HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-09-01 157
SELECTMEN1S MEETING
SEPTEMBER 1, 1931.
A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held
in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7 :30 P.M.
Messrs . Trask, Custance, Blake and Gilcreast were present.
The Supt . of Public Works and the Clerk were also present.
Mr. Russell I. Prentiss came before the Board and
advised in regard to the imMea a of dogs from quarantine
that the owners of the dogs should be given an oppartunity
to either ihoculate their dogs or keep them restrained.
With the identification inoculation tag he felt that this
would work out satisfactorily, and that all persons would
then be protected from rabies. he stated that he under-
stood that the dogs were very well controlled in Rhode Island
and he would endeavor to get some further information for
the Board.
He stated that the Board had the authority to do Dog
this and it was not necessary that the matter should come Restraint.
before the Town, although it has twice been discussed at
Town Meetings.
The Board discussed the matter and felt that as
arrangements could be made so that this could be carried
out when dog licenses are again due inasmuch as after
inoculation for rabies, a dog must be kept in quarantine
for 14 days, that it might be well to adopt this plan.
Nothing definite will be done about it until Mr. Prentiss
again reports
Hearing was declared open on the application of
Philip L. Little for permission to maintain a two car Little garage
wooden garage, 18 ' x 18' at 15 Arcola Street. hearing.
A number of residents of this section appeared at
the hearing . Mr Little also appeared.
As there was no objection, it was voted to grant
the permit .
Hearing was declared open on the application of
James R. Smith of Arlington for permission to maintain
a one car garage at 59 Independence Avenue.
It was noted that the diagram did not show that the Smith garage
garage would be located 7Q feet from the property line. hearing.
The Board voted, however, to waive the calling of
a hearing and grant the permit provided Mr . Smith
locates the garage in accordance with the Zoning Law,
namely 72 feet from the line.
Mr. William A. Cann appeared before the Board and
wondered if there were any possible chance of his
getting the house which he recently built connected with
the sewer before the 28th of September.
He stated that the house was completed except for
the sewer and the party who was interested in living in
the house is very anxious to move in.
The Board informed him that they did not see any way
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Summit Rd. possible for him to install the sewer inasmuch as the
sewer. By-law required a vote of the Town for authority to ae°
install the sewer.
Mr. Warren Timmons came before the Board and made
application for appointment as constable. He stated that
Appointment he understood under the new law that a Boston man could
for not make collections in Lexington and that the collections
constable. would have to be made by a Lexington man. For this reason
he desired to have the appointment .
The Board informed him that he would have to bring.
in recommendations as to his character and they would look
into the matter of the appointment.
Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which
he listed Highway Betterments on Highland Avenue in the
name of O'Connor & Quinn and Alice R. Ferguson, also one
Highway to Pichette & Ahern and one to Lennon and Baker on Mass.
Betterments. Avenue.
The betterments were referred to the Supt . of Public
Worlds to look into and make his recommendation at the next
meeting of the Board.
The Chairman reported that Mr. Russell I. Prentiss
desired to attend the International Health Convention which
is bo be held at Montreal, Canada. The cost of making this
trip would be about $75. He stated that Mr. Prentiss is
a member of two of the international committees and was
Health in very good standing for a Town of this size. He has
Convention. attended the convention the last two years at his own
expense and felt that he should be entitled to the
expense this year from the Town.
The Board voted to insert an article in the Wattant
authorizing the transfer of $75. for this purpose.
Application was received from Charles H. Sefton
Application and James W. Denney for the extension of water from Wood
for water. Street up Fairview Avenue to the corner of Hayward Ave.
The Board voted to lay the matter on the table for
thirty days .
Commitment . Commitment for water rates for the first section in
the amount of $7201.46 was signed by the Board.
Abatement of the sum of $1090.89 was made on the
Sewer Town of Arlington property on Fottler Avenue in the amount
abatement . of $913.38 and also a='ainst the Boston and Lowell Corp-
oration for land on Fottler Avenue in the amount of $177 .51
inasmuch as the owners would not receive my benefit from
the sewer having been placed in Fottler Ave.
The recommendation was received from the Supt . of
Public Works .
