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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-06-14 446 ,p. C SELECTMEN'S MEETING JUNE 14, 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, Gilcreast, Custance, O'Connell and Ferguson were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Letter was receive from Miss Edith W. Willard of Forth .Sts asking that the installation of the water main on North Street be hurried along. Owing to the dry weather she needed adequate water for use on her premises. The'.Board felt that the job was going along as fast with the hand labor as it should go along and •the work would be done in the very near future and requested the Chairman to reply to Miss Willard informing her of this fact. Letter was received from the American Legion, Post #38 requesting permission for the use of the Lexington Centre Playground on July 4th for their annual Field Day. The Board voted to grant the request, there having been no request made prior to this time.from any other source. Bill of $30. for services rendered by Mr. Herbert Kellaway,, Landscape Architect, for advis__ng. the Board relative to Hastings Park was received. He also wrote a letter in which he stated that he would be glad to give the Board advice in regard to projects for Unemployment Relief. lbsa Si.lereast explained that in Winchester, 'i r. Kellaway laid out many of the projects for the Unemployment Relief. • The Board felt that the charge of $30. was rather exorbitant for the short period of time that he spent in Lexington, and Mr. Gilcreast anted to take up the matter with Mr. Kellaway. Letter was received from the, Town Treasurer attaching the notice to the Town of Lexington of a claim of $500. of Margaret Gaffney of Lexington. The Clerk was requested to check up whether or .not the Employers' Liability assumed responsibility fnrtthis case. The Board voted to grant a license to board two infants to Edyth W. Sullivan providing the-premises were approved by the Clerk of the Board. Common Victuallers License was granted to Pauline Bertalami to do business at 313 Marrett Road. Application was received from the Lovell Bus Line, Inc. to openate two -public carriages within the Town of Lexington. The Board felt that it may be possible that the operation of two public carriages by this company would 447 interfere with the local taxi men, and therefor decided to lay the matter over until further information was received. Innholders License was granted to the Lexington Inn License. at 283 Mass. Ave. In regard to the application for a Common Victual..ers License of James O'Grady, letters of redommendiition were received from Mr. O'Grady and Mr. Olson, who lives in Everett, came before the Boar to represent Mr. O'Grady. He stated that they intend to have a lunch cart located between the O'Grady garage and the house that stands in back. The car, which application was made in Worcester, is sent he e on wheels and then it Common is made a permanent structure by have the base of it fixed. Victuallers Mr. O'Grady has four places located in Melrose, Winchester, License. Stoeham and Wakefield. He does not intend to keep open only until twelve o' clock at night. The Board voted not to grant this permit. Mr. John L. Murray of Fletcher Avenue came before the Board.in regard to employment. Herhad been employed by Dr. -Wientine for twenty years and now is laid off and desires to secure some employment. Unemploy- He was informed that his financial condition was not meat. as bad as a great many people so that the Board could not take action just at present, but would consider his application later on if he did not secure any other employment. Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that in all probability the Butterfield Pond will not be used for cutting ice in the future owing to the fact that the ice house was burned down and to the popularity of artificial Butter- ice. He wondered whether or not it would be better to field drain the pond. Pond, The Clerk reported that when the pond was drained, there were considerable complaints about the odor from the pond and request was made that the water be filled in again. It was felt that the bottom probably should be cleaned out, Taut this would be a.uite an expensive piece of work. No action was taken on the matter. The Town Engineer came before the Board and showed his plan of the cross sections of the Curve Street drainage and stated that he did not find that the statements of Mr. Baker were true in regard to the conditions relative to the drainage. inasmuch as he did not figure from the proper bads. Mr. Baker figures his elevation on the bottom of the manhole instead of on the bottom of the .flow line. gosgrove explained that he showed the plan to Mr. Baker and he stated he would be satisfied if they were to put in a pipe to take care of the storm drainage, The Curve St. estimated cost of 345 feet of pipe to take care of the drainage. storm drainage would be $200. The Supt. of Public Works, however, was requested to bring in a definite estimate of the Rost of constructing this drainage next week, and the Board felt that the expendiutre was sufficient to ask for a special appropriation. 