HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-04-12372
Haynes
property.
Unemploy-
ment
Relief.
SELECTMEN'S MEETING
APRIL 12, 1932.
A regular meeting of the Selectmen was held in the
Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M.
Messrs. Trask, Custance, Gilereast, Ferguson and O'Connell
were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were
also present.
Mr. Alfred E. Haynes came before the Board. He was
not satisfied with the way that his property has been
left and felt that he should have some more filling put
In on his place inasmuch as the street was built higher
than it originally was and left his property in a low spot.
He would like to have the place cleaned up and finished
so that it would be in good shape. He felt that'the loam
that was left there could be thrown back, possibly by the
unemployed.
The Board informed him that they intended to fix
the place up and it would probably be done before he goes
away the first of July.
Mr. Benjamin Santosuosso of 91 Bow Street came before
the Board, he having received notice that after this week
there would not beeany further work for the unemployed.
He stated that he had lived in the Town for 26 years
and he felt he should be given some work. He had five in
his family. He had a son 23 years old who could not get
a job. He had one girl in the family working. The youngest
child was 13 years old.
The Board informed him that the funds of the Water Dept.
were not sufficient to put on extra help this year, and the
funds of the Unemployment Relief Committee were exhausted.
Mr. James McKinney came before the Board and stated
that he desired to obtain work four days a week if
possible inasmuch as he had a wife who was ill and he needed
the work at the present time. He had been looking for work
for some time. He was a dairy mechanic and he was not at
all satisfied with the four days a week, but he felt bbstaust
have it in order to get along. Be had one child three years
old and expected an increase in the family.
Mr. Wm. LeGoff of 74 Cliffe Avenue came before the
Board and asked if he could possibly be helVft*d by having
four days a week work. He had three in his family. He
paid $40. per month rent and with the gas and the -electric
lights he was just able to get along and pay $20, a month
twward has rent. He was assisted by the Welfare Dept.
for $20 toward his rent. The house is owned by Mrs. Mary
Murphy. He became ill last year with Scarlet Fever and
at that time he lost his position. When he was ready to go
back he was not taken back, and at that time he became in
arrears for his rent.
He stated that his work was in the chain store line
and that he heard of some prospect, but just at present
nothing had materialized.
He had a boy 16 years old who .was ambitious to attend
school and desires to go to College. He,is anxious to have
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his boy finish school here and did not want to move from
Lexington. He stated that he had an automobile; that his
cousin, a school teacher in Arlington, gives him an allowance
of gas each week to look for a job, and has also paid for his
' insurance.
Mr. Sebastiano Collentropo came before the Board and
felt that there was need for an electric Light on Cottage
Street near his house and asked that the Board give the Street
matte- further consideration, Light.
The Board informed him that they would go down there
and look the situation over.
Mr. Ernest K. Ballard came .before the Board at the
Chairman's request. The Chairman read to him the report
of the Health Officer on the condition of his premises.
Mr. Prentiss was also present.
Mr. Ballard stated that he was aware that some of
the people that came up in that section complained, and
he called attention to the fact that when Mr. Murray
came up there he and Mr. Fenn complained about the
piggery. Mr. Allen also complained. Now those persons
have all left the territory. He did not know who was
complaining now. He stated that when the territory is
in the market for development, he would be willing to give
up his piggery, but there has not been any development
there and probably will not be any for some time. He stated
that he might make $500. on his hogs or he ' might make 1000., and the way be figured it was that if $500. or $1000. was taken
off his income, there would be so much less and felt that anyone
would realize having thistaken out of their income. Mr. Brogna
comes up there in the summer time and his children play around
his farm and he has never had any complaint from him.
He realized that there were times when theme was an
odor, but there would also be an odor to any farm where
there was pig manure. He purellases pig manure from
Connors an,: has it put down on his place and he plows
it into the ground as soon as possible inasmuch as there Ballard
is in it then the availAble nitrogen that is needed piggery.
in ghe ground. It is to his advantage therefor to
plow the manure into the ground as soon as possible and
he always does so. He has lived in Lexington for 51
years and has been farming for 45 years. Last year he
made $650. out of the farm. He stated that he hoped
the Board would give him a permit to continue bossiness
and he would keep the place just as clean as possible
and that he always did try to keep the place clean, but
he felt that it was not the pigs that the odor was coming
from, but the manure that was brought there to be plowed
into the ground.
