HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-02-02 311
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
FEBRUARY 2, 1932 .
A regular meeting of the Selectmen wus held in the
Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building. Messrs . Trask,
Custance, Blake, Shannon and Gilcreast were present.
The Supt . of Public Works and the Clerk were also present.
A delegation headed by the Rev: . R. M. Thishtdn came
before the Board to protest against the moving picture
being held on February 7th at the Lexington Theater
for the benefit of the unemployed.
Mr. Rushton stated that they were entirely in
sympathy with the movement to aid the unemployed, but
they felt that having an opening wedge for Sunday movies
with the excuse that the funds were being raised for the
unemployed would give Mr. Viano an opportunity to request
permisaion to have Sunday movies at a later date .
Mr. William I. Brown, Miss Alice Newell, Mrs . Brown,
and Mrs. Margaret Jackson also expressed their opinion
as being opposed to the Sunday movies.
Mr. Rushton suggested that a show be held in the Benefit
Cary Memorial Building during the week two or three Sunday Movie.
nights and that the show be advertised throut7b the churches.
Mr. Rushton' s attention was called to the fact that the
Laymen' s League had a show for the benefit of the Public
Health Association and that this show failed inasmuch
as the people in the Town refused to attend. Their
attention was also called to the fact that the Town did
not have any arrangement for talkies and that people
would rather go to a theater where all the facilities
are provided.
Mr. Trask, being Chairman of the Unemployment Committee
informed the delegation that they had in the past granted
the use of the theater for a Sunday show to the Sons of
Italy, but this in ns way would inf1.1tenDe the present
Board of Selectmen to great Sunday movies for commercial
use, and that some time ago Mr. Viano made this offer to
use his theater and the offer was accepted by the Seledtmen.
Now the opportunity has arrived and they were going to
take advantage of Mr. Viano►s offer.
The Board discussed the matter after the delegation
retired, and voted to approve the license for the Sunday
show to be held on February 7th, same to be sent to the
State House for approval. It was felt that advertisement
had been given for this Sunday show, and that the objectors
could have objected at an earlier date, but at the present
time the tickets were printed for the show.
Mr. M. E. S. Clemons , Attorney for Sam Lippa, came
before the Board together with Town Counsel Wrightington
in regard to the matter of water pipe in Fottler Avenue.
Mr. Clemons informed the Board that he was of the
oliiiat'pn• that Mr.. Lippa now owns the water pipe inasmuch
as b15, had obtained releases from the abutting awnera Wateri e
P P ,
? except in one case. He felt , therefor, that Mr. Lipa Fottler Ave.
hail title to the property the Town was now using and it
was up to the Town to reimburse him.
gg The Board considered the figure presented by the
Toown. Counsel totgetafurttherrinformationronutheematter.
312 bpi
The Board discussed various other water mains which
were purchased under the same circumstances .
William W. Reed, 57 Meriam Street, was drawn as a
Jurors. juror for the criminal session.
William J. Marshall, 9 Independence Avenue,was
drawn as a juror for civil session.
Bridge St. Town Counsel reported that he had started suit on
Guarantees. the collection of the Bridge Street guarantees of Jones
and Gartland.
Town Counsel also reper ted that the Building
Inspector informed him that the original structure of
Sperandeo the Sperandeo house was not built under a permit and
house. asked whether or not the Board desired to have the
original building removed.
The Board referred this matter to the Tosn Counsel.
Mr. Albert H. Burnham came before the Board to
inform them that he consulted with the Highway Commissioners
in regard to the State paying land damages on Concord Ave.
He also inquired as to how they arrived at the amount or
Concord Ave . $200,000. for damages, and was informed by Mr. Dean
that Mr. Pillsbury just made a guess at the amount.
Mr. Burnham suggested that $50,000 would be a
sufficient sum. He also stated that Belmont states
they will refuse to pay the land damages . Concord
was opposed to having the highway come into Concord.
Mr. Custance suggested that the Town Engineer who
was present make a computation of the awards on Concord
Avenue and he felt that When this was done, the Board
would have something more definite to work on.
Mr. Burnham was informed that the Board were in
favor of House Bill #1130, the same being a bill to
allow the County Commissioners to arrange for the
House Bill financing of the cost to the Towns for the Middlesex
#1130. County Tuberculosis Hospital although they did not
intend to take advantage of the Act. It was proposed
to make an appropriation of $12,350.06 and a Bond
issue of $26,000, for Lexington€s shale.
Commitment of water rates for the third section
Commitments. in the amount of $2911.48 was signed by the Board .
Sewer rental charges for the third section in the
amount of $204.29 was signed by the Board.
Letter was received from the Bureau of Old Age
Assistance in which they stated that they would not
Old Age allow old age assistance in the case of Agnes J.
Assistance, Lothrop of D eemfield Street inasmuch as she was not
Lothrop oase. living in her own home. It happens that this property
was sold this last week for the sum of $5800. Mr. Gilcreast
agreed to communicate with the Attorney, Mr. Walcott
to get a statement of the sale of the property and if
Mrs. Lothrop got any money out of the property for herself.
In regard to the application of Mrs. Jennig) Grant
Hoyt, Mr. Gilcreast reported that he investigated the matter 313
Hoyt,
again and believed that Mrs. Hoyt was entitled to $5.
Old Age
a week so that she could pay her doctor's bills. Assistance.
It was therefor voted to grant $5. per week to Mrs.
Jennie Grant Hoyt.
Mr. Gilcreast repotted that he had made an investigation
of the application of Mr. John Hanson, 16 Franklin Avenue,
and found that all indications of Mr. Hanson's daughter's Hanson,
Old Age
hams did not show any need for assistance. Assistance.
