HomeMy WebLinkAbout1930-11-25 350
November 25, 1930
C'a
SELECTMEN' S MEETING
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen
was held at the Selectmen' s Room, Town Office Build-
ing, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs Burnham, Custance, Shd.nnm ,
Blake and Trask were present. The Supt. of Public
Works and the Clerk were also present.
Hearing was declared open on the Board' s notice
of intention to establish a building line on
Massachusetts Avenue from the property of Rubin &
Building Seligman to Meriam Street. Mr. Miller representing
Line. the Scott Tea Company and Mr. William H. Ballard
appeared before the Board on behalf of the Board.
Mr. Ballard stated that he had visited Mr.
Miller,and given him all the facts of the case, going
back to the time the Board had their dealings with
the Stuart=Marshall Realty Company, and the vote of
the Town regarding the appropriation for the purchase.
Ir. Miller stated that he understood that
an offer had been made to the Hunt Estate and to
Ir. O' Connell in connection with the establishment
of the building line, and he felt that the Town should
make an offer to them inasmuch as any figures they
might present might not seem reasonable to the Board,
they were willing, hdwever,to cooperate but wished
to register their objection to the establishment of
a building line to protect their interests.
No other persons appeared at the hearing.
After the hearing was declared closed, Mr.
Ballard discussed with the Board what their re-
commendation would be regarding the 100 ' street ; whether
or not they intended to have sidewalks on both sides
or the street of an equal width and have a certain
amount of travelled way, and Mr. Ballard felt that the
Discuss Board should have some definite project in view to
100' street present to the Town.
The Board discussed this matter but did not
decide definitely what their future plans would be
regarding the width of the sidewalks and highway.
Mr. Edward W. Taylor, Chief of the Fire Dept .
and Mr. James J. Sullivan, Chief of Police, came before
the Board to discuss the matter of fire patrol.
Mr. Custance informed them that at a meeting
of the Selectmend ! Association this matter was
discussed. He stated that $1500 was spent last year
Fire for forest fires but that of course does not show
Patrol. the wear and tear on the Fire Department apparatus
in answering the calls.
The Chief of Police stated that last year they
convicted a man for setting fires on Lowell Street
and the man is now in the reformatory. The Chief
stated that on account of the Civil Service, he
could not put his regular patrolmen on this work,
351
but during the dry season they could send the car around.
Last year this was done in the wooded sections such f
Burlington, Lowell and Grove Streets. They stated that Setting
it would not do much good to patrol the entire Town tires
unle s they had a number of men and divide the Town
up in sections.
Mr. 'Blake suggested that the Town be placarded
with signs to the effect that $25.00 reward you'd be
given to the party who c, uld bring evidence that would
bring about the arrest and conviction of anyone for
the setting of fires, aso stating on the placard that
the roads were being patrolled. This suggestion met with
approval.
Mr. Taylor and Mr . Sullivan were requested to get
together and bring in any other 4ugeestions they might
have for the handling of the matter next year.
Mr Trask reported that the Committee on Unemployment
had added the following members to their Committee,
Russell I. Prentiss, 8 Hillside Terrace, representing Unemploy-
the American Legion, John La.~iont, Cary Avenue and Arthur ment
Hughes, 117 Pottier Avenue. Committee.
License was granted to F H. Reed of Lowell Street
to maintain an establishment for the pasteurization of Pasteur-
milk in accordance with Chapter 259 of the Acts of 1927. ization of
milk
The Board voted to amend the records of Sept. 17, 1930 license.
relating to the establishment of a building line on
Massachusetts Avenue in front of the property of Daniel
J. O'Connell and Anstiss S Hunt et al, in so far as the Amend-
order adopted at that meeting relates to the description ment of
contained therein, and substitutes the following des- Sept. 17
cription meeting.
Beginning at the property line between lands now
or formerly of Daniel J. O'Connell and Meyer Rubin &
Barry G. Seligman, being distant (26.07 ) feet from the
present northerly exterior line of Massachusetts Avenue
and running by two courses distant (230.09) feet to a
point in the property line between lands now or formerly
of Anstiss S. Hunt, et al, and Boston and Lowell Railroad
Corporation said point being distant (30.12 ) feet along said
property line from the present northerly exterior line of
Massachusetts Avenue.