The Chairman informed him that if further complaints
are made, they will ask him to come down and state the
conditions to the complaintants.
' Complaint has been received from Miss Syer.
The Health Inspector stated that he believed many
of the odors received by her were from Connors piggery
In Lincoln inasmuch as this piggery is in very bad
condition.
The Chairman reported having talked with the Board
of Health in Lincoln and find that they have not granted
374
Mr..Connors a permit. They are simply allowing him to
continue doing business without bothering him.
Vito Viddtte of.Bow St. came before the Board
and stated that he had been working for the Water Department
for five years and he did not see why he could not get a
position.
The Chairman informed him of the reduced amount of
money in the Water Dept. available for work and he felt
that he would have to look elsewhere for work.
Mr. Vidette stated that when college graduates could
not find worlf,, he did not see how he could. He also
felt that there are some people who have not been in the
Town five years and some non -citizens who were working
on the Highway Department that bhould not be given work
in preference to citizens.
the Board informed him that he would have to look
for work and if he could not obtain work, he could
report again in two weeks.
Mr. Joseph Vitale came before the Board and stated
that he had been receiving three day's a week work and
he lived on Bow Street for 16 years. His father always
drank and that is why his mother needs supporttt6dyy.
He has been married for three years. His sister is
married and gives him $3. a week toward the support of
the house. Her husband works for himself, but his
business has been very poor. He had been out of school
since he was 13 years old endeavoring to earn enough
to support the family. He still owes money on ltlA;;
taxes. He had a Christmas Club and paid part of the
taxds.with that and repaid his brother who lives on
Denver Street money he had borrowed from him.
Letter was received from the city of Melrose in
which they enclosed section 1, Chapter 34 of the
General Laws which was a text of the proposed bill that
they desired to have adopted by the Legislature. They
stated that a hearing would. be held on Wednesday,
April 13th, at 11 A.M. 6n this bill.
The Chairman stated that he would attend the
hearing.
The Board viewed in the Engineering Office, the
plans of Allen Street and Blossom Str=yet with the
suggested lines for the rel6cation.
The Board decided to hold an informal hearing on
April 26th at which time the residents of this vicinity
would be given an opportunity to view the plans of the
proposed relocation of these streets.
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D
The Board voted to grant the following licenses:
Alcohol '
Herbert M. Lawrence 1771 Mass. Ave.
Golonial Garage 1668 Mass. Ave.
Arthur B. Field 851
Waverley Hardware 1756
Calvin Childs 409 Mass. Ave.
Colonial Garage 34 Bedford 3t.
COMMON VICTUALLER'S
Sidney B. & Margaret W. Heywood
(The Old House)
Joseph Breck & Sons Corp.
Mrs. Philomena Pero
' Charlott C. Cullen & Charles M.Cox
Arthur L. & Grace M. Smith
Mike & Christy Hallos (Minute Man Cafe)
GARBAGE
John N. Connors
HAIRDRESSER'S
M. A. Quirk
Hazel Thompson
SUNDAY SALES LICENSE
Fi,Rd S. Bartlett
UNDERTAKER'S
Thomas Montague
Marrett Rd.
Rear Munroe Station
12 Waltham St.
420 Marrett Rd.
273 Bedford St.
1761 Mass. Ave.
Lincoln, Mass.
1841 Mass.Ave.
It n it
Bedford St.
21 Bedford St.
375
Licenses.
Abatement in the amount of $902.35, $719. being the Abatement.
assessment of the 1926 Building Line committed June 29, 1926
and 0183.35 being the interest on this charge against Caroline
A. Harrington, was signed.
Letter was received from the Town Clerk giving the Bd. of
Information that Mr. George H. Lowe has been elected as registrars,
Chairpan of the Board of Registrars of Voters for the Chairman.
ensuing year.
