HomeMy WebLinkAbout1958-01-16-CEC-min.pdf hd rf1\
MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM.' WITH MR JAQUITH
January 16, 1958
al meeting of the members of the Capital Expenditures Committee
was held with Mr. Wilbur Jaquith of the Fire Station Committee
on Thursday, January 16, 1958 at 8:00 p.m. at the home of San-
born Brown Those present for the C.E.Comm. were Sanborn C. Brow$6n,
chairman, Dan H. Fenn Sr., Rosemary Fitzgerald, Irving H. Mabee,
and Norman Royle, with Mabelle Tucker acting as secretary.
Mr. Brown stated that last year, even before the Fire Commissioners
decided to postpone the request for the new fire station, the C.E.
Comm. wasn't convinced that it was necessary. He read from the
1957 C.E.Comm report: "It .long range thinking can be crystallized
by 1960, that year would be a satisfactory one from the point of
view of the predicted timetable of capital expenditures.. ."
Mr. Jaquith said that at that time the Fire Commissioners were making
a survey of what proportion of houses in town would be serviced by
the new station; they never actually finished the survey because
of several problems: (1) Reconstruction of Route 2 - the state's
plans for what happens at Pleasant St. and Spring St. will affect
the runs to the other side of Route 2. The selectmen and Planning
Board have been trying for 6 months to get the plans for Route 2
from the state Public Works Dept - and have been told that there
will be an overpass at Pleasant St. with no connection to Route 2
except possibly from Minute Man Highlands. Spring St. will be an
overpass unless Filene's shopping center is built, in which case
there will be an interchange. It is pretty clear that there will
be immediate access to Concord Ave. both via Pleasant St. and Spying
St. without the stop now required, so that time will be saved in
the run. (2) Traffic studybby the Town Traffic Committee - the
report is finished byt not released. It shows that a large volume
of traffic originates from the Manor Section, Bed$erd St. and Mass.
Ave. north of Woburn St. and either comes through the center of
town and down Mass. Ave. , of goes via Lowell, Maple and Mass. Ave.
to go to Boston, entering Route 2 from Watertown St. by Child's
filling station. A new bypass road to run from Bedtezd St. in the
Sunnyfield area (by Westview cemetery , ver Route 128 by Grove St.,
over to Burlington St. , across the meadow to &dams St., then
across to Woburn St. and Maple St., then either on the inside of
the Meadow or on the Arlington side, down into Mass. Ave. beyond
the start of Pleasant St., and in back of Wilson's Fathrough
Peacock Farm to Route 2 at Child's station, s being nlanne This
road will change the picture as to fire coverage by the East Lexing-
ton station and will give them a quicker run to the Northern end
of town than the present run through the center. One leg of this
road is already built - Justin St. in Mark Moore's Burnham Farm
development near Grove St. Mr. Brown asked how soon this road will
be built. Mr. Jaquith answered that it depended on how fast the
town develops - its completion is probably 10 - 15 - 20 years off.
If the area between Maple St. and Woburn St. is to be developed
one leg of the road will be done when the development is put in.
This road will not affect the timing of the fire station however,
(3) Proposed construction of a road from Wood St. to Bend/id St. -
still not laid out and no money appropriated. (4) Proppeed extension
of Eldred St . to Grove St. - will make a difference as far as
coverage by central of the Grove St. area. (5) Additional construction
of subdivisions has been reduced substantially this year.
Page 2
MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH MR. JAQUITH
January 16, 1958
Kith this background in mind the Fire Station Committee has not come
to any decision on what to recommend about the new fire station,
Mr. Jaquith said that there was no greater need for the station this
year than last. He gave some figures on total number of fires in
town for the past five years: 1953, 773; 1954, 712; 1955, 761;
1956, 762; 1957, 928. Of the increase in the past year, grass and
peat fires caused an increase of 62 (from 180 to 242) and dump fires
increased 13. There was a large decrease in accident calls - from
109 down to 56.
Mr. Brown asked Mr. Jaquith/5 advice as to what the C.E.Comm. should
tentatively carry in their report - would he recommend delaying a
decisionuntil Route 2 firms up? Mr. Jaquith replied that as of two
weeks ago the Fire Commissioners had decided to recommend that a
study committee be appointed with some money to get plans; some mem-
bers thought that if they wanted the station to be built in 1960,
the timing would be better to get the plans next year, not this.