448 ►4. Supt. of Public Forks was requested to get infirm- CA ation in regard to the sewer assessment charges that would be C'3 made to the Town of Lexington by the Metropolitan District Commission. The Town Engineer was instructed to get information in regard to the installation of a sewer in Shirley Street. The Board discussed the matter of the Allen Street Drainage with the Town Engineer and Mr. Ferguson felt that there was no drainage necesssary in Allen St. Inow named Stedman Road), The Town Engineer stated that he did not believe it was absolutely necessary to put drainage in Allen. Street but it would be a much better job if it was put in there in case of a severe storm. Mr. Custance explained that complaints had been made of the water coming down Allen Street and going across Waltham Street into the Silva driveway and washing the eway out. •-his has happened several times. This is the reason tee there should be some drain pipe Jut in Allen Street to take this water into Waltham Street. He stated that under the present conditions, the street .is a gravel road and the water will sink in but when the road has a hard surface i.t will not sink in and will wash across the road. Mr. Custance felt that Mr. Robert Whitets opinion also should be -obtained on this drainage matter. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in regard to the use of the Centre Playground by the Community Rec- reation Association and the High School Athletic Association. It is contemplated that these organizations will. construct einbaild1 g erect a ftayground that is to be constructed in another section of the playground tightrithan -*hob is now used for the ball games and that they will enclose this section aft the prrsons will have to pay to see the games and the funds will be used to futher athletics. The Town Counsel sited vari us quotations in other Towns and stated that he believed that the Selectmen did have the right to grant the use of this land in this manner, but he felt that they should not do it without a vote of the Town and that it should read in the vote ffthat the portion to be used is temporarily not needed for Town purposes, and the use of the playground by the public will not be materially interfered with by the permission so grented.n He also advised that the Town should consider tether it is desirable to require the licensees to protect the Town by insurance since the Town would not have the control of the construction or maintenance of the structure. Town Counsel came before the Board and stated that in going over the records of the Water Department in regard to the Bridge Street guarantees he found that when this started, the records of the Dept. were not keit clearly. He stated that the figures of the cost of two other streets were figured in with Bridge Street. Mr. Ross stated that he thought he could separate the figures so that it would show the cost of the Bridge Street guarantee, 449 Town Counsel wail-Ala' e:rixi6ue 33ta'Itdke the matter into Court owing to the fact that the Selectmen determine the cost of the work to Be_dorie, 13.only determination that he can find is the committment to the Collector and that for the amount of the guarantee which is made each years When the Bridge Street guarantee were first made, it was not the custom to eossit to the Collector and therefor he has notrecord of the determination of the amount. Bridge The Clerk reported that Mr. Jones stated he was not Street pleased with the way the Board handled the ease and that he felt they should have notified him by writing that they intended to take the matter to Court without taking it to Court without giving him any notification. He also stated that he was willingto pay what was due from him, but he was not willing to pay what was due from the other persons on the street. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Boom Counsel and the Selectmen to see what would be the beet action to take. Mr. Wrightington stated that he would endeavor to talk with Mr. Jones or his Attorney. The Town Counsel was requested to secure information from the Metropolittln District Commission as to whether or not the Town should enter the whole Town in the Sewer District Sewer or only a part of the Town if it not necessary to enter the whole Town at the present time, and what the cost would be and how soon we would have to pay it, this information to be obtained before the Town Meeting on Monday. The Miatereofrdpfingedwalveigh.the pileucss the property of John NI Connors was considered and the Board decided to have the chairman write a letter to Mr. Connors asking what he intended to do about doing away with his pigs Inasmuch as the gourd extended the time from last winter to this Connor summer. Mr. O'Connell stated that he would slam see pigs. Mr. genenre in tbscfine lathe and talk with him in regard to the matter. The Chairman reported that Mr. Bain found Edward McNamara committing another violation of the Plumbing Laws by doing another job without a license. It appears also that Mr. McNamara is a journeyman and not a master plumber and could not take out a license for any work in the Town. Plumbing It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the violation; Plumbing Inspector. The Chairman reported that he requested the Supt. of Public Works to give some figures on the cost of putting on Wood St. crushed gravel with an oil top or finishing of a permanent top on Wood Street. The Supt. r pdsbed as followet The construction of 1600 square yards with c bed gravel oil top, $1000; with broken stone penetrated, 1400. ' It was decided to lay the matter