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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-06-05�I SELECTMEN'S MEETING JULY 5, 1932. • 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, Gilereast, Ferguson, Custance and O'Connell were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Bids were received on Revenue Loan of $175,000 payable Oct. 14, 1932 from the following.- F. ollowing: F. S. Mosely, 3.48 dis. Faxon Gade 2.73 dis. Day Trust Co. 2.46 Lex. Trust Co.2.87 It was voted to award the bid to Day Trust Co. at their bid os 2.46. Special Police Commission was signed for David McPeake. The Chairman explained that Mr. Garrity asked that he be appointed as Special Police so that he could do duty on the Park grounds. 467 Bids The Clerk reported that Mr. Loaf stated in regard to the letter received by him calling attention to the dumping on Cottage Street on his property, that the property did not belong to him where the dumping is maintained. He himself asked the Board last year for a sign to be put up "No dumping" but the sign would only remain up a few days Cottage when it would be torn down by the boys in the vicinity. St.Dump. Mr. Leaf reports that the dumping is being done on the land owned by William Hunt, It was decided to write a letter to Mr. Bunt requesting him to past the land and prohibit any further dumping on his property. The Chairman reported that Mr. Ballard stated that he would like to have a sidewalk along his property continuing the sidewalk now being built by the unemployed on the Park grounds' beyond Audubon Road to the point.wher®=a('sidewalk now exists. Side - This would complete this stretch of sidewalk. walk. The. Board felt that this whould be done and voted to have the Park Dept. construct this sidewalk. Mr. Gustaf Lidberg came before the Board and asked for the extension of water beygn# East Street to his property. Mr. Custance informed him that approximately it would cost him about:150, a year for the guarantee, but if others came in on the guarantee that it would _cost _him less, Mr. Custance informed Mr. Lidberg that he would go over the matter Water. with him and give him the exact. figure of what it would cost and the Board also voted to take this matter up at the next Town Meeting. It was voted to grant the American Legion the use of the Playground on Saturday, July 9th, for the Field Day Playground Use of of the American Legion w hick was post-poned from July 4th. M Shirley St. sewer. Concord Avenue. Bashian property. 7n The reports of the Town Engineer on the Shirley Ste sewer weretto be studied by the Board before any definite action was taken. The Chairman reported that the State were willing to co-operate with the Town of Lexington in placing the proposed State highway in whatever location the Town desired. The Town Engineer made a study of the -situation, and the layout now proposed appears to be a better layout than what was or gina�.�y planned by the State. The Board retired to the Engineer's Office to view the proposed layout designated by him with the State's approval, and the Board decided to: meet with the State Engineersiat 2 P.M. July Sth to go. over the layout. The Town Engineer Alda ptesented list of proposed damages. He stated also that he had been in conference with Mr. Moody in regard to the additional holes which he is building for the Minute -Man Golf Course, The Town Engineer desired to have aerial maps made showing; the Concord Avenua section so that he may make a more complete study without going out on the ground to obtain the data. The Board discussed whether or not the information would be of sufficient assistance to expend the sum .of $40, at the present time, and whether or not it would be better to take the views after the street is laid out; also whether or not the information should be furnished by the State rather than the Town. After discussing the matter it was decided to authorize the expenditure of $40. to be charged to the Unclassified Account. Mr, Bedros Bashian did not appear as he stated he would. The Chairman called attention to the fact'that the Board had previously authorized certain work to be done around the Haywood Pump, and that the ground had been seeded around the pump. Mr. Bashian now asked that the grass be mowed by the Park Department. Mr. Trask stated that Mr. Bashian reported to him that -he would be unable to deed this piece of property over to the Town for a Park owing to trouble with his wife. His wife feels that the property should go to the 7th Day Adventists. The Board therefor voted not to keep the grass mowed by Town employees as requested inasmuch as the property is private property. The Board discussed the matter of doing some work on Wood Street from the Highway Maintenance Fund. Mr. Custance Wood reported that there had been four springs broken by the Street. Holtons on their car, and the Magul-res had also broken several springs, and he felt that the street should be put 1n a Fairly pas34ble condition. He stated that he felt that it would cost approximately $ . to do the work. The Board felt that this was a considerable sum to expend inasmuch as the Town did not vote to allow them to use the $5000. appropriated, and felt that as long as.ther a were no large holes and as long as the street was only in a rough condition that they would not spend any amount of money on the street* LI C 1 The Town Engineer was instructed to make a layout of the entire length of Follen Road from Pleasant Street bo Marrett Road establishing a 50 foot width. The Board decided to hold a hearing on this layout and Follen to present the order of relocation to the Town for acceptance Road. at the next Town Meeting, Mr. John Audick of Tucker Avenue came before the Board in rejard to the drainage conditions since the Highway Department fixed the street. Tuck - The Supt. reported that if some work could be done on er Ave. the private way that the street could be fixed properly. It was decided to have the Town Engineer make a study of the drainage conditions there and see what could be done. Letter