bus Line Inc.
was desirous of giving service but of course, they
could not give service if there was not a reasonable
return on their investment. For the past six months
there has been a demand for service from this section.
They have not as yet received any permits for any
other Town but the matter has been before the '''oburn
City Council and their attitude, Mr. Henchey stated,
was that if Lexington would grant a permit, they would
not stand in the way of granting a permit.
Mrs. Manuel A. Perry stated that they desired to
have the service on Lowell Street , and not on Summer
Street extension, inasmuch as that service would not
help them, and at the present time they had to pay taxi
fares to go to Arlington Heights.
Mr. Henchey stated that they desired to go down
Lowell Street because that is the street on which most
of the people live.
Mr. T. A. Custance suggested that the bus line might
go down Lowell Street and then swing up rark Ave over
the hill by the school house in Arlington and back onto
Summer St. extension, and in that way he did not think
there would be any competition with the Boston Elevated.
Mr. Lovell was also present and stated that he wanted
to give the beat service that he could in any place
where there was a demand for it.
Mr Eric Johnson also stated th-t fully 1Clg ,pf the
Al ')
people present were from Lowell Street and they were OPISVIO
at this hearing for the purpose of supporting this A
petition so that they could have bus service on
Lowell Street.
Mr. Johnson also cnoke of the scM,00l childred
that now have to go to Arlington Heights to get to
the Junior High, School, and thought that they might
use this Lovell Bus to ride up to Woburn Street.
Mr. Frank E. Tucker stated that he did not see
how this ne tition could be an interference to the
Boston Elevated.
The Town Counsel explained to them that this
matter would have to go before the Dept. of Publt
Utilities , and they are the parties to decide whether
or no , it would be considered competitive . Only one
party present lived over the line in Arlington. All
others were residents of Lowell Street section.
The hearing closed at 8 45 P.M.
After the hearing the Board decided to vote4n
favor of granting a permit to the Lovell Bus Line Ines
Plan extension Application was received from Robins & Smith
of Spencer St. for approval of plan for extension of Spencer Street.
It was decided to refer this plan to the Planning
Board.
Alcohol Alcohol license was signed for Mrs . Anselm C.
license. Mullen, 301 Mass. Ave .
Letter was received. from Mr. Neil McIntosh
in which he informed the Board that he might be able
McIntosh lot to arrange with the purchasers of the lot owned by
on '''glthamSt him on 'althorn Street to waive the award of damages
providing that the Town nuild a retaining wall in front
of the lot as it appeared before the relocation.
The matter was referred to the Supt . of Public
'Yorks for a report as to the location of the lot
andwhat anpears to be necessary.
A letter was signed to be sent to General
''later main Frank T. Hines , Director of U.S. Veterans , Hospital,
Ito Veterans , Washington, D. C. asking whether or not their
Hospital. Department was interested in the proposal for the water
main to the Bedford Hospital.
Letter was received from Edward W. Taylor
Accident, calling attention to the accident at the corner of
Bedford St Bedford Street and No. Hancock Street, and asking
that something be done to remedy the dangerous
condition at this point b installing a beacon or
some other means of warning.
The Board referredthe matter to the Supt. of
Public Works to bring his recommendations to them
for improvement in the traffice condition.
Invitation was received from the American Legion
to attend the Armistice banquet at the Mohawk Club,
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Thursday evening, November 14, 1929. The individual American
members of the Board had already accepted the Legion
invitation to attend the dinner. Banquet.
Mr. T A. Cust^nce reported that the
Arpropriation Comm- ttee were to have a meeting Tentative
Nov.13, and at that time they desired to discuss estimates for
the tentative estimates for the year 190. He 1930.
presented a list drawn up by him of estimates for
the coming year He also presented a list of bond
issues which the Town might be called upon to issue
for 1930.
The Board discusses) these various estimates
but did Aot feel that they could make any definite
recommendation as yet.
Mr Custance was going to present the tentative
list to the Appropriation Committee for their
consideration.
Mr. Custance brought up the matter of disposing
of the condition caused by the action of the Board. Trask
last year in installing a sewer to accommodate Mr. sewer.
Robert P. Trask up Mass. Avenue in on the Trask
property.
He explained that Mr. Trask paid for the
installation of the sewer which was laid in his
lawn and not in the Highway. After this was laid
Mr. Trask refused to let Mr. Ripley connect with
this sewer inasmuch as it was a private connection.