Mr. Jaquith said that he had made a survey of the files of the World
War 2 Fire Station Committee - they made a detailed analysis and
came up with the recommendation of a site near the Reservoir on
Marrett Road. The town acquired the land in 1948, and there was no
mention made in the correspondence or in the vote on the article
that the land was acquired for a fire station. Yet in conversations
the fire commissioners were given to believe that this was their
site.
Mr. Brown said that last year the C.E.Comm. were led to believe that
North Lexington might be a more useful place than Marrett Road to put
a new station - was this a valid concept? Mr. Jaquith replied that
it depended on whether you wanted this to be a three or four station
town. The North Lexington site wouldnhot help the Marrett Road,
Concord Ave. area, because the central station would be in between.
If North Lexington were developed as an industrial area, there might
then be a need for a closer fire station. The residential problem
will be helped by a road through to Grove St.
Mrs. Fitzgerald asked when a new station would be needed to house
equipment, outside of the problem of where you want it. Mr. Jaquith
thought that the Fire Commissioners (engineers) should answer that.
They say that the present equipment will be sufficient and will be
shifted from other stations. The new station will take 9 men at
$4000 a year, plus $2000 yearly for operation - or a total of $38,000
to $40,000 a year for the new station.
Mr. Mabee asked if the central station were in a different location
could we be a three station (at most) town - did we blunder in the
location of the headquarters station. Mr. Jaquith replied that we
did not blunder - that the main reason for the location was (1) to
have a station on each side of the business section; and (2) w h
be nearer to North Lexington. No one" foresaw the growth of outlying areas
Mrs. Brown asked how the need for a new station could be measured -
by more damage than necessary: Mr. Jaquith aiswered that it could not
Page 3
MEETING OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMM. WITH MR. JAQUITH, cont.
January 16, 1958
be measured by fire loss, since one large fire could bring a big loss;
the Board of Fire Underwriters says that the time required for a run
is important - the first three minutes are crucial. The distance the
engine has to travel affects the time. Our residential losses have
been very low, but that could change as the houses get older.
Mr. Mabee asked if Mr. Jaquith thought Lexington would be a 2,3 or 4
station town when its eventual growth of 50,000 was reached. Mr.
Jaquith answered that it would be a three station town unless there
were valuable industrial property upbin N. Lexington with frequent
fires.
Mr. Brown asked again what to put in the C.E.report. Mr Jaquith
said that the committee would know in 2 or 3 weeks what it would
recommend - they might well recommend a continuation of the committee.
He suggested that the C.E.Comm. keep it the way they have it for now.
Mr. Fenn asked if mutual aid with Bedford were hopeless. Mr. Jaquith
said no, and if it came it would be a big help on Winter St. and the
upper end of Grove St. The feeling of the Fire Commissioners is that
Bedford hasn't yet reached the pent where they can handle it - their
force has been a volunteer one t3,1 recently. Winchester is a
one station town and is condider g another station on this side of
Turkey Hill which would help with Sun Valley.
Mr. Royle asked about fire protection for Lincoln Lab . Mr. Jaquith
said that the Air Force had its own force. Mr. Royle thought perhaps
Bedford or Lexington could get help from the Air Force if a big fire
got out of hand.
Mr. Jaquith asked why the C.E.Comm. put 1960 as the date for the
new station. Mr. Brown answered because the Fire Commis'sl:oners
shifted it to 1960; the C.E.Comm. did not recommend it for 1958.
Mrs. Fitzgerald said that 1960 was a relatively low year for capital
expenses at that point. Mr. Jaquith thought thatif 1960 still
looked like a good year in the next three or four that it might be
wise to build the station then. Mr. Brown replied that it would
be the best of the years from 1958 through 1962.
Mr. Mabee asked how Lexington's insurance (fire) rates compared with
Winchester's. Mr. Jaquith did not know, except that Lexington's
rates were not too bad. Brookline has the best rating. However, a
new station wouldn't make a difference in our stating, since that is
based on equipment and personnel; it is probably not based on time
of runs since that is too difficult to get. Mr. Brown asked how you
could justify the expense of the new station if it didn't change the
rating. Mr. Jaquith replied that it now takes 5 minutes to get to
Five Fields, the longest run; this can be cut to 2 minutes if an
overpass is built, which it may be in 3 years. Mr. Brown asked why
need the station if an overpass will be built. Mr. Jaquith said
that the overpass would take care of Minute Man Highlands, but won't
speed up the time to Five Fields or Woodhaven. (Apparently I misunder-
stood the above) . Prospect Hill is also difficult, and there will be
the new development in back of the High School. If there were a
bad fire in North Lexington and in Woodhaven at the same time it would
be tough. Ideally should get to any spot in 3 minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 9;15 p.m.