Letter was received from the 'Joint Committee on
Municipal Finance of the Boston Chamber of Oommerce
and the Boston Real Estate Exchange enclosing a table Assessments.
with the probable assessments on account of the
Metropolitan Parks and Sewerage Districts; also enclosing
a summary of bills contemplating additional assessments
on the Metropolitan district's.
v
Bond of John C. Russell as Constable was approved
by the Board.
Letter was received from the Acme Exterminating Co.
of 9 Hancock Street, Boston in which they gave tre price
of $60. for exterminating the rats in the Town Dumps.
In September, 1929, the charge for this work was $150.
The Boarddecided that in view of,the fact that they
had not had any complaints about the rats, they would
not have this work done at present.
License was approved for Warren S. Grant, Farmerest
Avenue, to peddle ice in the Town of Lexington.
Letter was received from the Near East Foundation,
632 Little Building, Boston, asking that the Board
issue a statement to the people calling attention to
the drive for the Near East Relief.
Constables
Bond.
Extermination
of rats.
License.
Near East
Relief.
376 The Board decided that there might be many people
that would give tbethe Naar East Relief that would not
give to local welfare department and therefor voted to zoo
cooperate by sending their notice to the papers, on<
Notice was rdoeived from Allen Brooks, Administrative '
Secretary of the State Dept. of Public Utilities, informing
Lovell the Board of a hearing on Wednesday April 13, at 10: 30 A.M.
Pus In. Room 1669 State Mouse, upon the application of the Lovell
hearing. Bus Linea Inc. for a certificate of public convenience and
necessity for the operation of motor vehicles for the
carriage of passengers for hire between Lelington and
Billerica, passing through Lexington, Burlington, Billerica
and Bedford.
The Chairman of the Board was requested to attend
the hearing,
Ryder The health Inspector reported in regard to the Ryder
piggery, piggery on Maple Street. No further actlLon was taken except
to file the report. ;
The Clerk was instructed to write to Mr. Griswold
Winter requesting him to present the plans of Winter Stro*t
Street. for approval at an early date,
Letter was received from Mrs. Norman Stoekhaus
representing the American Legion Auxiliary, asking
Legion permission to erect and wye to a stand si#nilar to
stand. the one the Legion had last year on Depot Square on
April 19th. They plan to sell tonic, ice cream and
hot dogs.
ftb Beard voted to grant permission to operate the
stand provided they provide liability insurance protecting
the Town for any claim for injuries as a result of the
erection of this stand.
Letter was received from William P. Bailey, 276 West
Street, Needham relative to the Tomn of Lexington shutting
Street the lights off at one o'clock in the morning. He stated
lights. that the voters at the Town Meeting voted to have the
lights shut off at one o'clock, but that the Selectmen have
not carried out the action. ne desired to know the
result of shutting off thellights in Lexington.
The Chairman replied to th$ letter.
Letter was received from Charles E. Hadley, Sealer
of Weights and Measures, askin that his son Frank n.
Sealer of Hadley be appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures and
Weights as Special Police officer during his absence while he
& goes to California. He stated that he talked with
Measures. Mr, Meredith of the Bureau of Standards.at the State
House and he stated that this would be satisfactory to
him.
The Board voted to appoint Frank R. Hadley in
place of his father as Sealer of Weights and Measures
and also as Special Police.
Letter was reooived from Fletcher W. Taft, Clerk
April 19th of the April 19th Celebration Committee,''in*fttng the
Committee. Board of Selectm4n to view the parade in front of the
Cary Memorial Building. The parade will start from
The Adams School at 10 o'clock, A. M.
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377
Letter was received from r'. D. Sabin, District
Highway Engineer, calling attention to the fact that
traffic markers should be painted to conform with the Traffic
traffic bulletin #3. This letter was turned over markers.
' to the'Supt. of Public Works for his attention.
