HomeMy WebLinkAbout1930-05-27176
SELECTMEN IS MEETING
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May 27, 1930.
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held at 7:30 P . M. , at the Town Office 7DBuil ding .
Messrs. Burnham, Custance, Blake, Shannon and Trask
were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the
Clerk were present also.
Bill, Examination
Bill for the examination of the records of
of records,
the East Lexington Meadows was received from
E,Lex.
Mrs. A. F. Applin in the amount of $25.00. This
Meadows.
bill was approved by the Board.
Letter was received from the Builders
Finish Manufacturers Association, Inc., 185
Mill work
Devonshire Street, Boston, in which the Association
to be done
requested that in the specifications for public
in Mass.
works the clause be inserted calling foie the
mill work to be manufactured in Massachusetts.
The Board decided that they would notify
the School Building Committee that they approved
of this being done and suggested that it might be
done in connection with the new school house.
Letter was written to Mrs. Ida H. B. Capper
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accepting her suggestion that she might release
Capper releaseto the Town the land Pp an taken by the County Com -
of land.
missioners in connection with the layout of
Waltham Street.
In regard to the bill of $77.04, the same
being the amount which the April 19th Committee
Bill' of has over -run their account, the Town Accountant
April 19th stated that he did not believe that the payment
Committee. of this amount should come out of the Tercentenary
Appropriation inasmuch as the bookkeeping
for the April 19th celebration committee account
did not show that they exceeded their appropriation.
It wqs decided, therefore, to request the
Appropriation Committee to take this amount out
of the Reserve Fund.
Notice was received giving the decision of
Pichette & the State Fire Marshal regarding the appeal on
Ahern garage, the issuance of a license by the Board of Selectmen
decision on. to Pichette and Ahern to maintain a garage at 851
Massachusetts Avenue, in which the Fire Marshal
stated that he approved the action of the Selectmen
provided the following matters were attended to: '
(a) The wooden bulkhead that is now covered with
roofing paper must be removed and the vacant space
filled in with dirt.
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(b) The rear wooden doors now nailed shut must
be blocked up with terra cotta blocks or some
other fireproof material.
i (c) The waste crank case oil must not be thrown
around the premises but placed in a regular metal
cistern buried in the center of the rear lot
behind the building and drawn off and taken from
the premises at regular intervals.
The Board decided to notify the owners of the
property, Pichette and Ahern, to have these matters
attended to, and to have the Building Inspector
see that the orders were carried out.
Mr. Edwin B. Worthen having been requested to
present to the Town Counsel some suggestions for
the change in the regulations on overhanging Overhanging
signs, he presented a letter from Mr. Morse of Sign Ins.
the Employers Liability Assurance Corp. in which
Mr. Morse did not rate the New Amsterdam Company
very highly; other than that, there was no
suggestion of a change in the regulations.
The Town Counsel having read the letter,
advised the Board to adopt an amendment to the
Regulations which amendment was adopted as follows:
"Voted: That the rules and r egulationo
' relating to signs, advertising; devices, clocks,
marquees, permanent awnings and other like structures
projecting into or placed on or over public ways,
made and adopted by the BoarO of Selectmen of the
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts in 1929, be
amended by adding thereto at the end of paragraph 10
the following: 'A policy covering more than one
applicaht but otherwise conforming to this paragraph
may be.deposited jointly by such applicants in place
of separate policies.?" 1
If paragraph 11 has not been amended by sub-
stituting the word "policy" for "bond", it should now
be amended by adding to the foregoing vote the
following:
' ---"and by changing the word lbondt in the fourth
line of paragraph 11 to the word 'policy'."
Mr. Hollis Webster came before the Board at
7:45 P.M. to give the Board information regarding
the proposed Children's Museum which was intedded
to be located in the Pine Room in the Cary Memorial
Building. Mr. Webster stated that he understood
that Dr. Shannon had the dinsions of the cabinets
in which were enclosed specimens of various kinds
of birds. The eases, he stated, were four or five
in number and would probably fill up the Pine Room.
