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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1931-11-03 228 tcin l' SELECTMEN'S MEETING NOVEMBER 3, 1931. A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. 1111 Messrs . Trask, Custance, Blake, Shannon and Gilcreast were present . The Supt . of Public Works and the Clerk were also present . Mr. John J. Garrity came before the Board to discuss the appropriation for the Park Department inasmuch as he Park has to cro before the Appropriation Committee on Thursday Dept. evening. The appropriation was discussed in detail. anoro- The total appropriation was $13,773. o riation. The Board took up, the application of the Lexington Coal Compan- for an increase or capacity of gasoline tank from 280 to 500 gallons . Lexington Mr. William E. Mulliken was present at the hearing Coal Co. and stated that he desired to have this tank moved in on hearing. their property inasmuch as the pumps had been broken into on several occasions, and also if they had a tank o 500 gallons there would not be any shortage. The Board voted to grant the permit for an increase i capacity. Hearing was declared open on the application of Joseph J. Nangle. for permission to maintain a one car Nangle garage at the preMises at 35 Follen Road, Lexington. arage Mr. and Mrs . Nangle aipea red at the hearing. hearing. No persons appeared to object , am it was voted to grant the permit. Mr. John Audick of Tucker Avenue app eared with Mr. Frank Manganelli,. At the hearing last 'l'uesd.ay evening, Mr. Folger stated that Mr. Manganelli signed the application for the acceptance of Tucker Avenue, but he did not under- Tucker stand what he was signing. Mr. Audick brou;ht Mr. Avenue. Manganelli before the Board to prove that Mr. Folger's statement was not correct. Mrs.71Manganelli stated that they were in favor of the highway being constructed. They did not believe, however, that they should be charged an assessment for the corner lot inasmuch as their house is located on 2i lots on Baker Ave. The situation appeared to be somewhat similar to the situation stated by Mr. Frank E. Hudson on the opposite corner of Tucker Avenue and the Town Bttg4laer was instructed to investigate. The Board decided to construct Tucker Avenue from. Baker Avenue a distance of 330 feet. The Board signed certificate of admission of Frank A. McCoithrey, 25 Edgewood Road, and of Margaret Maloney, Tuber- , 93 Baker Avenue, for admittance to the Middlesex County culosis Sanatorium. Both patients are now at Rutland and are to cases. be transferred. Letter was received from the State Aid Commissioner 229 Richard R. Flynn, innregard to the application of Mrs. Mrs . Kimball Martha C. Kimball and stated that he would recommend $10. State Aid. per month State Aid. The Board voted to grant the use of Cary Hall on Use of hall. November 30 to the DeMolay at the reduced rate of $25. Letter was received from Francis E. Burke, Clerk of the Appropriation Committee, in which he stated that the Appropriation Committee had decided to send statements of all the items expended in the various departments to the Town Meeting Members and suggested that mimeographed copies be setit. • The Board were not in accord with this idea inasmuch Suggestion as they felt that it was the duty of the Appropriation of Committee to study the various departments and make Appropri- the,ir recommendations to the�,Town Meeting Members . ation � The matter was left the Chairman to communicate Committe . with Mr. Burke. In regard to the settlement of the Stone property, it has been found that Miss Ellen A. Stone now desires to have the Town deed back to her .i small strip of land so she may walk around a tree that she has been accustomed to walking around. A suggestion was made that no transfer of land be made, but that permission might be given to Miss Stone Stone to walk over the land and that some legal form might be Property. drawn up giving her that right , and the fence might be con- structed sol, that it will not take in this strip of land. The matter was left with the Chairman to consult with Mr. Holt to see if he could straighten tut the matter to Miss Stone's satisfaction without having to ask the Town to redeed a parcel of this land. The Town Counsel presented an article aid vote to be presented to the Town in connection with the right of way on Lincoln Street which Mr. David Hennessey has requested an apportunity to purchase. Town Counsel su.,gested Right that Mr. Hennessey may desire to have an Attorney of way , look up the title for his own, interest. Lincoln It was left with Mr. Custance to talk with Mr. St. Hennessey in regard to the matter. The Town Engineer presented the plan of the layout of Lincoln Street. The Chairman stated that he lad been studying the matter of Lincoln Street recently, am noticed that there was not the amount -If traffic on Lincoln Street that there was prior to Muss . Avenue bei _g rebuilt and during the time it was rebuilt, and he felt that the layout mi ;ht be modified. He felt that the elimination of the ledge was a large item and the building of a new highway the other side of Vie ledge would be costly and would leave a rather unsightly Lincoln St. 230 col condition at the point where the ledge would be and in front of the houses that are located in that section. 