HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-02-03 413
SELECTMEN 'S MEETINr
FEBRUARY 3, 1931.
A regular, meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
at the Selectmen 's Room, Town Office Building at 7 30 P.M.
Messrs Burnham, Custance Shannon, Blake and Trask were present.
The Supt. of.Public works and the Clerk were also present.
The Board signed the notice of intention to layout Dexter Rd.
Dexter Road from Fuller 'load to Williams Road, hearing layout .
to be held on the same und,r date of February 17, 1931.
Commitment of water rates or the third section Commitments.
in the amount of $2463.92 was signed by the Board.
Commitment of sewer rental charges 'or the third
section in the amount of $196.85 w.s signed '7 the
Board.
Commitment of street betterment charges for Taft
Avenue in the amount of Five Thousand four hundred dollars
was also Signed by the Board.
The Board of Assessors a-Areed to meet with the Meeting re
Board of Selectmen on Tuesday evening., Feburary 10, 1931 , Swenson
' to discuss the matter of the "wenson property assessment. Assessment.
In regard to the Public Carriage license of
James Cavanaugh, inasmuch as all other licenses issued James
complied with the Public Carriage regulations requiring Cavanaugh
a bond of $1000 and inasmuch as the Compulsary Liability Public
Tnsurance in the Legislature is now being discussed, it Carriage
was decided to notify James Cavana.i7h that the oard license.
would not grant him a license until such time as he
has filed the necessary bond.
Letter was received from Rev. William J. McCarthy,
Pastor of St. Briaids Church, asking whether or not the Reduced
Board would allow the reduced rate for the rental of rate
Cary Memorial Hall February 9. Catholic
The Board voted to grant the reduced rate of $25. Reunion.
The Board considered the application of Harry L.
Coolidge for Soldiers Belief and decided that if H. L. Coolidge
Mr. Coolidge does not operate an automobile , which is Soldiers Relief.
against the rules of the State Aid nepartment, to
grant him $10. a week.
Letter was received from Stephen Deveau, Fremont Price re
Street, giving a price of 0375. for movini' the buildings moving bldg.
on the Town Farm property and asking that he be given on Town Farm.
an opportunity to do this wrecking while business is dull .
The Board decided to write Mr. DeVeau that they
had not made any arrangements as yet to take the buildings
down.
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Letter was received from Russell I. Prentiss in
Tyler which he recommended that before license was granted rTi
Pastueriza- to Arthur S. Tyler, ale Street, for the establishment ('
tion of of a pasteurization of milk, that the old plank floor in
Milk Lic. his milk plant be repaired or a new one installed.
The Board decided to write to Tr. Tyler and advise
him of the recommendations of the Health Inspector.
The following licenses were approved.
Transportation of garbage.
William L. Dee Box, 162, Concord
Ryders Stock Farm Inc. 24 Maple Street
Alcohol
Master Service Station Rear 1709 Mass . Ave.
In regard to the application of A. Young for
garbage collection, it was decided to refer this matter
Garbage to the Health Inspector owing to the fact that Mr. Young
License does not keep pigs and Tr. Prentiss should investigate
A. Young. to see why he needs to haul garbage.
Letter was received from Jerome J. Cahill, Repv
resentative of the 20th Middlesex '_`isirict, calling
attention to a hearing on Monday, Fehruary 9, 1931 at
Hearing re 10 30 A. M. Room 370 State House on Hoise Fill No. 991
Commerci.l being on the advisability of constructing a commercial
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Highway. highway paralleling the Revere each Parkway and
connecting the North Shoe goad with the '_:oston Post Road
1 and the Mohawk Trail at a point near Arlington Centre.
It was decided to refer the matter to Representative
Albert H. Burnham for his attention.
Letter was received from James J. Sullivan, Chief
of Police, in which he sFated tl- at ('. Wesley Johnson,
C.W.Johnson 406 L'oneond Avenue, Lexington who applied for t' e
appointed appointment of Constable of Lexington, was a man of
Constable. very good character.
The 3oard therefore agreed to appoint Mr. C. Wesley
Johns n as Constable Of the Town for the period ending
March 31 , 1x31.
Applications we-e received for the position of
Building Inspector from the following:
Application Donald Cameron, 66 Carville Ave.
for position John F. Ca,,anaugh, 2 Sherman St.
of Bldg. J. Loring Douglass , 21 Grant St .
Inspector. George C. McKay, 12 Sherman St.
Andrew T. Bain, Aisli_ngton Heights .
The Board decided not to take any action on the
applications as yet inasmuch as Perley Tibbetts has been
appointed temporarily.
Letter was received from the Massachusetts State
Associati ,n of Selectmen stating that they are to act for
r' ' celeetmen on tine aouroval of house Bill #267
41.E
which is in relation to the planting and care of trees House Bill
under a Town Forest .Committee. #267.
Notice of a hearing to be held on the relocation of Hearing,
Lincoln Street was received, the hearing~ to be held at the Lincoln
County Commissioners Office, 'March 6, 1931 at 10 A.M. St.