Mr. Russell I. Prentiss recommended that Mr. August
Garbage Young of Laconia Street be now gran+ed a permit to
License. transport garbage, aid the Board so voted.
Duplicate of the Class 1 Agents License granted to
1.59
John C. Phelps, Paul Revere Garage, was signed by the License
Board, he having lost the original.
The adjourned hearing of the Board of Survey on
the approval of plans of Alden Road filed by Mr. M.
Bowman Judkins was again called.
Mr. Judkins was present and Mr. Porter, of Porter
Bros . was also present.
The Town Engineer was present and reported that the
Planning Board had approved the layout with the changes
that had been made since the first hearing. Bd.of Survey
Mr. Porter was called in inasmuch as the extension hearing,
of the layout of the territory as made by the Town Engin- Alden Road.
eer would affect his property. Mr. Porter agreed to
meet Mr. Judkins and go over the situation with him on
the ground.
Mr. Judkins agreed to have the plans made by his
Engineer and brought in for approval. The Board therefor
adjourned the hearing again to Sept . 22, 1931.
Conference was held with Mr. F. L Emery, Chairm€
of the Planning Board, Mr. C. Edward Glynn and Mr. Wm.
D. Milne and Mr. \ James G. Robertson who was Chairman of
the Committee on Vine Brook Drainage last reporting to
the Town o$ the subject.
Mr. Emery desired to get the opinion of the Board
as to whether or not they felt the Vine Breok Drainage
subject should be brought before the Town again. It was
the opinion of the Planning Board that it should not be
dropped. he therefor consulted with Mr. Robertson and Vine Brook
Mr. Robertson was also of the opinion that it should not Drainage.
be dropped, and that it should be brought before the Town
for action.
Mr Emery was informed about the suit brought by
Mr. Ryder, and stated that not withstanding the suit,
he still felt the Town should consider the proposition.
He felt that the situation on the Ryder property was
such that unless it is corrected it is apt to cost the
Town several hundred thousand dollars . He felt that if
they could get the Town to take action on constructing
the lower part, or Section 1 or 2 , or both as a Town
proposition, that the Town might not consider it in
connection with the Ryders . He thought that the danger
of a possible development of this territory by small houses
and foreigners coming into the territory might be a great
loss to the Town. He stated that when he conferred with
Mr. Ryder, he showed the utmost cooperation and he even
purchased the Aldrich place when they were considering a
drive around the playground and the street that would go
through the Aldrich property toward Marrett Road . He felt
that I,ir. Ryder might have been ill-advised in bringing
suit against the Town and he did not know how this would
affect the feeling of the voters .
Mr. E)nery stated that the Ryders were willing to
agree to a betterment assessment of about three cents
a foot on their property.
Mr. Robertson stated that his Committee talked
with both Robert L. and Charles W. Ryder and they were
informed by them that all propositions previously sub-
1 60 hph
mitted as far as assessments were concerned were abandoned.
Mr. Robertson suggested that Section 1 and 2 be
done and that it be bonded over a long period of years,
at least for twenty years . He believed that this was the
16gical way to finance the proposition. He felt then that
Mr. Ryder would go ahead with the work above on his own
land. He statedthat the' e has always been a question
about just how much the proposition would cost and he
believed jt would cost about $110,000. and that it could
not be done for less than $100,000.
Mr. Glynn felt that the Ryders should pay part of
the cost by betterments of the work above Vine Brook
Rd. inasmuch as this would be the only way we could
obtain any revenue from the expenditure of this money.
Mr. Robertson thought that the work above Vine
Brook Road could be put in by the Ryders and that they
be required to put all the work in to the proper grade
furnished by the Town. He felt that this brook should
be considered the main drain in the Town wherein we
dump surface water, and he felt that some sewerage also
went into the brook, and when this is done, the Ryders
would then fall in line and do the work above.
Mr. Glynn did not believe that the project was ever
presented to the Town in a finished manner and he believed
that considerable work should be done on it and it should
be presented in the Spring.
Mr. Milne felt that the more building there is in
a place, the faster the flow of the storm drainage water
and that this storm drainage must be taken care of. If
there were considerable building beyond the Vine Brook
Area, it might cause a flood condition.