The Board therefor decided to lay this application
on the table until further notice.
In regard to the application of Charles S. Cutter, Cutter, Old
it was voted not to extend Old Age Assistance longer Age Assistance.
than a period of tan weeks.
It was voted to reduce the pay of the election
officers as follows ; Wardens reduced from l2. to $10;;
other officers from $8.00 to $6.00.
The Clerk was requested to secure a bid on the Sewer Report
printing of the Sewer Survey report both as a part of
the Town report and as a separate report.
Letter was received from Elvin E. Baker, 10 Curve St.
in which he complained of the condition of the
drain in Curve Street near his property. He felt that
this project was an important one and should receive
attention aid although it had been brought to attention
for over three years, nothing had been done . He felt
that the arch of the culvert under the north end of
Curve Street needed to be rebuilt and the foundation
lowered to take care of even ordinary surface water, Ivan, Curve
let alone flood water. St.
Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that
drainage water has been dumped into this brook from the
new development near Independence Avenue, and that the drat n
runs under the buildings of Pichette and Ahern down into
Curve Street and that something should be done to remddy
the conditions.
The Board voted to instruct the Supt . of Public
Works to have this Work done . They also informed him
that he could use the unemployed for labor to do this
work.
Letter was received from the Mass. State Grange
Executive Committee in which they asked the position of
the Board in regard to the Old Age Assistance law in its Old Age
present form of operation. They asked that the matter Assistance
be submitted to the voters of the Town to give their Law.
opinion.
The Board felt that same smggestions might be received
from thb Grange as to how_ they felt abort the law and
requested them to submit .any suggestions that they might have.
Letter was received from the Chief of the Fire Dept.
in which he stated that he regretted that the Board of
Fire Engineers could not ccmply with the request of the Budgets
Board of Selectmen to reduce the approp'riati on of the
Fire Department to $37,000. The Chairman reported that
314
the Fire Dept. and the Tax Collector were the only
two that did not endeavor to comply with the request
of the Board to reduce their budget.
Report was received from Mr. A.A. Ross of the
accident on Mass . Avenue on January 20th to J. A, Muehling.
He stated that the accident happened shortly after the
Stwer Dept . employees has flushed the sewers on Mass.
Ave. The cover on this particular manhole had become sealed
Accident during the summer months with asphalt or tar, and of
course it was necessary to b reaak the seal when flusiing
the sewers .
Upon investigation, he found that the cover had a
slight crack through the middle which perhaps had some- '
thing to do with the coverts flying off and causing the
accident . This cover, together with all others found to
be cracked, has been replaced with a new cover.
Mr. Ross also recommended that a special type of
cover such as are used on the t1unk line sewers designed
by McClintock & Woodfall be used in the future on roads
that were heavily travelled and this might avoid any future
accidents of this type.
Mr. Scamman reported that he had not been able to get
the details as to the damage caused to the car.
The Chairman called attention to the fact that he
felt that many chlarges were made to the Highway Maintenance
Account that did not belong there, for instance paint,
labor, signs and posts used for traffic regulation, and
Accounts. felt that a new account should be started called Traffic
Regulation aid Control to take in the accounts now called
Automatic T5ignald ,and Traffic Beacons and mal y of the
items that had been charged to Highway Maintenance, and
it was therefor voted to start this account.
The Chairman felt that the estimate for this account
should be $1400.
Report. The annual report of the Milk Inspector and Health
Inspector was approved by the Board.
The Health Inspector also reported on his inspection
of Beauty Parlors and Barber Shops . He stated that he
found that proper sterilization of the instruments was not
being carried on and that he communicated with the pro-
Health prietors and requested that they cooperate with the Board
matters. of Health in this matter and provide proper sterilization.
In response to the complaint of Vencenzio D►Angelo
he stated that helinspected the property and found no
facilities for using water in the bathroom, add thatbathe
toilet was being flushed by using a pail of water, and an
outhouse in a shed next to the kitchen was being used.
He communicate with the owner, Joseph DeFelice, and
requested him to correct these conditions at once.
He also reported an inspection of stores, and that
he found the First National Store and Leaf►s Spa in North
Lexington were unsanitary. At the First National Store
the toilet and washing facilities were out of order, dirty
water in milk__ehesti_gnd garbage and waste .imattet at the
rear of the store. At Leaf's Spa he found dirty ice cream
ladles , dirty ice cream cabinet, no provisions for hot
water for washinglasses , etc:, and cellar and rearof
store dirty. He sated that he 1ted with tfie
315
proprietors and requested that the conditions be remedied
at once.
He further stated that he approved the applicatidn
of Wm. G. Potter to transport garbage, and the license
of Patrick Shanahan to pasteurize milk.
Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works
in which he stated that Mr. Howard of the E.E.I.Co.
called to see if the Town would continue the one hour service from
five to six in the morning. He reported that Street
Bedford desires this service until the first of March. Lights .
The service would cost the Town approximately 43.31 a day
for the month of February, a total of $82.75 for the month.
In regard to the application of Joseph R. Lees for
Military Aid and Soldier's Relief, the Board decided to Lees ,re
give Mr. Lees two days a week work instead of granting Soldiers Sol
Relief. flier s
Relief.
Request was received from the American Legion Auxiliary
that they be allowed to have smoking at the bridce to be
held February 4th at the Cary Memorial Hall.
The matter was left with the Chairman to decide.
Tranpportation of Garbage license was granted to Garbage License
William G. Potter. Walnut Street.
The paragraphs of the 3oard of Selectmen' s report
relative to Board of Health and Old Age Assistance were
approved by the Board.' Reports.It was voted to allow Mr . Albert Ross to obtain 25 copies
of the Water Dept. report to be printed separately.
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 P.M.
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.