Mr. Burnham reported a telephone call from John
Williamson, 233 Mass . Ave. who urged that the Board at Request
least zive a hearing on his application for a permit for hearing, ,
to install a gasoline filling station at the corner of Gasoline
Mass . Avenue and S, lvia Street. filling
The Board discussed the matter and decided not station.
to grant a hearing inasmuch as they felt it was not
a good location for a station.
Mr. Scamman reported that four out of five members
on the Highway Safety Committee desired to remain
on the Co_imittee, an he suggested some names to be
appointed to the Committee out of which one was to be
352
cmJ
Highway selected. It was decided to appoint Pierre Northrup
Safety to the Highway Safety Committee. The Clerk was therefore to
Committee. otif th G ve orts c. 'i ittee on Highway Safety of the
cnang 'a in tie CommComm]. ee
Letter was receive, from Mr. M. E. S. Clemmens
Attorney for the Suburban Land Co . in which he stated
he felt that the letter receive, from the Supt. of Public
Suburban Land Works was the opinion of the Supt ana perhaps not the
Co. opinion of the Board, and he fe t, herefore, that he
should have a definite Answer as to :chat the Board
intended to do about the matter, in which he may hive
to press the case in Court ad to the Boards right to
use the Water mains without paying for them. He also
felt that the layout of the street cid not, in any way
give an easement of title to the mains.
It was deci ed to communicate with Mr. Clemmens
and state to him that the opinion of the Supt. of Public
Woks is the opinion of the Board in the matter of
water mains in Fottler Avenue.
Summit Mr. Custance stated that he was not as yet ready
Rd. to report on Summit Road.
Chain store Mr. Trask reported that he was not , as yet, ready
orders . to report on the orders for the Chain stores
Mr. Scamman reported regarding the letter of the
Peat Chief of the Fire Dept . relative to the Peat Factory,
Factory. that he did not believe that the scheme he had would
be a good one .
The Board referred the matter back to the Supt .
of ?labile 'Works for a written report on the matter.
Letter was received from Mr. S. R. Wrightington
in which he enclosed a letter from the Town Counsel
Arlington of Arlington with a report of the case that the Town
Build.ng of Arlington had regarding a building line.
line case. The Clerk was instructed to make a copy of the
case so that it may be placed in the files for
reference.
Water commitment in the a, oant of $1246.55 and
Commitment . Sewer Commitment in the amount of $467.47 were signed
by the Board.
The Board discussed the votes prepared for the
Town Meeting. Dr. Shannon conveyed the amounts of
Votes ,for the appropriations to be transferred to various accounts
Town Meeting. to the Appropriation Committee for their consideration,
the Appropriation Committee meeting being held on the
upper floor.
Letter was received from Mr. Edwin B. Worthen in
which he requested that the Town direct someone to
Historic see that all of the historic markers were picked up
markers . and preserved.
The matter was referred to the Sunt. of Public
Works for his attention.
353
The Board signed an order to establish a building Building
line over the property of Daniel J. O'Connell on Mass . Line
Avenue.
Mr. Lustance called attention to the fact that
the Town En,Tineer and one of the Selectmen •of Winchester
called at the Town Offices to discuss the matter of a Proposed
new street to connect Winchester with Lexington, without Street
going by the way of Arlington. This woAld come into Winchester
Lowell Street about at the end of the Wheeler property to Lex.
near the junction of Summer Street extension. He
stated that the Winchester people feel that the State
and County may cooperate with them, and he also felt
that the Town of Lexington should look with favor upon
the project.
Letter was recei 'ed from the Town Counsel in which
he stated that the decree in favor of the Town pas been
entered in the case of Lexington vs . Pasquale Moretti
relating to the violation of the Zoning Law in East Decree re
Lexington. He suggested that the Building Tnspector P.Moretti
be notified to make an inspection after a reasonable case.
length of time and inform him that the decree has not
been complied with.
