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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-06-02 65 SELECTMEN'S MEETING JUNE 2, 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, Custance, Blake, Shannon and Gilcreast were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. The following licenses were granted: Hairdressing. Florence B. Westover 1711 Mass . Avenue Hazel C. Brown 1711 Mass . Avenue Undertaker James F. McCarthy 80 Bedford Street Golf George W. Bean Bedford St. John Lamont Cary Avenue Sunday Golf George W. Bean 243-245 Bedford Street Letter was received from Dr. Norman Ellard in which he requested that a shield be placed on the Shade for light in front of his house at 1355 Mass . Ave. , so electric that the light would not disturb them at night. light. The Board voted to instruct tNe Supt. of Public Works to have this done. Letter was received from Mr. Frank E. Viano in which he called attention to the fact that Mr. Custance in his letter misunderstood the situation in respect to the work to be done on the shed on Bow V. E. Viano Street. He stated that the work to be done on the property, inside of the_ small shed on Bow Street should be done Bow Street. by the Town. The inside walls and the ceiling were to be finished to match the old work, especially where the old partitions were torn away, but that he would have the plastered partition walls torn down. Mr. Custance stated that he would get the figures on this exbra work and fingl out what it cost. Letter was received from Mr. J. L. Miles in I. L. Miles which he acknowledged the receipt of the letter from re flags. the Board in reference to the flags displayed on VV bpb copmunicipal grounds. He stated that it may be neo- w•Q essary later to call on the Chairman for a police escort. Commitment of sewer rental charges for the first section of the Town in the amount of $388.08 was signed Commitments. by the Board. Commitment of water rates for the first section in the amount of $5455.06 was also signed by the Board. British Naval Letter was received from the British Naval and & Military Military Veterans Association in which they expressed Veterans their appreciation of the friendly greeting extended Assoc. to them by the Chairman of the Board on May 24, 1931, the date of their annual pilgrimage. Letter was received from the E. E. I. Co. thank- ing the Board for calling their attention to the fact E.E.I.Co. that their employees were parking automobiles on re parking. Mass. Ave. for considerable periods during the day and stated that they have issued instructions not to allow the cars to be parked for an unnecessary lengbh of time. Letter was received from Neil McIntosh in which Water Main, he requested the extension tf a water main in Calvin Calvin St. Street about 150 feet from Ivan Street, and stated that he would sign the guaranty. The Board voted to extend this main as long as Mr. McIntosh would guarantee it. Letter was received from the State Dept/ of Mass. Ave. Public Works in which they stated that they had made Construction arrangements to allow the Town of Lexington forces by Town forces. to construct Mass. Avenue under Chapter 90. This construction is to be from Lake Street to Lincoln Street. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in which he stated that Miss Gertrude Miss McCarron Westlake has declined to take up the playground for playground work this summer and stated that Mr. Garrity re- gvork. commended Miss Helen E. McCarron, 840 Mass . Avenue. The Board approved of the appointment inasmuch as it *et with the approval of the Supt. of the Park Department. Board of Health Board of Health Regulations presented by Mr. Regulations. Prentiss were to be vie wed by the Qia irman and then passed along to the other members of the Board for observation. Letter was received fraena Mr. Harold B. Lamont Tercentenary, in which he enclosed a book of records of the various. 1930. events of Massachusetts in connection with the Tercentenary of 1930. 67 Letter was received from the Town Counsel in regard to the writ served on Mr. A. H. Burnham and other members of the Board of Selectmen in the M.E.Garvin year 1926, the same being an attachment by Minnie attachment. E. Garvin. He stated that he would file appear- ances and answers as requested. He believed that the Selectmen had no right to charge tb the town the expense of defnading actions against individulas who were formerly selectmen, but as the town was also a party, he felt that the town meeting would ratify any action the sal toren took regarding the matter. He stated that he thought this was similar to the McCaffrey case at which time the Town voted to reimburse the Selectmen for the expenses they were put to in this ease, although some of the individual Selectmen were then not members of the Board. The Board considered the matter and on motion of Mr. John E. Gilcreast,it was voted: ''khat the Town Counsel be authorized to proceed to defend the action of the individual Selectmen and the Board would request an appropriation to cover this expense at the Town Meeting following the settlement of this ease." Letter was received from Mr. Francis Chamberlain in which he called attention to the bulletin by Letter re Babson on Higher Taxes . higher taxer The Board instructed the Chairman to reply to Mr. Chamberlain's letter. Letter