After the hearing adjourned, the Board discussed
the matter and voted that they approve andare in sym-
pathy with the suggestion of the Planning Board in
determining how the matter of Vine Brook Drainage can be
best brought before the Town and the Board will cooperate
with them in their efforts .
Letter was received from the County Commissioners
in which they stated that they would not cooperate in
Wood expending money on Wood Street.
Street . Letter also was received from the State Dept . of
Public Works in which they stated that they had revoked
their previous vote wherein they were to allow the
expenditure of the balance on the construction of Mass.
Ave. to be spent on Wood Street.
Mr. Custance agreed to take the matter up on
Friday morning at the hearing in the County Commissioners
office.
Letter was received from the Selectmen of the Town
of Stow requesting that signs be placed on posts
Signs . directing traffic to the Town of Stow and that they would
reimburse Lexington for its expenditures for this
purpose.
The Board replied that they would be glad to have
these signs placed in accordance with the suggestions and
asked that they post signs directing the traffic to
Lexington and Lexington will stand the expense.
161
Schedule of hearings on billboardd before the
Commission appointed to make a study of billboards was Billboard
received. The dates are as follows hearngs .
Tuesday, Oct. 6, Friday, Oct. 9, Thursday, Oct.15,
Room 370,State House, ht 10:30 A.M.
The Chairman was requested to attend the hearings .
The Board signed the application for the ,boarding Boarding of
of infants of Lilian Sefton of Fairview Avenue. Infants .
Letter was received from the Town Clerk notifying Chairman,
the Board that the Chairman of the Board of Registrars Bd.of Reg-
was Mr. L.H. Truesdell. istrars .
In regard to the property of Robert L. Ryder located
at the corner of Lowell and North Streets where he re-
quested the street be widened in accordance with his
agreement when he gave the land to the Town, the inform-
ation regarding the deed was placed before the Board and
it appeared when Mr. Ryder gave this land, he requested
the street be widened.
The Board therefor voted to widen the street at the
junction of Lowell and North Streets, and in North
Street as far as the line of the Ryder property continues, Ryder, re
the same to cost not more than 300. corner
It was left with Mr. Custance to go over the ground North &
With Mr. Ryder before starting the work to see if the Lowell St
proposed widening is agreeable to him.
Mr. Ryder presented a partial release of the land
belonging to Antonio Mercadante on this corner, but;the
final release was never received from Mr. Mercadante
although he had been requested to send it in to the Town.
Mr. Trask reported having had a conference relative
to the "Accord of Nations" having a meeting on Sept. 12th,
from 2-3 P.M. on the Common or on Parker Field and he made
the suggestion that they might have a meeting in the Cary "Accord
Memorial Hall. When the hall was viewed, it appeared to of Nations
them to be a very good su gestion and they agreed to let Mr.
Trask know if they would want their meeting there. Mr. Trask
stated that he felt the organization was a reputable one. They
were to hold meetings in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and
Lexington. They tentatively requested the use of the hall for
the evening of Sept. 24th.
Attention has been called to the fact that the
Royal Blue Line busses have been parcing on the
wrong side of •the street in front of the Hancock-Clarke
House.
Mr. Trask called attention to the fact that the Traffic
traffic regulations did not include anything about the Regulations .
parking at this location. Before adopting a regulation
covering this, the Board requested the Supt . of Public
Works to look up any other places that have been posted
for parking that have not been included in the regulations .
Circular letter was received from Mass . State Council
in Regard to the efforts that are being made to dis-
Obbtlath
4A4ttuAq- hay#f#$ ,Efo'Ceb®r,-,l0th-a•oe< State holiday. They
al State requested the Board' s cooperation in opposing any action
heia'day. to eliminate this holiday.
No action was taken on the matter.
The Chairman reported that Mr. McCarthy of the
American Legion requested that the Board allow $75.
expenditure for flags for the American Legion for their
convention. He stated that last year most of the Legion-
aires coming into Boston for the convention from the West
Legion carried flags.
flags. The Board did- not feel that they should spend money
for this purpose and the Chairman was requested to so
inform Mr. McCarthy.