The Board received a cert.ification of the character
of George H. Wood, applieatknfor a license to operate Pool Room
a pool room in Lexington Centre. The poard voted to License.
trasnfer the pool room license at 1746 Mass . Avenue, Lexington
to Edward Punzel and Geor-e H. Wood.
The Traffic Regulations were again laid on the table,
for future adoption. The erupt . of Public Works made a Parking
suggestion of an addition to the parking regulations Regulations .
covering the parkinrr near the Christian Science Church.
Letter was received from Sarah I. Musgrave, protesting
against the full amount of betterment on Fottler Avenue S.I.Musgrave
on lots 164-165, for which he applied for apportionment re better-
of ten years . She stated that an extra strip of land was ment,Fottier
taken in front of her house and she desired to have the Ave.
Town pay her for taking it .
The Supt . of Public Works stated that the land she
mentioned was taken with land that he agreed to have graded
in front of her property.
No definite action was taken on the matter.
Bill of 3140.10 from the Town Counsel was approved
for services in the Brophy case. This was an automobile Brophy
accident case; Mr. Brophy ran into the beacon li ,ht at Case.
Concord Avenue and Waltha! Street and claimed tnat the
light was out at' the time he ran into it.
Letter was received from the 'Town Counsel regarding
the taking of land ay eminent domain belonging to the
Estate of Ellen A. Stone. he stated that he had "looked Estate of
at the Probate records and finds tLat this land came to Ellen A.
Miss Stone under her mother ' s will in 1890. Under that will Stone.
Miss Stone and another hold the residue in trust for her life
and on her death, after payment to the Town of Lexington of
$2,000 for a scholarship fund, the ultimate residue goes
to nine people who were prominent in the women 's suffrage
cause in 1890, all of whom have since died. They were to
take it in trust to improve the condition of women, etc.
Miss Stone is the surviving trustee, and on the allowance of
herlast account the Attorney-General appeared and later
withdrew his anoearance. He has not traced the title back
of the will of her mother. In t.,e inventory it is evident
that this land was included in what is called the Caira
Robbins estate or the Garman estate. On the above records
he stated that he did not see why the Town could not take
the land by eminent domain if it so choosed..
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The Board therefo -e decided to include an article *�
in the arrant to take this property by eminent C,
domain, and to write a letter to i\ iss Stone to that
effect.
Owing to the illness of the Town Treasurer,
Dr. John H. Kane , it was voted to ap oint 'MienH. C.Whitte-
Thi_ttemore a, Teas arer pro-tem she being
more ap oint- regiire to file a bond in the amount of 1$10 ,000
ed Treas . to colror the temporary appointment.
pro-tem.
Owing to the fact that the Town Clerk and Treaszrer's
vault could not be opened and had to be drilled onen,
it was decided to regress all the departments to place
Vault in a scaled envelope tre combination of their vaults
Combinations . and these combinations are to be place-1 in a safe
deposit box in the Lexing trn Trust Company, to be
opened only lay three members of the 7oard of
Selectmen when occasion arises .
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Report wa rec i vela from the 5 apt . of Pu lic
Works in regard to the removal of snow. The report
was mn e on the recommendation of "_r. R. P. Trask,
who noticed snow pow service being rendered to
places of business. He asked whether or not it was
Snow plow custdmary to clear the snow from the drives of
places of business.
service.
Mr. Seaman reported that it is els-ternary to
clean t ,e snow from entrances to •rara?e and filling
stations, inasmuch as the snow is piled up when the
snow plows plow the streets . He stated that it was
done on the entrances to the rarares and filling
stations on $Massachusetts Avenue and when it is
not done , complaints come in. that the snow plows
keen the snow piled in en their premises . He also
stated that it is done in front o all. the places of
business in the center of the Town; he felt that it
did not cost a 'reat deal and the practice sho ?ld
be continued.
Mr. Trask withdrew his objection.
The Supt . of Public Works presented a letter
regarding the renewal of water service for Dr.
Complaint, Geor e Da-r, 2142 ...assachusetts Avena.e . Dr. Day
Water pipes. stated that he had a rievance in regard to the
water pipes nut in from the main to his cellar.
He had to chanrre the pipes inside of the house and
after putting in a new pipe from the outside it remedied
the trouble. he blamed the condi tion to the blasting
that was done in the neighborhood.
Mr. Scamman explained to him that the original
pipe out in was an iron pipe an~ was ound to be
fi_i led up eventually an he did not believe that the
"blasting operations had anything to do with the '
condition. He felt that the renewal had to be made
anyway, and the Department has now put in a cement
lined pipe and it will not cause any further trouble.
tie therefore felt t at the Town should not stand any
part of the expense of patting in this pipe .
417
The Town Counsel, ?). R Wri Iltinp.ton, came before the
Board and discussed Hose Pill #728 ores rated by
Joseoh 1' . Be 1 and also House sill #1040 presented by
Mayor Curley. These bills were in -ei7a-d to including
various Tumns and cities in greater Boston. M-. Wri-htin7ton
stated that he felt ti at Mayor Carley's bill had a great
deal of virtie and he was in faror of it .
