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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-03-10 446 -� SELECTMEN'S MEETING T] MARCH 10, 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. Trask, Shannon, Blake, Custance and Gilcreast were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present . The Board met with the newly elected member Organization Mr. John E. Gilcreast who was elected for the term of three years in the place of Mr. Albert H. Burnham. The Board organized with Mr. Robert P. Trask as Chairman. M . Hallie C. Blake and Dr. Clarence Shannon refused to accept the chairmanship. The Board appointed the following as the April 19th Committee: Major Edward L. Child, 41 Lincoln St. George M. Davis, 64 Woodland Rd. April 19th Eugene Loupret, 205 Bedford St. committee Mr. Trask reported having communicated with Major Child requesting him to attend the meeting of the Citizens Public Celebration Association at 9 Park St. , Boston held on Tuesday, March 10, to discuss the April 19th celebration, in connection with the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes. He stated that Major Child accepted the appoint- ment to the April 19th Committee. Mr. Albert H. Burnham, Representative, came before the Board and presented Senate bill #1374, which is an Act to provide for the acceleration of the State highway and building construdtion to be financed. by an increase ' Senate in the gasoline tax in order to eleviate the present Bill unemployment emergency and temporarily relieving cities and towns from certain highway and boulevard assessments. Mr. Burnham explained that the Act was not a very clear one.. The Act provided for an increase of one cent on a gallon of gasoline . Mr. Burnham stated that he believed the Act would not pass the Legitlature. Mr. Custance reported having attended the meeting called by Mayor Curley to discuss the advisability of passing the Act to distribute the proceeds received by the State from the sales of gasoline. At this meeting they discussed the subject or raising the money to care for the unemployment situation and the Old Age pension. Senate Bill #47 provides for the payment of 505g of the gasoline tax to be paid to cities and towns Senate in proportion to be used by cities and towns for highway Bill #47. construction and reconstruction of existing highways. Letter was received from..Miss Ellen. A. Stone in which she stated in regard to the Town taking land by eminent domain adjoining the Adams School, held by her, that she did not object to the taking of the land 447 by eminent domain which was the portion of the Estate which she holds as surviving Trustee under the will of her mother, Mrs. Ellen A. Stone, if it is clearly understood that such taking is for public school Needs . In such taking should be included a small parcel of land adjoining the Ellen A. Stone Trust property and the Adams School property which land she holds as sole heir of her father, Abner Stone. She desired to reserve consideration of the proposed lines., inasmuch as the measurements are not on the scale sent to her. Land of The Board felt that it was very gratifying to Ellen A. receive such a letter and decided to communicate with Stone Miss Ellen Stone their appreciation. It was also decided to insert an article in the next warrant giving the Board blanket authority to make negotiations with Miss Stone. Letter was received from John S. Valentine and from Mr. H. E. Stone requesting that they be given some Requests fOr of the Town's insurance. Insurance It was decided to acknowledge both of these letters and to state that the applications will be considered when the readjustment is made of the Town schedule. Bill in the amount of $279.70 for services Wills for of the Town Counsel in the Swenson Bros. case was Swenson approved by the Board. case. Application for a Peddler's license was Peddlers received from Frank A. Faulkner, Winter St. License. Mr. Faulkner is a Veteran; the application was approved by the Board. Application was received from Ivan Bloustein 12 Sylvia St . for a Peddler's License. The Board not having received any letters of recommendation as to the character of Mr. Bloustein, voted to lay his application on the table. Correspondence was received relative to the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington which is to be commemorated in 1932. George Mr. Gilcreast reported that Mr. Ezra F. Breed Washington's had attended the meeting representing the Lexington Anniversary Minute Men in connection with the proposed celebration. The Board therefore decided to turn this correspondence over to Mr. Breed for his attention. The Board made the following appointments : Assessors Walter G. Black Eugene G. Kraetzer Charles E. Ferguson Assistant Assessors Frederick J. Spencer Michael Hinchey Reuben W. Mead 448 -7 CJ Burial Agent Arthur A. Marshall Constables Charlbs E. Moloy Charles E. Wheeler C. Wesley Johnson Clerk, Board of Selectmen Helen C. Whittemore Dental Clinic Committee Mrs. Hugh D. McLellan Mrs. Roger D. Long Thomas S. Grindle Fence Viewers John T. Cosgrove Frederick J. Spencer Tree Warden- Osborne J. Gorman Trustees, Gammell Legacy Income acting with Dept. Public Welfare Mrs. Robert P. Trask Mrs. Richard Whittemore Health Officer Dr. William L. Barnes Health Inspector Russell I. Prentiss Lockup Keepers John C. Russell James J. Sullivan Measurer of Grain Albert Bieren Measurers of Wood, Bark & Manure John E. Kelley Harold I. Wellington Milk Inspector Russell I. Prentiss Park Dept. Superintendent John J. Garrity Plumbing Inspector Andrew T. Bain Public Works Superintendent William S. Seaman Registrars of Voters George M. Davis, 1933 George H. Lowe 1934 Sealer of Weights & Measures Charles E. Hadley Slaughter Inspector George A. Warner Stone Building, Janitor John E. Garmon Superintendent of Streets Robert H. White Superintendent of Water & Sewer Depts.Albert A. Ross Town Engineer John T. Cosgrove Town Hall Janitor Charles E. Moloy 449 II Town Hall Janitor Assistant Philip E. Leaf Weighers, Public William E. Mnlliken John E. A. Mulliken Jacob Bierenbroodspot Harold I. Wellington William Bieren Albert Bieren Peter Stevens Rupert H. Stevens John E. Kelley Edward F. Smith Miss Lillian McClure Wire Inspector Louis W. Bills The applications for the position of Building Inspector Building were again laid upon the table. Inspector. The Board voted to grant the petition of the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. and