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Mr. Webster stated that he understood that
the Trustees of the Isaac Harris Cary Educational
Fund were entirely in accord with the establishment
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of this museum in the Pine Room; he also under-
stood that the cases might be moved out if at
any time the Pine room is needed for an enter -
Children's
tainment or celebration, and if any any time it
Museum.
becomes necessary to use the Pine Room for the
displayof antiques, they will find some other
location. It is hoped that in connection with
the Cary Memorial Library, that a Children's
Museum might be made out of a room in that building,
thus doing away with the Cary Memorial Building.
Mr. Webster stated that the children would
not be allowed to go into the room at all times,
but they would be under the care of a teacher in
the school and some member of the organization
would be also in charge of the children, and only
at times under their supervision, would the children
be allowed to go to this room.
The Board, voted to grant the Organization in
charge of the Children's Museum permission to
install their exhibit in the Pine Room in the
Cary Memorial Building, under the conditions
understood by Mr. Hollis 'Webster.
At 8 P.M. hearing was declared open on
the application of Arthur H. McLearn for per-
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mission to erect a three car garage on his premises
McLearn
at 837 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. McLearn appeared
garage.
and stated that he intended to build his garage
facing the street and 501 away from the next house,
from the end of the piazza.
No objection was received and the Board voted
to grant Mr. McLearn permission to erect a three
car garage on his premises.
Mr. Custance brought up the fact that in
putting in the gr*lithie sidewalk in front of
McLearn
Mr. McLeavnls premises, it would be necessary to
sidewalk.
raise the sidewal' to the proper grade. Mr.
McLearn has fixed up his premises in very good
dondition and he has graded the lot to the grade
that existed on the old sidewalk, and will now
have to re -grade the lawn. Under the circumstances,
Mr. Custance felt that the Town should stand the
cost of about $33. for filling in the sidewalk -
to meet the grade necessary to put the granolithic
sidewalk in its proper place.
The Board voted to do this.
Tucker Ave.
At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared open on
the acceptance of Tucker Avenue from Baker Avenue
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a distance of 360x. Mr. T. A. Custance conducted
the hearing.
Mr. John Audick stated that he had signed
the amount set against his name for estimated
betterment for the construction of this street.
At 8:10 P.M, hearing was declared open on
the application of the E. E. I. Co. for permission
to erect one pole on Eliot Road 3001 east of
Waltham Street.
No persons appeared to object, and it was
voted to grant the permit.
Application was received from the Ross Tire
and Battery Company for permission to install an
additional 1000 gallon gasoline tank at 3 Depot
Square. This is to provide for an electric
tank to take care of his special gasoline as well
as the ordinary gas. He how has the special gas
in a tank cart that is inconvenient to use.
The Board decided to advertise a hearing on
this application.
Pole location.
Ross Tire &
Battery
Application.
Official figures were received from the Census Census.
Bureau that the census taken in the Town gave the
population as 9429.
The Chairman signed the receipt of this information.
He stated that Mr. Peter Delmonico intended
to be present at the meeting, and was in
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favor of the layout.
Mr. Louis Vanderwoude stated that he was
interested in lots 428, 429 and 4301 He objected
to being assessed for the layout of this street.
He felt there was no improvement to these lots
that he owned on the street.
Mr. Herbert Flint asked why the Board was
so anxious to have this street accepted, inasmuch
as he felt that when the tried to have Carville
Avenue accepted, it was a very hard proposition
to accomplish. He has already been assessed on
Carville Avenue, and he did not see why he should
be assessed on Tucker Avenue, inasmuch as all he
could place upon his land would be a garage in the
rear, and he therefore did not believe that the
street was of any benefit to him. He was
interested in the street as a whole, and did
not see why the whole street was not accepted;
furthermore he could not see wherein 75% of the
property owners had signed the petition for the
acceptance of Tucker Avenue.
The assessment of the land of Mr. Flint on
Tucker Avenue would have to be taken up with the
Town Counsel and decide whether or not he should
be assessed on Tucker Avenue, for the portion of
the land that he owns as well as on Carville Avenue.
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The Board discussed the matter and voted to
pass an order accepting that part of Tucker Avenue
from Baker Avenue a distance of 3601 provided the
property owners signed the petition showing 75%
of the abutting owners.