Mr. Custance felt therefore , that now that the
Sewer Dept ate installing a sewer in Mass. Avenue , that
the condition at Mr. Ripley's should be taken care
of. It would cost Mr. Ripley about $400. to change
over all of his plumbing to go through to Audubon
Road, and it was not the natural flow of the sewer
to go that way. He felt that the Town should bear
part of the evpense, owing to the manner in which
the in tallation was handled in that section last
year.
It was decided to lay the matter on the table for
one week.
The- Supt. of Public '"corks gave a ^eport of the
estimated cost to the various owners of property for
the deepening and widening of Clematis Brook. It Clematis
was decided to send a cony of the estim^tes to Brook
A. J. Lima of '°'nitham Utreet and have him take up the
matter witr the various residents , as to the n vmrnt
of the amounts set asid their names for the cost of
deepening and widening the brook.
The Supt of Public Works ' attention was called Parking
to the fact that some-Aigns should be placed on Elm Signs.
Avenue to eliminate narking on both sib,ls of the
street, and also on the Hancock St side near the
Masonic Hall.
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Clapboard's Various matters such as obtaining old clapboards +6
for Belfry. to nlace upon the Belfry on Belfry Hill were considered.
Trey , Maple Attention was called also to q tree on Maple
Street. Street near the bridge which is in o dangerous con-
dition.
Relocation Mr. Custance stated that he felt that Cedar
of Cedar St. Street should be relocated its entire length while
the Town owns the Almshouse property.
fanA
It was decided to communicate with the Planning
Cerussi Rd. Board abking them for a report regarding the proposed
streed from Mass. Avenue to Vine Brook along the
Viano garage, inasmuch as a change in the layout to
80 ' would require another hearing, which would have
to be held before the layout is accepted by the Town.
The following is the weekly report of the Supt of
Public r!or'es .
For the week ending November 9, 1929.
Highway Department.
The department continued the work of constructing
Hill Top Avenue and has completed the drainage in
Coolidge Avenue .
Surface patches have been made in Mass . Ave ., Woburn
Street and. ("d>ncoid. AVanue .
A large number of catch basins and gutters have
been cleaned, traffic lines and signs placed and other
maintenance work attended to.
Next week the department will continue the work
on Hill Top Avenue and will attend to the regular
maintenance .
Moth and Shade Tree Department.
Gypsy and Brown Tail moth nests have been treated
with creosote in Weston Street, ShadeStreet and Concord Ave.
and this work will occupy the department next week.
PARK DEPARTMENT
The work of leveling the filling at the Lincoln
Street end of the playground has progressed and that
work and regular mainte rance has occupied the department.
during the past week.
Next week it will attend to the regular maintenance.
Water Maintenance
"eater services installed for Hill, on Prospect
Hill Road; three for Generoso on Eliot Road and Warren
Street
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Water Construction.
The Mass. Ave. water main has been completed
II with the evicention of h drants which as vet have not
been received.
We have laid approximately 2300' of 12" water pipe.
Sewer Construction.
On Wednesday, November 6th, work was started on
the extension of the Mass . Ave sewer from Audubon
Road to property of J H Valliere.
Anproximately 180 ' of 8" sewer pipe has been
laid and one manhole has been constructed
This wor'. will be retarded considerably due to the
ledge that has been encountered in the excavation.
The work contemplated for the week ending November
23rd is as follows extension of the Mass . Ave. sewer
job; extension of the 12" water main from Summit Avenue
to Cedar Street on the northerly side of Mass. Avenue.
Engineering Department.
Sewers .
Recorded sewer plan of Mass. Ave. from Audubon
`Road to beyond Lake Street at Registry November 6.
Lines and grades for construction of Mass. Ave.
sewer. Work begun November 6. )
Highways.
Changes made in relocation of Hill Street in
field and on plans.
Started work on Mass . Ave. to set back curb
fronting Colonial Building.
Miscellaneous.
Preliminary work for additional fencing at
Westview Cemetery.
Started topo work in area bounded by Mass. Ave. ,
School Street, Lincoln Street and Audubon Road.
Bow Street survey for location beyond culvert.
Yours ve.oy truly,
William S Seamman
Supt of Public Works.
The meeting adjourned at 10 50 P M.
A true record, Attest
Clerk.