The ,oard discussed the )ills in general. The House Bills
#
Chairman did not appear to be in fa or o the hill 1040 &
inasmuch as f it that it wes a step towa-d having #728.
'9oston politics in Lexir -tcn which vas not in fa or o' .
Mr. Airghtington. felt that there were u great many
advantages to the Bill . No definite action was taken
except that the members or the oar- were to endeavor
to attend the ,earim4s on the bill to hear the are:laments
Mr. Custance felt that a Treat deal of study- could be given
to the bill and he would like to consult with Mayor Curley
about it.
He appeared to be in favor from the knowledge that he had
at the present time .
Mr. 3lake called attention to t e fact; tl at the
forty five degree parkinF is allowed to close to Meriam Street
and there should be a sionl regulating this so teat the-e
woald not be so much danger from persons coming oat of Parking
Meriam Street . Meriam St .
It was decided t t this miFht be included in the
[ II Traffic Regulations .
Mr. T. A. Custance iad the Town Enr-ineer present to
present the studies he nad made of the takin-rs at the Studies of
corner of Hayes Avenue and Hancock Street at the property various
ofEdward C. c-tone ; also at tee corner of Franklin Road
and Somerset Road , and Meriam Street and Clarke Street corners of
and Forest Street . streets .
The Board voted to proceed to draw an arti( le making
a taking o' these corners .
The Board talked with the Supt . of Public Works in
regard to the number of norses at the Town Fa-m, and
discus ed whether or not thev neede to keep the four Horses ,
horses which were there at. Town the present time . This is
in connection with tAkin7 down buildings . Farm.
In regard to the rk)tor Pimp a- the Public Norks
Department , tree Sipt of Public Works was instructed to
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sell the motor for unk inasmuch =1 he retorted that he otor Pump
could not 7et any sales for it . WPublic
orks Dept .
Mr. Trask asked :Jnether or not the Board would
approve an ap )ropriation for the Postare Clinic to be
handled in the same manner as t ,e T)ental Clinic
Committee was haneled . It was left with 14r. Trask
to get the opinion of tne Town Counsel on whether or Posture
Clinic .
not the Posture Clinic of the present Public Health
Association could be a000inted RP a Clinic COmmittee
under the Board of Health and han010 tne appropriation
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of :111U00 similar to t_ e Dental Clinic appropriation.
The Board approve this aporopriation if it (;1
shoald be done.
Letter was received 'rem t_ e Town Counsel in Waich
Appoint- he gave his opinion in regard to the appointment
ment of of the Plumbing, Build _n- end lire Inspectors . The
Inspectors . °ounsel advised that the Plumbing Inspector is under
civil service and could be discharged by the Building
Inspector.
No action was taken on the anoo;ntment of the
Building Inspector.
The following is the weekly report of the Supt..
of Public Works
Far the week .ending Jan. 31, 1931
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Vork on Hill Street consisted of drilling, blast-
ing and removal of ledge and gravel some of which
was places in that part o`' the way near the old Alms house
where it is proposed to straighten a part ofthe street.
Considerable time of the department was used in
sundin- streets and sidewalks and in the removal of
snow .
Ne t week the regular maintenance work on Hill
Street and any necessary snow removal will be attended
to.
MOTH ?- Si3.A-'7-. TREE DEPT
Gypsy moth nests were treated with creosote .
A dead tree on Audubon Roa,' was removed and one on
Edgewood Road.
Next week the department will attenr' to the work
of treating the mkth nests .
PARK DEPARTI ENT
TeAular maintenance work was attended to and will
Occup'- t_le depa-tment next week.
WATER ?c SEWER DEPT
Worked on cement floor at Public 4orks Building;
two men drilling; and blasting on Hill Street ; two men
?reasing hydrants ; renai-ed leak in Wheeler 's service
on z'ell am. Road.
Regzlar maintenance work is planned for next week.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMFNT
Highways
Figured construction cost and assessments for
Dexter Road.
419
Figured construction cost of Farmcrest Avenue .
Figured Grant Street assessments from Hayes Lane
to East Street.
Miscellaneous
Plan and descriotions of ^avin property (Mass .
Avenue. )
Map and description Bean property which was charged
from R1 to Cl district.
Met with Town of Winchester re-^ardinF road to
Lexington.
Made studies for takings at following locations -
1. Hayes Avenue at Hancock Street,
2. Clarke Street at ?sorest Street,
3. Meriam Street at ], ranklin and Abbott Roads .
Work on street numberin- plans
Continued work on 100 shale plan between iYLass .
Avenue and Lowell street from Arlington line to Maple Street.
One man ( full time ) cheek nR and bringing block
plan up to date.
Checked completion of Rrvington Park layout with
F P. Cutter oartic ;larly for drainage .
Established ruilding line on outside of O' Connell
block of stores . gstahlisbed same bot}t inside and ortside
of frame buildin-^ which was formerly Co-operative Bank
"ours very truly,
William S Scamman
S ipt . of Public i1orks .
The meeting adjourned at 10 50 P.M.
A true record , Attest Q
Clerk.
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