on the table for the present time. Dr. JIM. J. Welsh requested that the Board take motion to abate the water rates of Mrs. Ernest Jonee, 21 Pleasant Street, Lexington. Mrs. Jones is being assisted considerable 450 by the American Legion and he felt that the Town should cdn permanently abate the water bill. - Mrs. Jones has had in t=, her house a man by the name of-Frank Parker who was assisted by the Public Welfare Dept. and he did not pay . any rent. It was therefor decided to charge the bill of $18.75 to his account. It was decided, however, not to permanently abate the water rates inarp►nh -as, Mrs. Jones may receive more income from her house now ,that Mr. Parker has vacated. The Chairman reported that Mr. Thos. Russo was desirous of having water pipe extended to his premises j st iey nd the property of Edward Bunzel. The Board felt that they could sell the water to him and felt that they also could extend the water pipe to the end of the Lexington-Woburn line and let Mr. kusso lay the balance of the pipe to his own property. The Board voted to authorize the construction of this main to the end of the Lexington-Woburn lin in East Street and to sell the water to Mr. Russo.► , Report was received from the Supt. of Public Works in regard to the various types of tractors. The Board felt that the tractor problem developed into a necessity of two tractors. They should have a tractor with a ,arane and also one with a snow plow and that could be used for sweeping the streets. It was reported that, Mr. Anthony Ross, Contractor, had pgrchased a second-hand tractor and had a crane built. Supt. of Public Works was requested to get information from Mr. Ross in regard to having a crane built. The attention of the Supt. of Public Works was called t.o the boulders that stick up in the driveway to the Lexington Reservoir and requested that he give his attention to the matter. ,. Supt. was informed that Mr. Alfred E. .Haynes wanted two more loads of loam dumped in on his -premises. Mr. Ferguson stated that he thought the condition of the standpipe warranted a study by the Board about building a new standpipe. StoP. of Public Works reported that we are now losing about three thousand gallons ,of water aiday, which is -at a cost of about $9. a month. The Chairman reported that a new standpipe would cost approximately $18,000; • Mr. O'Connell called attention to the fact that there have been three men Biding ihn the front seat of the Water Dept. tr}uek .at a time and felt that this was not necessary. He also had seen two men riding on a truck delivering a meter .eo a location. He felt that the person Nb.ocinstalls the meter should be able. to operate a car and this would be a saving to the Town. The Supt. of Public works was requested to look into the matter and report to the Board. • 451 Mr. Custance called attention to the fact that Mr. Domonick Modoona was taking charge of the men at the Public Warks Dept. and he felt that he should. receive more pay than Employment the other men for his supervision. ' The Chairman stated that there were_ a great many skilled. laborers that are only reealy ,ug: 43. per day and if we increase one man, there would be other demands. He also felt that Mr. Moddona who was getting five days',. was getting a better break than theother men Who were only getting three days. The Board discussed the matter relative to bids on water excavation. Mr. Ferguson felt that the bids should have been sent out for water excavation the same as they were sent out for Water sewer excavation. It was found that the Supt. of Public Excavation Works did not send out any written request for the bids on on the sewer excavation. It was the.'rt2o dial le'd for Nan *brie tube dons+- for the ; ��,� levee. of the. year to request. take: Sine .biz.:PubJJ.G Works toy nand. out a wr.ittea.t request.... for bids for Water eee vabi.on. at. 3.4 . rv' : n ) i =• Who Board considered •dolnag the work on bulletlike the bass for gravel sidewalks. lb was considered that the gravel in the back of the Public Works Dept. Building could be used and that this would be a good thing for the unemployed teemork at. Mr. Trask felt that a sidewalk could be built on Marrett Sidewall Rd. amildialideueAkasot where a request had been. made CCI' The Board discussed the articles in the Warrant for the Torn Nesting to be held' June 20th. The Clerk reported in regard to the incow of Mr. )esus Pato that! his wife earned one day r s pay and his stepeasea earned $1. -sea Saturday nights and any other time he can be employed as a drummer. That is all the income easing into belt house. The step-son has not had an automobile since June one year ago. The Board decided not to do anything in regard to this case until after the Town fleeting to sae how many funds would be appropriated. Letter was received from Edwin B. Worthen in which he gave the following fleet rates on automobiles owned by the Towne Passenger cars +. Wiry; '*.R7, Theft; 4633, per Wired. Commercial cars • Fire, $.26, Theft, $.10 per hundred. Insur- The rate presented by lir. wh.itbemore was $.52 per ance. beindred average. - The Supt. of Pubrie sodas stated that he had the valuation of the cars in his office sad he was requested to figure out the cost of insuring all the town ears. ' The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received. • The meeting adjourned at 11:55 P.N. A true record, Attests Clerk.