Letter Was received from Timothy Kinneen of
156 Vine Street in which he applied for position
of Plumbing Inspector. The matter was laid on the table Plumbing
until such time as an opportunity was given to take the Inspector.
examila#ton for this position,
Application for Board of Survey approval of plans
of the Roberts property off Allen Street was made by
C. Ross Morash of 40 Manning Road, Waltham. Beard of
The Board decided not to hold this hearing t.ntil Survey.*
after the informal hearing on the relocation of Allen
And Blossom Stre4ts, It was decided to refer this matter to
the Planning Rd. for their approval.
Letter was redeived from Robert C. Merriam in which
he requested that a street sign be placed at the corner Street
of Oakmount Circle and Aeriam Street designating Oakmount Signs.
Circle. The Supt, of Public Works was requested to
attend to the matter.
Mr. Custance that he understood Mr. Neil
McIntosh was going to come before the Board with reference
to the water Antees, as he was not satisfied about
McIntosh
the charges. Mr. McIntosh did not appear.. Vq,
water
but Mr. Custance recommended thG:t he get a reduction on
guavantees.
'
Lincoln Street and requested the Supt, of Public Works
to have the abatement ready for the next meeting,
Monday evening.
The Chairman presented specifications for 1:50
trees to be divided fifty 'each of Red,,Rock and Norway
Maples. The proposals are to be in the office of the
Shade trees.
Selectmen not later than April 18th at 5 P. M.' It was
decided to request bids from the following: Nsw
England Nurseries; Old Town Nurseries, Perri's Nursery,
Brebk-Robinsonsts; Russell Bray.
It was 'decided to request Mr. Custance to -build
a reviewing stand for the Select -nen to review the
April 19th parade at a cost not exceeding X15., same
to be charged to the Unclassified Account.
April 19th.
It was also decided to inftte Ar. John N. Morse
of the Grand Army to review the parade with the
Selectmen from the reviewing stand,,
Mr, Trask called attention to the automobile light
signal located at Mass. Avenue and Clarke Street and
stated that this blinker had been a source of annoyance
to Miss Harrington who lives opposite the light, and -
during her motherts illness it was decided to shut
off the light at night and after considering the matter,
the Board felt thatit was not necessary to have the 1Uht
Traffic
turned on. It was therefor voted to eliminate the
signals.
blinkers at Waltham.Street, Clarke Street and Elm Aven-�6
at 11 o'clock.
378
Presidential
1'he Board signed the Warrant for the Presidential
Primaries.
Primdries to be held April 26th, &hd decided that the
polls be open from four until eight P.M,
Letter was received from the Planning board in
which they quoted a vote as foll!ws:
'
"That the Planning doard recommends to the
Selectmen, that subject to the approval of Messrs;
Stephen Hamblin, Edward Ballard and Edward Wood., an area
about the old Reservoir, and.Bowman Park be set adt4e'
as town forests and planted,with Red Pine secured from the
State, and that a planting of Spruce be made in the back
area of the Westview Cemetery tract with a view of
Trees,
transplanting apart of these at some future date if it
is found desirable."
The Board dsucassed the matter and Mr. Custance
suggested that if any planting is done on Bowman Park
that only a few trees be'put in inasmuch as an effort
has been made in the past ,years to clean the park up.
The Board decided that they were in sympathy with
the project of planting trees, but felt that the matter
should be left in the hands of the Chairman of the Board
and the Supt. of the Park Dept., and the PlannSng
Board were to be so -advised.
rdeady
In regard to the damages to the property of
property.
IV. B. C. Meady,'it was decided to ask Air, ready to give
the Board his claim in writing and the Board would then
decide what action they would take.
,
In .regard to 4be $e* 1s property, Mr. O"C'onnell
presented views taken of the property showing gravel
�'olger
that was put in there by the Torn. He stated that he
property.
talked with Pyr. Folger and asked him if it was not that
he wanted the Town to grade his lot, and it rather
looked to him from looking over the situation that
that wbatwhat was granted.
The Board inbtructed the Supt. of Public Works
to have the sprain in Tucker Avenue filled in and also
to have the fill that was put in in front of Mr. Folgerr s
property on Tucker Avenue removed, this work to be done
at once.