was received from W. C. Hill of Elmer A. Lord & Co. in which he stated that the 1641 rate on the Municipal building requires 90% insurance. The present blanket rates require the 80% clause except on Nos. 11 and 24, the latter being the new town E.A. Lord hail and the Cary Memorial Building. He stated that re insur- Mr. Custance figured the Public Works Building and ance. fixed improvements as $52,000, and if the building is worth $52,000 the insurance should be $46,800. He asked whether or not this additional amount of $6800 should be added to the present insurance or when the valuations are submitted and new- forms printed, if the Board would then place it on. He recommended that the insurance be bound at this time on the basis of Mr. Custanc 's estimate. He also suggested that we again review the values of the contents of buildings , in view of the changes made since the last inventory. This letter was referred to Mr. Custance for his attention. Circular letter was received from the Davey Davey Tree Tree Expert Co. giving Itformation in regard to trees. Expert Co. Letter was received from P. Joseph Weary of 9 Bennett Ave. , in regard to gypsy and brown tail 68 moths which come from land near his premises . Complaint The O air an was directed to reply to Mr. *C re moths Weary's letter. The Tree Warden inspected the property and stated that the insects referred to were tent cater- pillars and not brown tail moths and that they would disappear within a short time. The Town does not spray private property, and therefore could not spray the property from which the tent caterpillars were coming. Mr. Custance reported that he, Dr. Shannon, Mr. Cosgrove, Town Engineer and F. J. Spencer, Assistant Assessor, today went to the proptery of John N. Connors who owns a piggery looated both in Lexington and Lincoln and found three buildings that were decidedly located in Lexington and there were a large number of s pi g located in Lexington. The Board discussed the verbal report made to the J.N. Connors Clerk by Dr. McKenzie of the Lincoln Board of Health. Biolations. The Board also discussed what steps they might want to take and whether or not they would consider granting a permit to Mr. Connors or whether or not they would want him to discontinue his piggery in Lexington. The Board felt that inasmuch ad he apparently' was aware of the fact that he was building buildings in Lexington without any permit and that he was also keeping pigs in Lexington without a permit, inasmuch as the Tam of Lincoln had refused him a permit to build any buildings in Lincoln, that he should have this called to his attention. It was finally decided that the Chairman should takehe t matter up with the Town Counsel and inform him of the violations by said Connors and to ask the Town Counsel to write a letter or direct what he desires to have said to Mr. Connors. After this information is received, the Board then would notify the Town of Lincoln as to what has been done. Circular letter was received from Governor Safety Joseph B. Ely calling attention to another Highway Conference Safety Conference to be held at the Hotel Bancroft, Worcester. State Aid State Aid payroll in the amount of 1112.00 payroll for the month of May was signed by the Board. Old Age The Chairman recommended the following as the Assistance Old Age Assistance Board: Robert P. Trask, John E. Burd. Gilcreast and Hallie C. Blake. The Clerk reported notice of a suit, Town of Snit, Arl. Arlington against the Town of Lexing to n which against Lex. the Town Counsel stated was for highway betterment assessment on Fottler Ave. 69 Letter was received from T. G. Sughrue, Division Ehgineer of the B.&.M.R.R.Co., in which he stated that he would appreciate the Town levelling err the rubbish at the Woburn Street crossing, Woburn St. Lexington and filling it in in the proper manner R.R.dump. so that it would not be unsightly. Mr. Scarman reported information in regard to through ways on Mass . Ave. that there were 68 enter- ing streets and to have the Avenue a through way, it would have to be approved by the State Dept. of Public Works. The signs would cost about $1000, Mass. Ave. outside of the cost of posts and digging of the holes a through for the posts. way dis- The Board voted not to do anything about cussed. establishing a through way this year, inasmuch as there etre not sufficient funds . It was decided, however, to have this in mind and to call for an appropriation at a future Town Meeting. Mr. Daniel 3. O'Connell came before the Board and explained that he would like to have his application for a granolithic sidewalk in front of his house at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Winthrop Road taken up D.3.O'Connel. as soon as possible, inasmuch as he was going away re sidewalk. this summer and would like to have the work done before he goes. The Supt. of Public Works was directed to get all his applications together and get bids on the sidewalk work. Mr. 0 Connell agreed to put in an application for a sidewalk along the property which has been a dump and which is now filled in to grade, at the corner of Fletcher Ave. and Woburn Street . The Board inquired whether or not he would be willing to have the sign of the Donnelly Advertising Co. taken down, and he stated that he would be glad to have the sign taken down inasmuch