At 8:10 P.M, hearing was declared open on
the application of the E. E. I. Co. for permission
to erect one pole on Eliot Road 3001 east of
Waltham Street.
No persons appeared to object, and it was
voted to grant the permit.
Application was received from the Ross Tire
and Battery Company for permission to install an
additional 1000 gallon gasoline tank at 3 Depot
Square. This is to provide for an electric
tank to take care of his special gasoline as well
as the ordinary gas. He how has the special gas
in a tank cart that is inconvenient to use.
The Board decided to advertise a hearing on
this application.
Pole location.
Ross Tire &
Battery
Application.
Official figures were received from the Census Census.
Bureau that the census taken in the Town gave the
population as 9429.
The Chairman signed the receipt of this information.
180
Application was received for the collection
of ashes•and refuse in precinetone.
.Application The Board decided to notify the petitioner
for disposal that the Town is not ready to take care of the
of ashes & collection of ashes° and rubbish, and to inform
rubbish. them that they could carry their refuse to the
dump on Bow Street.
Payment for I It was decided to pay Mr. Patrick J. Maguire
Serving the sum of 50� for each service that he,makes in
street deliverng notices on •street hearings, except in
notices. instances where there are a graat many on the one
street, and then the fee should be reduced.
Town Offices It was decided to close. the Town Office
closed. Building on May 31st, Saturday morning, owing
to the fact that the holiday of May 30th canes on
Friday.
Letter was received from the Supt. of Public
Works regarding the repairs to the standpipe]
He gave an estimate of $741.00 given by the .
Repair of Western Waterproofing Company for repairs to the
standpipe. standpipe. He recormnended that this Company
be employed to do the repairing, inasmuch_as they
had previously done the work on the standpipe.
He also recommended that a wire mesh be placed
over the top of the pipe to keep out leaves
and refuse that might blow in there.
Mr. Scamman reported a bid from The Shrewsbury
Tank Company for placing the mesh over the water
tank as $250.00
Town Engineer
to go to N.Y.
Letter was received from the Supt. of
Public Works recommending that the Town Engineer go
to the Laboratory of the Fairchild Aerial Surveys
Inc. at New York. The Fairchild Aerial Surveys
Inc. felt that there were two ways in which the
information regarding the surveys could be had;
one was that one of their Engineers at a charge of
$25 a day plus travelling expenses come here,
or the Town Engineer of Lexington visit their New
York Laboratory where one of the Engineers would
spend two or three days with him explaining and
actually showing him how to go about the survey
in the most efficient manner. There would be no
charge for the services of their Engineer in
their laboratory.
They recommended having the Town Engineer go
to get the practical application of thework.
The Board voted to recommend that the Town
Engineer be instructed to go to New York to
get experience in their_ laboratory.
The following sewer _orders were signed by the -Board:
Fottler Avenue Bow Street
Cliffe Avenue Theresa Avenue.
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Letter was received from the Supt. of Public
Works in which he rc commend. ed that t'le women
' clerks in the Town Office Building be granted
a vacation of three weeks instead of two weeks.
The Board,. after considering the matter,
voted to grant'a three weeks vacation for the
women clerks in the office provided they had
been in the office for one year and also provided
there would be no additional expense for clerical
hire in the office.
The Board decided to change , their recom-
mendation made last week in regard•to the committee
to be appointed at the Town Meeting of twenty-one,
and to recommend that only a committee be appointed
to study further the.Vine. Brook drainage project
and to allow. the Moderator to make his own
suggestion of the Committee, inasmuch as at the
last meeting when it was decided that none of the
members of the Committee would be members of the
Board of Selectmen, it seemed to be rather a poor
idea in case the Committee is instructed to
secure,bids.
Mr. R. H. Holt and Mr. S. R. Wrightington both
recorramended that thi. s be done.
Abatement was granted to H. M. Page,
' Avenue in the amount of $377.04, the same
sewer tax on the frontage of 50 feet.
A new ,commitment was also signed in
,of $287.20 to H. M. Page for the balance
sewer assessment.
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Three weeks
vacation to
women clerks.
Independence
being the
the amount
of the
Letter -xas received from F. L. Emery in which
he complained of the use by the Shell stations
of advertising of "Ti-tavelaide" signs.
