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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1930-04-01 94 7C S :LBCTMEN'S MEETING April 1, 1930. 1 A regular meeting of the Boa- d of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room , Town Office Building, at 7 30 P.M. Messrs. Burnham, Custance, Blake, Shannon and Trask were present . The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present . The following permits for overhanging signs Overhanging were signed by the Board sign licenses. Eva M. Robinson 9 Waltham St. Lexington Tire Service 1802 Mass. Ate. In regard to the persons who have not complied with the Regulations, it was decided to give them 10 days to com:ly then if they did not comply with the Regulations , to enforce the sane. Letter was received from the Boston & Maine R. R. Co. in regard to our letter written them relative to painting their buildings in the Town for the Tercentenary celebration. They stated that their representative would call upon the Chairman of the Board and explain the situation regarding the painting of buildings. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he stated that he had taken up the tatter of the complaint made on behalf of Mary Ball, Banks Ave. through her attorney, Mr. Thomas P. Culhane, The Opinion, Town Counsel stated that he advised the Building Town Inspector that it made no difference; that the building Counsel. was incomplete and the fact that it was attached to a building properly located made no difference, but he should order the structure removed as long as the addition to the building violated the lot line distance of the Zoning Law. The Board signed the statement authorizing the State Dept. of Public Works to advertise for bids on Construction the construction of Massachusetts Avenue from Marrett of Mass. Road to Lincoln Street Avenue. Mr. Custance in this connection, stated that he had received a letter from the Dept. of Public Works asking for a conference with the Selectmen on the matter of construction of this highway and payment Of damages. The Board designated Mr. Custance to represent them at this conference. Letter was received from Representative George E. Briggs regarding House Bill #1095. In Mr. Briggs ' letter he stated that this bill was reported favorably 95 in the House of Representatives on Friday, and would probably go to the Senate. Inasmuch as the bill did House Bill not incur any expenditure of money, he stated that #1095. he was willing to have it tried out. Ibis bill is for the purpose of giving information to cities and towns whenever any levy of a tax is to be made upon them for any project before the Legislature and would give the towns and Cities a pro-rata assess- ment estimate. At 8 P.M. hearing was declared open on the application of Charles F. Schuh, 24 Clarke Street, C. F. Schuh for permission to erect a two car garage on his garage granted premises. No persons appeared for or against the petition. The clerk reported that Mrs. Jessie E. Kimball, 21 Forest St. , telephoned that she was very much in favor of the permit being granted to Mr. Schuh, as she was certain that it would be an improvement to his own property and the surrounding property. It was voted to grant the permit. The Board signed statement regarding the G. A. Warner, nomination and appointment of the Slaughter Inspector, Slaughter George A. Warner. Inspector. The following licenses were signed by the Board: Common Victuallers. Annie B. Fraser 803 Mass . Ave. Sidney B. & Margaret W. Heywood 271 Marrett Rd. Richard Whittemore Marrett Road Louis K. Liggett Co. 1721 Mass. Ave. Mary A. & Ernest R. Rowland Lowell Street Gertrude E. base 433 Marrett Road William A. Granfield Spring St. & Marrett Rd. Hattie E. A. Peckham 37 Hancock Street Sunday Sales Bankt F. Trumbull Concord Ave. & WalthamSt. Anna A. Hannaford Marrett Road Alcohol Lex. Tire Ser. 1802 Mass. Ave. Gertrude E. Chase 433 Marrett Road Pool License James J. Carroll 1764 Mass. Avenue Intelligence Office Florence Crittenton League 1851 Mass. Ave. 96 ZION rem `17 State Aid The Board approved the State Aid return in the l) Return. amount of $28. The Board approved bill of $6.58, the same being for the stenographic report of the hearing on the Lovell BUB Line Inc. Letter was received from the State Fire Warden, Mr. M. C. Hutchins, in which he stated that he was very much disturbed over the forest fire situation in Lexington. He suggested a change in the Forest Warden and when the matter comes up for appointment Forest Fire in January, he felt that something