the Edison Electric Ill. Co. Removal of for permission to remove poles on Mass. Avenue near poles . Wood Street. Application for a gasoline permit was received from Frank W. Perkins. The Board instructed the Clerk Perkins to find out whether or not Mr. Perkins or Mr. Bean have paid aptliea- the costs in the Bean Perkins case yet. tion for The Clerk reported that Mr. S. R. Wrightington stated gasoline. that the costs have not been paid by either Mr. Bean or Mr. Perkins. Mr. Wrightington also reported over the the telephone, Ryder that the Ryders have not paid the costs in their case as yet. costs . Commitment in the amount of $5634.12 for water rates Commitment was signed by the Board. Letter was received from Mr. J. B. Crowley of 84 Everett St. , Arlington in reference to an accident Accident, on Marrett Road on the grade 200 yards from the inter- J.B. section of Marrett Road and Waltham Street. He Crowley. stated that he suffered a loss of $215. to his car and believed that the Town was morally responsible for the condition of the highway. The Supt. of Public Works made a report in which he incorporated a report of the Police Department relative to the accident, and stated that the condition existed on Marrett Road which is a State highway, and the Town Department did not sand the highway as it was done by the State Department. rie therefore felt that there was no liability on the Town. The Board decided to inform PAr. Crowley that they do not assume any liability owing to the fact that the accident occurred on a State highway. X50 6 Mr. Custance prepared a letter to be given to the C� Supt. of Public Works with instructions to obtain information regarding the following drainage projects . Drain from Mass. Ave. near Bowker St. In Clarke St . and Forest St. Drains . In Hill St. near the property of Alfred Haynes In Bedford St. from Reed St. northerly In Reed St. from Vaille Ave. to Sunny Knoll Ave. In Sunny Knoll Ave. to brook. Two catch basins in driveway between Stone building and Foll*en Church. The Board approved of the communication. Public Wks . Communication was received from Elmer A. Lord & Co. Bldg. in reference to the requirements needed for the Public Rating. Works Dept. in order to obtain tie rating on that building. The Board discussed the advisability of allowing the appropriation of $11,480 recommended by the Appropriation Engineer- Committee to be passed without making an allowance for ing Dept . $1500 for the Block Plan. on. Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that when discussion was held on the Town Hall floor about the appropriation for this Department last year and the aerial survey was recommended, the Board promised the Town that they would continue the Block Plan. He therefore felt that they were duty bound to request this appropriation to be made and if the Town desired to vote it down, they could do so. — Mr. Trask felt that the Board should at least ask for sufficient to carry on the Department without losing any of the men and he felt that the sum of $12,725. should be requested at least. Mr. George M. Ross , Chairman, Appropriation Committee, came before the Board and discussed this matter and stated that he would place the matter before the Appropriation Committee for their decision. The Board also discussed the increase in the Snow & Ice appropriation for the removal of snow and ice to approp $14,000. This Mr. Ross stated he would take up iattion. with his Committee. Mr. Custance also called attention to the fact that the Board approved $30,000 to be transferred from the Transfers. Excess and Deficiency Account and f13,000 from the Water Dept. Maintenance Account, rather than $28,000 from the Excess and Deficiency Acct. and $15,000 from the Water Maintenance Account as the Appropriation Committee report recommended. This also, Mr. Ross stated that he would take up with his Committee. The Clerk reported having referred the matter Swenson of adjustment of taxes on the Swenson property taxes. purchased for school house purposes to the Chairman of the School Committee. 4 51 Letter was received from the Supt. of the Water and Sewer Dept . asking permission to keep the regular men at work connecting dead ends on the following streets : Street No. of Ft. Estimated Cost . Bertwell Rd. 300 $1200.00 Vine St. 300 1000.00 Water Mains Tucker Ave. between Baker & Chase 250 800.00 Mr. Custance stated that he believed that the aporopriation for water construction this year should not be limited to certain streets , inasmuch as considerable work of tying in the dead ends should be done to complete the water system. Mr. Custance was authorized to communicate with the State Dept. of Public Works relative to the work Wood St. proposed to be done on Wood Street so that the appropriation for this work may be allowed. The following is the weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works : For the week ending March 7 , 1931. ' HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Catch basins cl8aned, street surfaces patched and snow removed with Town equipment and regular force and other maintenance work attended to. Next week the regular maintenance work will be cared for. MOTH & SHADE TREE DEPT. Climbing trees and treating moth nests with creosote in Bedford Street, Revere Street, Adams Street and Meriam Street. Next week the department,will continue the work of cleaning up moth nests. PARK DEPARTMENT Regular maintenance and one day manufacturing posts and frames for Park seats. Next week the regular maintenance will be attended to. WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT Hydrants have been raised on the following streets ; Grant Street; Mass . Avenue at 517; Mass. Avenue opposite Charles Street; Bow Street at Ferri Nurseries; Bedford Street at Parker School. Regular maintenance work is planned for next week. 452 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT :a Highways "=7 Continued with J. J. Drinkwater C. E. to correct C7 Dexter Road layout data. Sewers Continued running out ridge lines for Town Sewer Study. Miscellaneous Started to compile list of all Lexington Plans on hand so that we may finally have all useful plans from Registry of Deeds. Work on Block Plan. Work on street numbering. To Registry of Deeds regarding Drury property on Woburn Street (Sewer Abatement) . Yours very truly, William S. Scamman Supt. of Public Works The meeting adjourned. at 10:45 P.M. A true record, Attest, Clerk.