0'0 He stated that a number of persons feel that this road is not a through road and might well be left as a winding highway. He felt that the cost of finishing up a IU hway of $35,000 or $40,000 would be excessive and thoug, t that we might get along without doing this work. Mr. Custance stated that the bounds of the highway are already laid and he felt that this street will be a through street to Lincoln and also that the reason this street is not used at the present time is that the new highway has been built and people are using Mass.Ave. now because Lincoln Street is So rough. He also felt that the more roads we have leading out from the center of the Town, the better it will be for the center, and he felt th-.t Lincoln Street would probably connect with the road to be built through the Aldrich property and therefor carry the traffic away from the center of the Town. Mr. Custance stated that bke was not in favor of spending aiy money on the street unless the street could be laid out in the proper manner. He was looking ten or twenty years into the future He felt that the property there would be developed an d that the street should be laid down so that the development could be made to the new layout . In regard to the ledge, he stated that there is now a department in the State House that does nothing lut study projects of beautifying the highways and he felt that the ledge coild be very easily made so that it would look ve»y well. The matter was left with Mr. Custance to again consult With the County Commissioners to find out whether they were going to contribute for expenditures on this street . The matter therefor was laid on the table until Mr. Custance reports. Comcitment of water rates for the third section in the amount of $3277.65 was signed by the Board. Letter was received from Mrs . William T. Wilkinson, 25 Carville Avenue in which she asked for the use of Cary Memorial Hall at a reduced rate to run a benefit turkey whist around Thanksgiving or Christmas time. Use of She stated that the reason for running this whist was that her husband is out of employment and she desires hall. money to pay her taxes and other small bills . The Board felt that inasmuch as this was a private interprize they should not allow the use of the hall at the reduced rate. Suggestion was made to her that she might obtain some other hall for this use. Mr. Custance presented the schedule of additional insurance to be added to the schedule. He explained that in 1933 the smallest amount of insurance was expiring, Insurance. and he endeavored to spread the schedule over the five years as evenly as possible. The Board approved Mr. Custance 's division of the insurance. Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which he stated that there was a balance of $204.45 in the 231 Water Maintenance Account and a balance of $4300. in the Balances . Sewer Construction Account. Letter was received from Supt. of Public Works stating that he did not believe that the water main extension in Hillcrest Avenue and Spr_ng Street could be made unless money is provided. The balance on account now is $10,690.53 and the current bills are $8376.66 leaving a balance of about $2300. for labor and incidentals . Unless there is Water another issue of bonds, it will be necessary to stop water mai ns construction after tile work on Tower Streit and Richard Road is completed. Mr. Scamman reported that at present there is only two weeks more work with the appeopriations on hand. The Board discussed issuing a note `'or Water Construction in the amount of $10,000 awaitin.' a better condition of the market for the pruchasing of bonds and the matter was left with Mr. Blake to see what rate would be charged on the note of $10,000. Letter was received from Mr. Neil McIntosh in which he requested the installation of two street lights to street accommodate houses at Sunnyfield, one on Ivan Street and lights . the other on Calvin Street. Letter was received from Dr . George H. Bigelow, Commissioner of Public Health, enclosing a copy of ar letter sent to the Supt . of Schools relative to a movement opposing compulsory vaccinations in schools . He stated that the Commissioner of Health in New York has advised Vaccination: him that the Board of Health of New York City has no legal authority to suspend the vaccination requirements nor does he recommend that they do so. In Massachusetts also, there is no legal power vested in the local school authorities to suspend the operation of the vaccination law. Letter was received from Mabel S. Liscombe of G-eat Road, Bedford, it which she stated that she received a notice to regard to the laying of the granolithic sidewalk in front of her premises at 1556 Mass.Avenue, Lexington, and she replied that she did not authorize the laying of such sidewalk. However, the sidewalk was laid and she received a bill of $50. She recently sold her property to D.J. O' Connell and she received no reimbursement for the Liscombe improvement in the sale price, which she claimed added property nothing to the value of her property. She paid the bill and felt that she was entitled to have the amount repaid to her inasmuch as she understood that no property owner could be assessed twice and there was previously