was received from Philip Leaf, Ass1t. Janitor, in regard to the Board's letter to him asking him to contribute to the Unemployment Relief Fund. He called attention to the fact that the Board promised at the Annual Leaf's Meeting in March that there would be no salary reductions, unemploy- and in spite of that fact,.he was singled out andreceived went Ion- a reduction of $2, per week. On top of that, he was tribution. supporting his daughter and four children at a cost of — $8; to $10. per week, and he felt that he was contributing consid.erabley. to the welfare fund. The Clerk reported that Mr. Meek, Mr. Leaf's son- in-law, applied for aid over a year ago, and upon taking the matter up with Mr. Leaf, he agreed to take care of the family rather than let them secure aid from the Town. The Board felt that under t he circumstances they should release Mr. Leaf from iaking'.the payments, The Chairman reported in regard to the contribUtions of the Town employees for Unemployment Relief, that he received word from Mr. Grindle that the teachers would probably sign up one hundred per cent. He had not heard in regard to the janitors. The Engineering Dept, signed up one hundred per cent. Edward C. Maguire had not yet -reported in the Police Dept.; other than that all the others had signed in Con that department. The LibbArlans had all signed up, and he ex- tribu- pected to. receive the 'money from the Fire. Dept. tomorrowtT, tions. morning. Those who had not signed up are as follows: - Helen C.:Whittemore, Chas. E. Hadley, Russell I. P;entissr Dr: E. E. Morrill, Edward W. Taylor, Norman C. Hooper, Edward F. Buttrick, Elinor Moakley,.Robert H. White. The Chairman reported that he would send a list to all the members of the Board of those who had not signed up. The Board agreed to meet Miss Mulvey on Tuesday evening Mulvey nexg at 7 P.M. to inspect the premises on Vine Street if- property this time is satisfactory to her. Mr. Gilereast reported in regard to the Old Age Assistance application of Mary J. Rogers, that he visited Mrs. Ro&ers and he also talked with Mr. Staceyy.the Attorney for the Ewing estate. He asked if Old Age assistance were not granted to her what would become of her. He did not like the idea of placing her in Lexington and applying 470 for Olde Assistance. At one time Mrs. Rogers was wealthy � and her husband lost all his money. There was a Trust Fund left Per her by her brother-in-law, Mr. Ewing, but there would not be sufficient funds in the estate to establish this Trust Fund. He stated that Mr. Stacey informed him that he had already paid out over $200. of his own funds ' to help, her out and he could not continue to do so. Mr. Gilereast felt that she would. be some expense if she became ill and passed. away. After considering the matter, the Board voted to grant Old Age Assistance in this case in the amount of $8. per week, Joint hearing was declared open on the application of Thos. Hayes of Walden Street, Concord, for permission to keep, store and sell.4000 gallons of gasoline and petroleum products. The Clerk of the Board of Appeals read the notice of the hearing. Judge Pierre Northrup appeared for the petitioner. He explained that he felt that a um had a right to make a living in whatever way he wanted to and he did not believe it was for the Town Fathers to say he should not make a living in that manner if he so wished. He believed that when the Zoning Law established sections for business, any legitimate business should be allowed to_be carried on in that locality. He felt in regard to this application for a gasoline filling station and pumps, that no one should come ij -- in and say that it offends their aesthetic taste, that no one should come in and say that they would much prefer to have stores because they did not like, the looks of a filling station, and he felt that no one would dare to build stores at the present time when there are so many vacant. He felt that at some future date it might be possible there might be a municipal building on this location, but at the present time there was no need fbr stores or a municipal building. tie felt in regard to the inspired article in the local paper that there was no necessity for a filling station at that location, that it was hard to say that there was.no necessity when a person is willing to invest his money, and that a person had -a fundamental right to undertake any business project whi6hi-was not a serious detriment to the Town and he felt that th f -i station would not be a d6triment to the Town. The Company, the name of .which he did not wish to divulge; were willing to guarantee the expenditure of $25,000. on this lot to imrpove the property. He.felt that thi lean more value in #axation in addition to.the employment of men who live in the Town. In.addition, the Company interested inhe project would be willing' -to give the Town a right of w y to Vine Brook Road which undoubtedly the Town will sol tijae purchase at a great cost. He felt that compet tors, did not have any right to protest. He felt thkt Mr. Vianots establishment was not only a garage, but a repair shop, tire and.refrigerator salesroom, and that the sale of gasoline was only incidental thereto. He felt that many persons prefer to stop at -a filling station rather than a garage for the service given. He stated that Mrs.Mary Valentine -is the present owner of the property and that Mr. Hayes.represented a concern having an option to purchase the property until the first of October and if the permit J u 471 is granted, they will exercise the option. Mr. Glynn of the Board of Appeals inquired the name of the company, but Nr. Northrup stated that he did not want to give the name at the present time. The company intBnded to by the entire property. They did not have any detlmlte plans, but they would.locate the station and pumps vhywhbre the Board desired, He stated that the buildings on the property at the present time would probably be removed fps► torn down. Mr. Eugene J. Viano opposed the petition. He stated Joint that he had never been to a hearing where