Mr. Trask stated that he thought something should
be done about the men who ask for work in the Town that
own automobiles. He stated that he had at least six call
at his office and apply for work and stated that they
did not have anything to eat but they were driving cars.
The Clerk stated that in the Town of Amesbury when
PebliC Welfare application was made for aid, the person owning an auto-
men tutting _ mobile must leave the number plates in the office of the
at3`'bella Clerk, otherwise they cannot receive- aid, and when they
are through reirivrng aid,themmnbtr pigtes are given
back to them.
The Board fait that this would be a good way of
handling the siltation in Lexington and Mr. Trask
requested that a new application for employees to
be made up and that all applicants be required to II
register again this year. The Board voted that all
applicants for aid if they have automobtles, be re-
quested to leave their number plates with the Clerk of
the Board.
The Chairman reported that the Town Counsel advised
that the Board coasntt to the Assessors the betterment
Betterment charge against the property of Caroline A. Barrington,
charge. bill having been sent to Mrs. Harrington under date of
July 6, 1927, thethe amount of $719. so that said amount
will be placed upon the tax bill. -
Hearing will be held at the County Commissioners _
Office on_Friday, Sept._4th at 10 A.M. on the relocation
of Bow Street.
Mr. Trask and Mr. Custance agreed to attend the
hearing.
Mr. Custance presented schedule of proposed
appropriations for 1932 and the Board agreed to take the
list and consider them before the next meeting.
tr. Custance stated that he would attend to mending
in the insurance s hedule to the appraisal company
this coming week.
Mr. Custancett33reported having consultedhhwith Mary
'MBBoar irtenasrtotmakeeovet part oftthesMullveywhich the
proper y.
163
Mr. Custance stated that Miss Mulvey works for
Chas. E. Howe, real estate man, and he asked her to have Mr. Mulvey
Howe confer with him in regard to the property. pin petty,
Weekly report of the Supt. of Public works was
received.
Mr. Trask brought up the hatter of building a
bridge on Allen Street on that part beyond the school
which has not been laid out by the Board of Survey and Bridge,
Mr. Scamman stated that he could put in some 42" pipe and Allen
some planks, and it would serve the purpose for the Street.
school children to walk over and that he could do this
work right stay.
Mr. Custance suggested that the Board notify the
Edison moo: now to be starting the schedule on the
morning street lights similar to the schedule of last
year. This is to protect persons going to the market Street
train at 5:55 A.M.. lights.
The Town Entineer presented a plan showing a 40 ft.
diive in to the Public Works Dept. property. The Board
voted to approve this plan presented under date of Sept. Plan.
1, 1931.
The Supt. of Public Works attention was called to
the fact that the weeds on Hill Street should be mowed,
Also to the condition of the tar sidewalk in front of the Sidewalkd.
Masonic Hall and to the sidewalk at the corner of Waltham
Street and Mass. Avenue near the letter box, also to the
condition of the tar sidewalk on Bedford Street.
Mr. Caastance reported having received a bid of $35.
for the painting of the gold leaf sign on the Town Office
Building from F. H. Tobin; also a bid from L. H. Bid for
Truesdell of $48. painting.
The matter was left with Mr. Custance to have the
work done if he felt it was necessary.
Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that
Mr. Savoye had broken a spring on Harding Road and he
had not received any satisfaction from the Supt. of
Public Works regarding the matter. The Supt. of Public Auto
Works reported that John Hendricks of Arlington also springs
broke a spring on Lowell Street. The Supt. was requested broken,
to bring the details of the two cases to the Board for
their decision.
Mr. Custance inquired whether or not the Board
desired to have a booth at the Trade Show, Oct. 21st.
This booth might have pictures of various places in
the Town and a phmaplet might be gotten out for the Trade
occasion. He stated that he felt the cost would preb- Booth.
ably be about $200.
The Board decided to think the matter over- and
make their decision at a later date.
The Board decided to request the State Dept. of
Pale Work to place a sign at the earner of Mass4
Avenue and Beacon St., Boston designating the direction
164 of the Town of Lexington and also to ask 'them to designate
Lexington when they have signs Tioroads leading to on
Request Lexington and to towns behond.
for
signs. The meeting adjourned at 11:43 P M.
A true record, Attest: '
Clerk.
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