In regard to the claim of the Lexington Co-operative
Bank that the street drainage was the cause of water
being in the cellar,of the Meany house, it was decided
Shade St.
to notify the Co-operative Bank that the Board did not
drain.
believe that the water in the cellar was caused by
the drainage turned in there by the Town.
In regard to the clerks in the office having
Vacation,
their three weeks Uvn, the Board decided to reduce
the vacatioai to two we -eke for all Town employees.
License to
The Board signed the 1icanse, of Marion E. Hankard
'
board
of 6 Garfield $tree to board two infants at her home.
infants.
The Clerk reportedhaving visited this woman and found
conftUfts in her home verysatisfaatory.
Permit was granted to the E. E. T. Co. and the NX
Pole
Tela & Tel. Co. for a joint attachment on one pole on
location.
Pleasant Street,
After making the appointment of Mr. Samuel Zeitlen
of the Engineering Dept., the Town Counsel ruled that he
did not believe it would be wise to appoint a man from
out- of -town as Asst Assessor. It was th-refor.necessary
to appoint someone elsn in his place and the Chairman
'
appointed George V. 14orse of Vine Brook xoad.
the Board approved the appointment.
In regard to the salary of William Paxton,
appointed Ass't Supt. of Streets, it was voted that
his salary be raised to $25. per weak beginning May
lst, 1932.
The copies of the deeds of the East Lexington
Meadows were turned over to Mr. 0!Connell to go over.
Mr. O'Connell stated that he would report in one
week in regard to.a.form of water guarantee bond to
be filed as a lien against the property.
The Supt.of Public Works presented a telegram
with confirmation from the J. B. Filleul Co. authenizing
him to use the tractor on any job desired.
Mr. O'Connell reported that the Highland Trust Co.
held the second mortgage on the Shea property in East
Lexington and he expects that the directors of the bank
will assent to the removing of the building at 497 Mass.
Avenue.
' Attention of the Supt. of Public Works was called
to the fact that the sign board on Bedford Street
near the house of Mr, Jos. Swan has been knocked out
of place and should be attended to,
The Board viewed the ylan the 'Supt. of Public
Works had prepared by the own Lngineer at the request
of the Board to have a plan drawn showing the necessary
drainage in allen Street.
Mr: Ferguson was not satisfied with the plan and
felt that the Engineer should make a study of this;
territory and make his recommendations as to the size
of tha pipe necessarv. he felt that the ordinary
la;Tman, although they did have an opinion would not
know definitely what the proper size of the VIVA was
or if any drainage m.sr_nobessary.
It was therefor decided to request the Town
Cineer to make a study of the plan and report to the
rd *,
Mr. dilereast called attention to the fact that
the Supt, of Public Works did not comply with the request
of the Board made recently that he give information on
expend fres of the various departments for the week
following, Supt. was requested to give a better report
neat week.
Mr. Custance brought up the decision of the Town
Counsel on the application of Richard Whittemore to
build a store with a single dwelling over it of
second class construction in a C.1 districst4
379
Asst
Assessor.
Asst Supt.
of streets.
Deeds.
Bond.
Tractor.
Old Paint
Shopt.
Traffic
sign.
Allen St.
drainage.
Supt.
reports,
380 The Building.Inspector inquired of the Town
Counsel whether -4r not he would consider this a
detached dwelling. The Building Inspector stated that in
his opinion that the intention of the Zoning Lawswas
not to prevent a dwelling over a store in a C. I.
district, but he desired to have theg opinion of the flows:
Counsel on the detached building. Thw Town Counsel
stated that literally the language of. the Zoning Law
does not agver that kind of structure in any of the
districts; that it seemed to him a case where the Board
of AP
eaIs might act,
he 4oard considered the matter and decided that,
they did not believe that a dwelling and a store as
one unit would be considered a detached dwelling
after viewing the plans, and decided to notify the
Building Inspector.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 P.M,
it
A true record, Attest:
Clerk.