should be done. situation. The Board felt that the Fire Warden did not make very much difference with forest fires as they have been coming the last few weeks in Lexington, thaormueh as the fires are mostly set by carelessness and persons buring incinerators, and by spafks coming from automobiles , cigarettes or cigars. The "hief of the Fire Dept. inserted an article in the local paper last week regarding the fires, and the Board decided to put the following notice in the local paper on recommendation of the Town Counsel: Notice. In view of the increasing menace of grass and forest fires in Lexington, notice is hereby given that any person through whose negligence such a fire is caused will be prosecuted therefor. By order of the Board of Selectmen. Albert H. Burnham, Chairman. The Board also felt that they should get the cooperation of the Police Department to see if by patrolling the outskirts of the Town, either by plain clothes men or by motorcycle, they could catch the offenders who set the fires and prosecute them and this would be a lesson to other persons to use precaution. Application was received from Mr. A. M. Prendergast Prendergast for permission to increase the capacity of their increase in gasoline tanks at filling station, 329 Mass. Avenue, gasoline. from 2500 to 5000 gallons. The Board voted to advertise a hearing on the same. Letter was received from Mr. W. Benjamin C. Meady Request for requesting that he be given some of the own Insurance. insurance. The Board decided to place the application on file until such time as insurance is placed. A report was made by the Clerk of information recieved from various towns regarding their office 97 hours. The information was read to the meeting, but Office Hours. no action was taken on the same. The Board decided to approve the automatic increase in the salary of the Engineering Dept. and Police Dept. as follows: Engineering Department effective March 31, 1930. John T. Cosgrove from $58.00 per wk. to $60. Per wk. Stanley A. Higgins " 42.00 " h n 44. n r, J. Bruce Lewis " 33.50 " " " 34, n n George Harrington " 26.00 " " " 27.50 " " Arthur E. Colvin " 25.00 " " " 27.E " " 7 William C. Paxton " 19.00 " " " 22.001." n John O 'Connor " 18.00 " " " 19.00 " " Albert A. Miller " '17.00 tt if n 19.00 H " Albert E. Hodgson " 17.00 " " " 19.00 " " Samuel Zeitlen " 17.00 " " " 19.00 n n Roger Disken " 17.00 " " " 19.00 " " Phillip Spizer " 17.00 " " t " 19.00 " Pay of the Police Dept. is automatic according to the sliding scale arranged for patrolmen. 1st, six months $4.75 per day. 2nd six months 5.00 per day 2nd year 5.25 per day Salaries. 3rd year 6.50 per day 4th year ° ' 5.75 per day 5th yr.& after 6.00 per day Seven patrolmen are receiving the maximum pay now so that of those in the service affected are as follows : Edward .3. Lennon started April 18, 1926 and is entitled to the rate of $6.00 per day April 18, 1930. John M. Barry Started April 10, 1928 and should receive $5.50 per day beginning April 10, 1930. John Rycroft started May 23, 1927 and should receive $5.75 per day beginning May 23, 1930. George Smith started April 24, 1928 and should receive 415.50 per day beginning April 24, 1930. In regard to the salary of the Clerk of the Supt . of Public Works, Mr. Scamman requested in increase in Miss Cecilia Maguire 's pay of $2.00 per week. In regard to salaries of the women clerks in the Town Office Building, the Clerk was instructed to present a schedule of salaries to the Board at the next meeting. . 98 rd The Board voted to grant the use of the center April 19th. playground and the Battlegreen to the April 19th Celebration Committee for the celebration of April 19th. Letter was received from the Health Inspector in which he reported that C. R. Butcher, Mill St. , Lincoln and Manual Domings of Lincoln were transporting garbage through Lexington without a permit. Health The Clerk was instructed. to find out whether or nit Inspectorls these men had been previously notified to apply for Report. a permit and if they had not, to notify them giving them an opportunity to apply before the Health Officer should prosecute them for violation of the Board of Health regulations. Report was received from the Health Inspector in which he stated that William J. Leary was collecting garbage on Vine Brook Road, Highland Avenue, Slocum Road and Percy Road in violation of the Board of Health Health Regulations and he would proceed to prosecute him if Inspector, the Board felt it should be done. re Leary Mr. Russell I. Prentiss stated in person that