The Clerk reported an application received from
Joseph Moretti of 80 Bow Street for aid in the Welfare
Department. He stated that he owed back rent to his
mother and that he had applied for work in the Water
Dept. and was not employed. Aid was rendered him to
the amount of two grocery orders , which he worked out
assisting the janitor in the Town Office Building.
He complained, however, that he should receive money
instead of groceries and he also complained that his
gas bill, amounting to $30.20, was due and the Gas Co.
would shut the gas off immediately if the bill was not
paid.
The Board considered the situation, and felt that
immediate action perhaps should not be taken under the
circumstances, inasmuch as Joseph Moretti has four
children and it mi -,ht be a hardship to mo e them out in the
cold weather. It was therefore dec ded to notify the Town
Counsel and the Building Inspector that action might be
delayed on. this matter until spring.
Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which
he stated that he communicated with Mr. Creelman, of
the State Tax Dept,, and found that he was in error Opinion
in his recent letter to the Board in which he stated that re Mabel F.
the tax committed to the Assessors might be apportioned. Langley
He-states that he finds that the Assessors cannot apportion apportion
the assessment at this date unless there is some error ment.
in the original notice of layout which makes the original
assessment invalid. If the original assessment were
invalid, they could now make a new assessment under
Section 16 and apportion the new assessment .
It was therefore considered that in the case of
Mabel bel F. Langley who did not receive her notice
in the mail, the tax must stand as it appears on the
books .
L
354 7
The z5oard voted to grant the Edison Electric '7
Ill. Co. permission to set and remove one pole on
Pole Lowell St. approximately 1050 feet north of Woburn
Location. St. ,
The following is the weekly report of the Supt.
of Public Works.
For the week ending November 22, 1930.
HIGHWAY DEPARTM1NT
Gutters and catch basins in various streets were
cleaned, surface patches made and several of the outlying
streets were scraped and graded and snow fence erected.
Work has been done in Wood Street preparing lines
and grades for the construction of a water main.
Next week the department will attend to the regular
maintenance.
MOTH & SHADE TREE DEPT .
This department continued the work of treating
gypsy moth nests with creosote and also removed two
trees at Munroe Cemetery.
Next week this same work will be attended to .
PARK DEPARTMENT
The regular maintenance work has been done through
the week and will be attended to next week.
WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT
Water Maintenance
Services installed for Van Ness, Pleasant Street;
Black, Highland Ave . ; Spencer, Lowell Street; Bunzell,
East Street; Howard, East Street ; renewal for Sullivan,
Grant St:
Water Construction
The Lowell Street water main has been completed
and a total of 2700 feet of 12" pipe and 357 feet of 8"
pipe have been laid. Completed 635 feet of 6" main in
East Street from Lowell Street easterly, and set two
hydrants . Set three hydrants on Lowell Street.
The water was turned on at 1:30 P.M. on Friday,
November 21, 1930. With the exception of the_connection
between the two mains, the 12" main in East Street from
Burnham's drive to Grant Street has been completed.
SEWER MAINTENANCE
Services have been installee for the following
on Cliffe Avenue : Murray, Bartel, and Hogan.
Service installed for Black, Highland Avenue. Working
on service for Maynard on Oakland Street.
Three men working at carbarn.
'�. Work contemplated for next week Wood Street,
water and sewer services, etc.
3.55
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Highways
Started survey of Lincoln Street for layout,
sections and plans.
Sewers
Grades for Highland Avenue connection.
Drainage
Vine Brook level survey starting at Burlington.
Water
Measured ledge on Lowell and East Streets.
Location of water pipe and fixtures on Lowell and
East Streets .
Miscellaneous
Too photographs of O' Connell property.
Wrote 3 descriptions of building line from opp.
Waltham Street to Meriam Street.
Yours very truly,
William S Scamman
Supt . of Public Works
The meeting adjourned at 10 :30 P.M.
A true record, Attest
Clerk.
1