as the lease ran out in May. He stated that he would write the O'Connell Company and the Clerk of the Selectmen could also property write the Company advising them that the sign whould Fletcher Ave be taken down, as requested by Mr. O'Connell. & Woburn St. He £tnted that he intended to petition the Planning Board to have this property put into the business district. If the Town, however, desired to- purchase it for a fire station, he would be willing to make negotiations. Mr. O'Connell called attention to the fact that the triangle located on Mass. Ave. opposite Fletcher Triangle, Ave. and Winthrop Rd., while it was very pretty, he Mass . Ave. felt that it was a hinderance to safety. He recommended near Woburn that it be removed and traffic lights installed. Street/ The trees on the triangle at the present time hide the view and there have been a number of accidents at this location. 70 bp. Imt Mr. O'Connell called attention to the fact Drainage, that water finds its way in through the middle O'Connell of the land which he filled in at the corner of property. Fletcher Ave. and Woburn Street, inasmuch as the drainage situation there has not been fixed. The Supt . of Public Works reported to him that it would cost *5000 to. have this work done, and until the Town appropriates the money , they. cannot do a good job on this work. Mr. Custance reported that he has been in to see Mr. Sughrue of the B. & M. R.R. Co. and he Railroad agreed to repair the railroad tracks at Woburn braoks. Street tomorrow. He explained to them. that the work of fixing the crossings was not satisfactory last year; that only one of the crossings was fixed correctly, and requested that they give more'=attention to this matter this year. Fertilizer The Chairman was requested to order 500 lbs. Por lawn. of fertilizer for the Cary Memorial Library Lawn. Mr. Custance reported that he had a request Request for for street lights on School Street , anti 4aasmueh lights as this : a a public highway, it was a reasonable School st. request at the lights should be installed at least in September. The Supt . of Public Works was requested to find out how many lights were necessary. Mr. CiLstanee reported that Miss Marian Kirkland, Cary Memorial Librarian, requested the bus stop be Objection moved back to the Library again. She stated that to bus many of the ladies waiting for the bus object to stop. witing at Smith 's Paper Store, inasmuch as there are men standing around most of the time. The Board decided not to take any action on this request inasmuch as two bus stops had been consolidated to make this one, andalso the Smith's Paper Store will be moved down a short distance and it was felt that this would do away with the men hanging around that particular bus stop. Mr. J.Stuart The Clerk reported that Mr. James Stuart Smith Smith re action stated that he was awaiting action on. the Stone on Stone property so that the school work could be started. property. Mr. Custance stated that he would endeavor to communicate with Mr. Robert Holt so that action would be taken. Mr. Custance stated that the traffic should be diverted off Mass. Ave. from the bluff, so-called Traffic at the jtIson of Marrett Road, also that the diverted. traffic should be diverted down Hill Street rather than through Cedar Street while the construction work is being done on Mass. Ave. r 71 The Supt. of Public Works reported that he was having Hastings Road and Audubon Rd. repaired tomorrow so that these two streets will be in good condition for the extra traffic carried over them. He also stated that he would take care of the diversion of traffic. Mr. Cuetanoe reported that he had received a figure of $360 from Mr. Anthony Ross for building a stone wall in mortar along Allen Street where he A.Ross to had dug away the lawn on the side of Allen Street building owned by Swenson Brothers . wall on It was voted that Mr. Ross be employed to Allen Street. construct the wall on Allen. Street at a cost of ,$4.00 per yard for 90 cubim yards. This matter was to be in the hands of Mr. Custance, who was to also see that the center of Allen Street is cleaned up with as little expense as possible. Mrs Custance stated that he felt that next year plans should be made to construct a granolithic sidewalk on this street from Waltham Street to the school. He also stated that the State is now look- Sidewalk in ing with favor upon constructing a sidewalk on one front of side of State highways. He felt too that a sidewalk school. should be built on Marrett Road to Allen Street. The Board believed from experience that gravel sidewalks are not feasible inasmuch as the children will not walk upon them. Mr. Custance reported that he had figured that in the month of June, the highway Dept. will Highway have spent about $6000. He felt that during expenditures . J4y, August and September they should not spend more than $1500 each month. The Supt. of Public Works attention was called Debris swept to the fact that the street sweeper should sweep off streets on the streets very early Sunday mornings Sunday mornings. inasmuch as there is more debris aroud the streets Sunday mornings than any other morning, owing to the trade ed Saturday night. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received. The meeting. adjourned at 9:55 p.M.• A true record, Attest; Clerk.