report. Mr. Leary has been notified to cease collecting garbage but he continues to do so. The Board therefore instructed the Health Inspeetrar to proceed against Mr. Leary for collecting garbage in violation of the Health Regulatiohs. Commitment Commitment of water rates amounting to $6508.21 signed. was signed by the Board. Letter was presented by the Health Inspector regarding the prosecution of Frank Canisius for collecting garbage. He-stated that Mr. Canisius collects around Meriam Street, Revere Street, Hancock and Adams Streets, Berwick and Somerset Roads and from the rear of the Colonial Block. He reported that he had entered complaint in the district court at Concord against Mr. Canisius for violating the Board of Health Regulations. This action was approved by the Board. The Health Inspector reported regarding the Cesspools, condition of the cesspools on the property of Dr. Walsh Bedford St. 92 Bedford St. , and the property of C. F. Whitely, 10 Manning St. He reported a stagnant pool 25+ in diameter -close to the house of Mr. G. A. Coseia. It was stated that through real estate transactions the Whitely property will be in the hands of a member of the Board of Selectmen, and therefore the nuisance can be abated at an early date. The Board discussed the plans of the layout of '. corner of Follen Road where the pastor of the Catholic Church has made an application for a curb to be placed in front of the Church property. • 99 It was decided while this is being done to clean Curbs in front up around Wellington Park and place a curb around the of Catholic end of the park, and also clean up the property on Church. the opposite side of the street. It was decided to request the Middlesex County Rat Extension Service for some rat exterminator for the Exterminator. Town dumps. The Board discussed the plan of Hastings Park. Hastings It was decided to place curbs at the lower end of the Park. park and to plant trees at the upper end. Mr. Frederick L. Emery came before the Board relative to getting information for the report which the Town votes to have made on the Vine Brook drainage. He stated that the Planning Board would like to obtain the servies of Mr. Raymond of Metcalf & Eddy to secure information for the report and that his services could be received for about $40 a day. Drainage. Mr. Emery also spoke about the flooding of the area on Grant Street and stated that Mr. Milne felt that a study and some work on this area might make the drainage of some benefit to this territory, and hd would also like to have Mr. Emery study this matter. The Board agreed to authorize Mr. Emery to employ Mr. Raymond for the purpose of making a study of the drainage matter. Mr. Emery also asked that the Town Engineer be instructed to make a detailed plan as far as possible showing all of the property owners affected by the drainage scheme. The Board also agreed to instruct the Town Engineer to have this plan made. Mr. Blake reported that he had been on Belfry Hill and found that two of the small trees had their tops Regulations cut off, and he felt that regulations should be printed re destruc- and placed up on all of the park lands. tion of trees The Board decided to have some regulations printed to be printer and placed up on the Town property to avoid destruction. Dr. Shannon called the attention of the Supt. of Public Works to the fact that the railroad crossings at Meriam and Woburn Streets have some tracks that are Tracks not not in use. in use. The Supt. was requested to write to the Boston and MainetR, R. Co. and ask them to remove their tracks if they are not intending to use them in the future. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he stated that he received two letters from the Building Inspector regarding the Pichette and Ahern garage. The Building Inspector informed him that a representative from the Public Safety Dept. had viewed the garage of Piohette and Ahern and recommended some changes which 100 rJ are being done; the chsngs namely are that the two windows next to the other garage are being closed up, and a new wall is being placed under the outside wall of the building where the cellar goes beyond the garage, Pichette & so that the shed roof annex can be taken away. Ahern granted The Board also had before it a copy of a letter license. written by the Fire Chief, Edward W. Taylor, to Ahern Pichette dated March 20, 1930 specifying certain structural changes which should be done. Selectman Trask reported that he had viewed the premises and that these changes had been substantially