an assessment for the laying of the sidewalk which e xisted up to the time of laying the granolithic sidewalk. The Town Counsel directed a reply to Mrs. Liscombe in which she was informed that the Statutes allowed assessment upon an abutting owner for the construction of a new sidewalk with a material of a more permanent character than that with which it was originally .constructed, and that there is no provision in the Statutes which prevents the assessment upon an abutting ownee who has been assessed for previous construction of a sidewalk of a material of less permanent character, 232 cot Therefor, the Board could not repay the amount of $50. to her, IMO In regard to the claim of Joseph S. Ferry, Mr. Custance reported that he had talked with Mr. Francis Burke, and Mr. Burke stated that they requested damages in the amount of $1000. The Town Counsel advised obtaining pictures of the Ferry house; also getting a statement from the foreman on the job. He also stated that Mr. Custance shozld make a statement of what they said to hie: when he investigated the conditions and that a statement should also be received from the man who repaired the building. Mr. Custance stated that the damages for the building had already oeen taken care of and they amounted to $50. Town Counsel stated that; the suit on the Caroline A. Harrington property on the establishing of the Building Line across this property would come to trial fairly soon. He informed the Board that Mrs . Harrington stated that she had an offer of $35,000. for her property Mr. Wrightington suggested that it might be well to purchase the front land that is included in the Building Line . The Board discussed in detail the value of the property and voted to offer Mrs . Caroline A. Harrington $1000. Letter was received from the Town Treasurer in which he enclosed a copy of letter received from Daniel J. O'Connell in which Mr. O' Connell notified on an accident resulting in personal injury to Mrs . Margaret Gaffney of 66 'vvoburn Street on October. 9th when she was injured by reason of a defective sidewalk opposite the home of Manuel P. Moritz, 56 Woburn Street, Lexington, The defect consisted of a depression surrounding a water shut-off which he claimed projected a considerable distance above the level of the sidewalk. Town Counsel suggested that the water and sewer department 'get the detailed information in regard to the water cock and also to take some pictures. The matter of salaries was laid over for one week . Mr. Gilcreast stated that henwould report next week on the matter of telephones . Mr. Custance presented statement by Mr. Edward J. Gavin made on Oct. 29th at the Town Office Building in which Mr Gavin stated that he would settle for 51,400 feet of land taken for street purposes, and for that taking he •will accept the assessed valuation 25g. Mr. Custance stated that he informed Mr. Gavin that he had lost his opportunity to make a claim for damages . The matter was referred back to Mr. Custance. Mr. Custance reported having had a request for water on East Street. He stated that Mrs . Crowley has rented her house and she promises to give water to her tenants . It will cost $7200 for a 12" pipe to be extended. 233 In regard to the water main on Spring Street to the house of Pilkington, Supt. of Public Works reported it will take 500 feet to go to the house of Pilkington Water and a short distance more would finish up the'main in Extensions . Concord Avenue to the Lincoln line. It was also reported that there was a request for water extension in Allen Street. It was decided to hold a Town Meeting on Monday, the 23rd of November. It was decided to request the Town acceptance of Crescent Hill Avenue, Tucker Avenue, Smith Meeting. and Independence Avenues at this meeting. Supt. cf Public Work' s attention was called to the Street fact that the street sign at Somerset Road has been Sign. broken. Mr. Gilcreast reported having investigated the Old Ace application of Charles Faugno of 12 Vine Street for Assistance, Old Age Assistance and it was voted to grant Old Age Faugno & Assistance to Mr Faugno in the amount Bf $$12 . per week. Mann. Mr. Gilcreast also reported having investigated the application of Mrs . Florence h. Mann and recommended that she be granted $8. per week Old Age Assistance. In regard to house to house canvassers , no permits have been given up to this time. The Clerk reported that in the Town of Arlington, the Chief of Police grants a permit to canvassers . After considering the matter, the Board voted to Canvassers .notify the Chief of Police to issue permits to canvassers at his discretion and to make a charge of fifty cents for the permit. The Chairman reported having a statement from most of the employees of the town o fice building pledging a part of their salaries for relief for the unemployed. He stated that the Lexington Theater was to put on a benefit for the unemployed and it may be necess. r y at a later date to aopoint a general committee for the supervision of these funds. Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that the Street street cleaning work is now being done in a very fine cleaning. manner. The weekly report of the Sunt. of Public Works was received. The meeting adjourned at 12 :30 A.M. A ttue copy, Attest Clerk.