It was decided if a complaint was more
specific that notice would be sent to the Shell
station calling attention to the displpLy of
unnecessary signs.
Mr. Joseph Campbell came before the Board and
stated that he did not have any work and he was
therefore in need of aid from the Town.
The Board informed him that his case would
have to be taken up by the Dept. of Public Welfare.
It was voted to accept the bond of the
Western Untion Telegraph Company which they filed
instead of filing an insurance policy to cover
their overhanging sign at 1727 Mass. Avenue, but
to inform them that they would have to file an
' insurance policy when this policy expires.
It was voted to request the Edison Company
to place an additional electric light on Washington
Street near the property of Mrs. Edith R. Simonds.
Vine BPook
drainage
committee.
Abatement&
Commitment.
Travelaide
signs.
Joseph Campbell
Bond of Western
Union Tel. Co.
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Electric Attention was also called to the fact that in
light, placing this light one of the other lights might
Washington possibly be abandoned.
Street.
The following licenses were granted:
Hairdressing.
Licenses.
Aline M. Thivierge 4 Waltham St.
Anita G. Thivierge 4 Waltham St.
Overhanging Signs.
Frank H. Ready 1758 Mass. Ave.
Ashley W. Partridge 1709 Mass. Ave.
Lex. Council K. of C. 10 Waltham St.
R. W. Blake 1733 Mass. Ave.
John 4Y. Cassidy 1715 Mass. Ave.
American Oil Co. Marrett Rd.
The following is the weekly report of the Supt.
of Public Works.
For the week ending May 24, 1930.
Highway Department.
Mass. Avenue between Bloomfield St. and Marrett
Road has been Traded on the east side and covered
with a coat of tar. The hard surface has been
patched with bituminous material and a seal coat
applied to the whole surface, covered with pea stone
and rolled.
Surface patches were made in Wood Street and
Woburn Street.
Grading and filling was done at Pleasant Stre--t
and Follen Road setting edgestones and preparing for
granolithic sidewalks.
Burlington Street was graded, a coat of tar
applied, covered with pea stone and rolled.
Winter Street was graded, tarred and rolled.
The drain in Lincoln Street was completed as
far as the manhole in the street and will be connected
with the drain in the Park to Vine Brook.
The usual maintenance and erection of street signs
will be attended to next week.
Moth and Shade Tree Dept.
This department #treated the nests of the Tent
''Caterpillars with creosote in various locations
and also removed the top from a tree in Bow
Street which was in a dangerous condition.
Next week the department will spray foliage on
the public property.
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Parks & Playgrounds.
The following work was accomplished by this
' department: mowing and raking at various
locations, cleaning up center Playground, erection
of shelter at Swimming Pool, cleaning and rolling
track, construction o" new tennis courts, work
on East Lexington tennis court, grading Hastings
Park.
Next week the department will be occupied with
the usual maintenance and construction work.
Water Maintenance.
Water service installed for the Lexington Sand
& Gravel Company in Hinchey Road. Built meter
pit and installed a` -2'r meter on this service.
Water Construction.
We have completed the.excavation in Valley Road
and are waiting for the pipe to arrive. Pipe
has been trucked to Walnut Street. One hydrant
has been set on Muzzey Street. Laid approximately
10001 of 12" pipe in Pleasant Street.
Sewer Construction.
' Approximately 95' of 8" sewer pipe has been
laid in Mass. Avenue opposite Child's garage, and
one manhole has been built.
Brooks.
One man has been s
cleaning out brook
The work contemplated for the week ending June 7th
is as follows: main to new hospital, water & sewer
services, etc.
Engineering Department
Highways.
Lines and grades for curbing and for granolithic.
Staked out Mass. Avenue building line from Grant
Street westerly.
Completed street acceptance plans.
Sewers.
Lines and grades for Mass. Avenue sewer opposite
East Lexington Station at Child's garage.
Miscellaneous.
Carvi lle Avenue lines for property owners.
Work on sewer record plans.
Yours very truly,
William S. Scamman, Supt. Public Wks.
The meeting adjourned at 11:40 P.M.�.[
A true record, Attest:
Cler .