the petitioner hearing, was not present; also there was no definite plans of the Thos.J. property that would give anyone an -idea owhat was intended Hayes. to be done, He also stated that he.understood that it was customary for the owner of the property to petition the Selectmen. He stated that Lexington was a place where people like to come to live and if the center of the Town was made like Mass. Avenue in East Lexington, a gasoline alley, people will not want to come here to live. He stated that there are more than twenty filling stations in Lexington,: and that was more than the number of grocery stores and drug stores put together. Wf-fthi n one-eighth of a mile there were five filling stations. He stated that as far as the sale of gasoline is concerned, it was one. of the most important factors of auto sales. He felt that the Zoning Law was intended to prevent people from doing what they wished with their property, and when it was adopted, people understood they were voting to protect the Town to that extend.. ' If by waving some magic wand, they were going to give the Town something that it did not have, that would be one thing, but the Town is already provided with the services that they can give. When he went into the automobile business, he purchased the garage, which was an existing bulginess. He represented his father,.Mr. Felix Viano, and he felt that he could state that his. father has made considerable improvements as a citizen of the Town of Lexington. Mr. Pring of Vine Brook Road called attention to the moderate class homes located on Vine Brook Road, paralle ft with Mass. Avenue, in a sing3a alias residence district. Most of the people who purchased these homes purchased them.when the price was high and it has cost them considerable to keep them up and they feel that a business of this nature would have,ian ,adverse effect upon the v.&lue of their property. He also felt that it would be a hardship in having the storage of so Much gasoline inasmu h as the insurance rates would probably be increased. _'He --TW n end too register objection 1h the name of his wife,. owner of t property. Mr. Thatcher Jennoy stated that he owned the property immediately adjacent to the Valentine property, and.as he understood the plans, it would beimpossible to put a pump• within twel-v$--feet of his bedroom window and he did not think it would affect his aesthetic taste but it would affect his sleep at night. When he bought the property, he understood ' that it was going to be residential. He wanted to register objection the name of Phyllis M. Denney, owner of the property. Mr. O'Connell inquired if the pumps were located 200 feet away from his house if he would object., and he stated that he•thought he would object. 472 Mr. Hurley stated that he lived on Vine Brook Road and he ,understood that the parties proposed to buy the whole Valentine property. He did not understand that the whole property was in the business district and he wondered if the permit was granted whether or not an extension would be made:at a later,date of a garage on the premises and from that there would be considerable rubbish. He desired to retister his objection. If the rear of the land was reserved for residential purposes, At would not be -so objectionable to him. Mr. Northrup stated that it was intention of the petitioner to leave the back of the lot for residential purposes and the station would be erected on Mass. Avenue, Mr. Nilson registered objection for his wife who owns the property at 19 Vine Brook Road. He felt that the placing of another gasoline station would have a bad effect on his property inasmuch as a gasoline station has high-powered lights, and the existing gasoline station now troubles him in this manner and if another station were put in it would make it like daylight. Mr. Nilson stated that the appearance of the Town should be thought of and he never saw a gasoline station that improved the looks of property. Mr. Fred N. Viano called to mind when his father purchased the property next to tre Valentine property where the garage is located, that Dr. Valentine objected very strenuously to the property being used for a garage. He felt that it would seem to make a difference whose foot the shoe was on. Now Dr. Valentine desires to go out of Town and sell his property out for a filling station. He felt that if the Board was going tri allow stations to come in anywhere all over the Town that people would not watts to come to live in the Town. The hearing was declared closed. The Board discussed the matter and voted to detsy the permit. The Board requested the Chairman to write to Russell Health 1. Prentiss owing to the fact that he has been away from Town Inspector. for some time and has not made any reports on matters that have been turned over to him for his attention. Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that fireworks are put off prior to the 17th of June and he felt that this being a residential Town, there should be something done -v about Sale of the sale of fireworks prior to the 17th of June. He felt that Fireworks. the setting off of firecrackers are an annoyance to the residents of the Town. The Board felt that even though sales in this Town are shut off, there would be nothing to stop people from buying them out of Town and bringir_g them in and setting them off. On the whole, it proved to be a very quiet 4th of July and they did not feel that any action should be taken. Wheeler, Letter was received from Harvey C. Wheeler in which he re water enclosed a check of 75, as his share -of payment on the & spring extension of water in North Street. water He also asked what would have to be done to continue business. the Algonquin Spring Water business. The utter was referred to Mr. Custance to find out to what extent he intended to increase the water Wainess. 1 n f 473 Mr. Custance stated that Mr. Modoona asked.thathis son Employ be given work inasmuch as he was -unable with $15. to support ment, his family. The meeting adjourned at 11-!6'ib1ock P.M. A true record, Attest: Clerk.