completed, and that the door of the basement had been so narrowed that it could no longer be used for the entrance of ears and that the capacity of the main floor was only two cars. He further explained that the concrete cellar wall had been built and that the wooden construction in the rear covering an old cellar hole was not structurally a part of the building, and that the distance betikeen this building and the adjoining garage of concrete block is ten feet. After considering the evidence of the hearing of March 25, 1930 and the matters presented at this meeting, the Board decided t}.a.t in their opinion the fire hazard is not materially increased by the location of this garage and therefore voted to grant a license to Pichette & Ahern to conduct and maintain a garage and repair shop for automobiles at 851 Massachusetts Avenue and to keep, store and sell petroleum products and velatile inflammable liquids in connection therewith. Assignment was received from Bertha V. Pichette and Maurice P. Ahern of their title and interest in the license granted to them, to Arthur B. Field of Lexington. It was therefore voted by the Board to grant to Arthur B. Field a license to conduct and maintain a garage and repair shop for automobiles; and to keep, store-and sell petroleum products and volatile inflammable liquids in connection therewith, at 851 Mass. Avenue. Mr. T. A. Custance reported telephone conversation with Rockwell C. Tenney regarding the placement of a fence rack of his property along Belfry Hill. He stated Fence, that Mr. Tenney decided he did not want the fence now, Belfry Hill. but Mr. Custance informed him that he should make a payment towards the cost of constructing this fence. Water Hain,' The Supt. of Public Works reported a sum of to Poreer $627.13 had been paid for water by Porter Bros. Bros. & and Wilson for water furnished to their premises on Wilson, East East Street. They have made a request for a 12" water Street. main to be installed, inasmuch as the amount of water consumed would exceed the cost of the guarantee., 101 the Supt. of Public Works was instructed to install a 12 main. Attention of the Supt. of Public Works was called to a dump on Pleasant Street and a dump near the Dumps. Graham Farm in Lexington that should be cleaned up. The Following is the weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works : For the week ending Mareh 29, 1930. Highway Department. Work on Hill street during the week consisted of removing a large amount of ledge and placing it in the low part of the street, also filling in with bank gravel. Many holes in the street surfaces were patched in Mass. Avenue, Maple Street, Forest Street, Clark Street, Muzzey Street, Hancock Street and Adams Street. Spring Street, Concord Avenue and Allen Street were scraped with the grader, removing a number of uneven places and filling ruts. Next week the department will be occupied with regular maintenance, cleaning up and making ready for April 19th. IIMoth and Shade Tree Dept. Moth nests in Munroe Cemetery were treated withr creosote. A number of trees on the common were prepared for removal. Next week the work of treating the moth nests will be continued. Park Department. The department has a number of trees to b e removed from the Commoh and one large Elm from the triangle opposite the Masonic Temple. The regular maintenance work was attended to. Next week the department will be occupied with maintenance. Water and bewer Dept; Water Maintenance. We have been diggin up and packing gates, also opening and closing gates to see if they are working properly. Water Constru^tion Crossed street on Mass. Ave. at Sullivants and 10oak tied in the two twelve inch tains. We have completed installing the hydrant at the Breck Robinson Nursery. Sewer Maintenance. Installed sewer service for Beach on Oakland St. ; installed service to sidewalk for Nickerson on Mass. Ave. We have connected three houses on Concord Hill with the seweras far as the sidewalk. Sewer Construction The compressor and three men have been working for the Highway Department. Engineering Department. Highways. Hill Street lines. Sewers. Line and grade for house connections. Water. Tied in Mass. Ave. 12" main. Miscellaneous Survey preliminary to Wood Street Topo. Check levels at Swan, Harrington Robinson land. Figures and plans for Vine Brook Drainage. Large plan of Marshall property. Waltham Street line for property owner. Yours very truly, William S . Scammq.n, Supt. of Public Works. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk.