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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-08-02 493 SELECTMEN'S MEETING AUGUST 2, 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, Gilcreast, Ferguson and O'Connell were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Mr. John Rudd of 112 Woburn Street came before the Board in regard to the work that he was obtaining. He stated that two days work did not give him enough to pay his board inasmuch as Mrs. Simon Latter, with whom he boards, charges him $8. a week. He requested that he be given another day so that he could pay his board Rudd and have some tobacco money. He stated that he had Unemploy- lived in the Town a great many years and never before ment. asked for help of any kind and he felt that he was entitled to it. The Chairman. inquired whether his son was helping him or not, and he stated that he would communicate with his son before granting him any further assistance. Mr. John Lyons came before the Board and asked that he be given Soldiers Relief or something to assist him. He was now working three days a week earning $9. and he has to pay $2. a week on his oil burner, $2. a week on his front room furniture. He got $71. from the Fire Department and he paid two months rent with that. The rent, therefor, is paid up to last Monday, but Mr. Semonian would not let them live in the house unless the rent was paid. He still owes $44. on his furniture and $22. on his oil burner. Lyons The Chairman informed the Board that the Committee employment. on Unemployment Relief considered the case of John Lyons and decided to give him one more day a week and pay the electric light bill of $6.04. Mr. A. K. Fraser who occupies the house of Justin Shea at 517 Mass. Avenue, came before the Board and stated that he had been out of water for two days except what he got from the neighbors. He had been in the house for three years and Mr. Shea had never ordered him out. He stated that he had paid his rent. Fraser, re Mr. L'Connell inquired of him whether or not he water. would be willing to pay the minimum charge of $3.75 to have a new meter put in on the property and charged directly to him. He would think the matter over, he stated, and might make application to the Water Department. The Board informed him that that was the only manner in which the water could be turned on. He stated that he was working for Mr. Shea as a carpenter. He had two boys working and one girl. 494cip Letter was received from the State Dept. of Public 1..14 Health stating that they examined the water for William F. Ducharme of Old County Road, and that there was not Water adequate protection from the surface drainage and foreign supply, matter and the sewage is discharged into the cesspool Ducharme. a short distance from the well. Therefor, the water is grossly polluted and the Department recommended that further use be prevented. The Board decided to notify Mr. Ducharme that he should provide other means for water supply rather than ad- use this polluted water. Mr. Albert E. Olson, Woburn Street, was drawn as a Juror juror for the civil Session to be held at Cambridge, Sept. 6th. Committment of sidewalk betterment charges in the Committments. amount of $600.89 was signed by the Board. Committment of sewer charges in the amount of $225.34 was signed by the Board. Committment of water rates in the third section amounting to $3793.73 was also signed. Mr. dilcreaat reported that he visited Ella V. Bryant, applicant for Old Age Assistance, at her sonts home on Outlook Drive. The family moved here from Medford where Bryant, Old Mrs. Bryant was receiving Old Age Assistance in the age Assist- amount of $4. per week. Mr. Gilcrdast recommended that ance. Old Age Assistance in the amount of $4. be granted to her when the proper information is filed at this office. Letter was received from Elwyn G. Preston in which he enclosed an editorial from the local paper in regard to traffic hazard on Mass. Avenue and• Marrett Road and recommending the installation of traffic lights at that Traffic point. He wished to call attention to the fact that he lights. felt there were now too many traffic lights in the Town and he felt that the lights at Waltham Street and Mass. Avenue were not timed properly and also that stop signs would have been sufficient at Elm Avenue rather than traffic lights and he recommended that traffic lights not be installed as suggested in the editorial. The Board were in accord with Mr. Preston suggestion in regard to not installing lights at Mass. Avenue and Marrett Road and decided to inform him they had no , intention of making this installation. The Board, however, were not in accord with him in regard to the corner of Waltham Street. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in which he stated that Highway Maintenance appropriation had been considerably reduced and that more than 2/3 of it had already been spent and there was no prospect of carrying on, and it seemed advisable to reduce expenditures by cutting the majority of the employees to four days a week, which will give an average of 017.33 to $19.07. He stated that it would be neceesary to have at least 495 four men to report on Fridays to clear up any work that was left over and to take care of any emergencies, and he recommended that Harkins, McAnaul, Weisinger and Ernest Williams not be reduced, but be retained on a five day week. Highway The Board approved this recommendation. Dept. The Chairman reported in regard to J. W. Denney that Mr. Denney is receiving $50. a month compensation from the Spanish War and that he could be let down as far as being given steady work was concerned. Bill of $35. for sketch plan perspective and construction plan of the grounds of the Public Works Dept. Building on Bedford Street was received from Sketch Edward Ballard. The Chairman agreed to see Mr. Ballard inasmuch as the plan for the planting of the building has not yet been received. Letter was received from Edward F. Smith in regard to the cement blocks located at the corner of Webb and Corner of Woburn Streets on the bankrupt property of Arley A. Webb & Burgess. He stated that Mr. Welsch, who is Trustee, is Woburn Sts. in California and is expected back on August 5th and asked that the matter be allowed to stand until he returned. This extension of time was granted. The Town Engineer reported in regard to the request of Mr. E. B. Hamilton that the Town do something about the washouts caused on the street by drainage at Hillside Terrace. The Town Engineer reported that a twelve inch drain carrying surface and ground water from parts of Lexington Manor overflows at the corner of Hillside Terrace and Ledgelawn Avenue. This causes washouts in Ledgelawn Avenue from Hillside Terrace to a point about 300 feet westerly toward Bedford Street. Drainage. To correct this,. it would be necessary to install about _250 feet of 15 inch pipe and 100 fdet of 18 inch pipe, and the water would then flow directly into the North Lexington brook. Using unemployed labor, he estimated the cost $575. The Board instructed the Supt. of Public Works to expend $285. from the Highway Dept. to have this work done by unemployed labor on the Welfare Department. The Chairman called attention to the work done on the sidewalk on Lincoln Street by unemployed and stated Sidewalk that he was convinced that this work was an asset to the Town and he suggested that a sidewalk be built from North Lexington Railroad Station to North Hancock Street on the right hand side of the street. Mr. Custanee called attention to the fact that the present sidewalk is within the street layout and that if the work was to be done, it would be done on the new line of the street and in the future when Mr. Hamilton has his property filly laid out, he will make application for it, and the work may as well be done properly at the present time. 496con The Town Engineer was requested to look intc3 the matter and bring in to the Board a layout of the sidewalk on the proper line of the street. Letter was received from Swenson Bros . in which they called attention to the fact that the dirt washes down off their property onto Allen Street and they asked that a stale wall be built on their side of the property. Stone wall. The Board voted to inform Swenson Bros. that they would built a wall along their property as soon as they can make arrangements to do so. Supt. of Public Works reported that Mr. Lima also wanted a wall along his property. Mr. Custance felt that this also was a reasonable request. Letter was received from Robert R. Bradley of Outlook Drive in which he requested that an article be inserted in the Town Warrant for a meeting this Fall for the Downing Rd. acceptance of Outlook Drive. & Outlook The Chairman reported that he suggested to Mr. Drive. Bradley that the people should get together and purchase some gravel and fix the street up temporarily themselves. Mr. Bradley stated that he did not have the money to do this. Mr. McIntosh informed the Clerk that Mr. Bradley had not as yet paid his taxes and for that reason he did not believe it proper to force the issue of Out- look Drive and Downing Road this Fall. Letter was received from Edward W. Taylor in regard to Benjamin Santosuosso. He stated that he was in agreement with the Board that any person who derives benefit from the fund for Unemployment Relief should not own an automobile. For that reason, he advised Mr. Santosuosso to sell his car and he did sell it to Mr. Santosuosso, William J. Mooney, but he sees no reason why Mr. Unemployment. Santosuosso could not operate the car. He also saw no reason why he should nth be given an extra day each week. The Chairman reported that Mr. Santosuosso applied to him for an extra day and he agreed to grant it and he immediately got out and got into his old car which was registered under new plates. He called the office to have the matter checked up and it was found that he had sold the car to Mr. Mooney but upon being questioned, it was further discovered that the car is being kept at Mr. Santosuosso 's place and he is operating the car just as though it were his own. The Chairman presented a letter written to Mr. Edward Taylor which was approved by the Board, explaining to him that he did not see any reason why he should be allowed to operate the car and receive Unemployment Relief. Mr. Taylor also asked for d-list of-the' unemmloyed and for additional information about them. It was voted not to furnish this information, but Mr. Taylor was informed that if he wanted to come to the office he could get information about any individials if he so desired. 497 An unsigned letter was received asking that Mrs. Leary's whiskey joint be removed from Waltham Street or that they would call upon the State officials to raid. No action was taken on the letter. The Chairman reported that he received a check for Relief $25. from the Fire Engineers for a contribution to Contribution Unemployment Relief. Mr. O'Connell reported that he understood that some of the firemen have not contributed to the Unemployment Relief, that the funds which were paid have come out of the Fireman's Benefit Association. Letter was received from the Dept . of Public Welfare in which they enclosed a circular from the Boston Globe Welfare of July 17 in regard to Welfare investigations. They work. also advised that it was economy to have at least one visitor for each 200 cases of Welfare work in the Town. No action was taken on the matter. Letter was received from Nicholas Alteriso in which he asked for permission to build a henhouse 10 feet by 20 feet on the lot on which he had been redently ordered to tear down a building. He felt that he was not being treated fairly by not being allawed to build this building Alteriso prior to building a home. He asked for a copy of the request. building laws. The Board decided to refer him to the Building Inspector for any permit he might desire. Sunday Golf Licenses were signed for Sunday golf Sunday during the month for James Irwin, Jr. at Marrett Gardens Golf and George W. Bean at Bedford Street. Licenses . Notice of dismissal of cases of Trani and Johnson were received. The Town Counsel was present before the Legal Board and stated that these cases were eases that were cases. pending before he took over the duties of Town Counsel. State Aid payroll in the amount of $7.60 was signed State Aid. by the Board. The Chairman reported that there was a balance of $421. in the Moth Dept. and this was not sufficient to pay Mr. Gorman for his services for the balance of the Moth Dept. year. Also there was a balance of $25. in the Shade Tree Dept. The two men employed, Mr. Ferry and Mr. Nutt , would therefor have to be let off. Town 'Counsel was informed that Mr. Alteriso had removed the building which he was ordered to remove, but that the Building Inspector was not informed to collect the cost of his services in the case from Mr. Alteriso. Alteriso He would, therefor, have to render his bill for the case. services and costs. In regard to the Bougie case, Mr. Bougie removed the part of the building that he put on without any Bougie permit and also removed the plumbing from the building case. 498 ciothat he put in without a permit. The Building, however, INC is being occupied by Mr. James Foster. Notice was served on him that he should move within one week from the date of the notice which was July 27th. This was by the Board acting as a Board of Health, owing to the fact that the building has no cellar and also has no plumbing in it. The Town Counsel also was requested to see whether or not Mr. Gurin could build a building on the rear of the lot on Shade Street as explained by the Building Gurin Inspector at a meeting last Tuesday. Mr. Gurin desired matter. to locate the house on the back acreage rather than on the lot of fifty feet in the front. Town Counsel felt that if he was given the permit, that he should file a plan with the Building Inspector showing the intended location and that he be advised that if he desires to built any other house on this land that he will have to comply with the Zoning Law. Mr. OtConnell reported that the records in regard to the agreement presented by Mr. Custance on Grant Grant Street were correct and that no changes were necessary and Street he did not believe that the Board could enter into any contract between the Town and Mr. Bowser. Mr. Custance reported in regard to the Gavin prop- erty that the Savings Bank informed him that they were not interested in insisting upon Mr. Cox making Gavin negotiation for the transfer of land between the old property. layout and the new. Mr. Gavin is ready to make settle- ment with his property and therefor the Town Engineer was instructed to make a new plan to send to Mr. Wrightington to draw up the proper deeds to complete the transaction. Mr. Harry Sorenson formerly had a- gasoline permit for 280 gallons which expired on April 1st, 1923 and has not renewed the permit since that time . He inquired ' Sorenson whether or not he could have the permit renewed. gasoline The Board felt that inasmuch as this permit has permit. expired for this length of time, he should make application for a new permit. The Chairman reported that the charge for the service on the radio would not be in excess of $200. Police for the year 1933 providing the Lexington Dept. radio. installed the equipment in his car. The Board felt that this was a very good arrangment and voted to authorize the Supt. of Public Works to make arrangements to have the radio installed in the police car. The Clerk reported that request was received from Mrs. Maude Kehoe that they be allowed to use their automobile to go to see her husband, who is at the Mattapah Hospital, each week. Mrs. Kehoe is four months back in rent. F � � 499 It was felt that inasmuch as she at one time received aid in Boston, and the case was a Boston case, she would Kehoe save money by living in Boston so she would not have to case. expend money on transportation. The Board voted to grant a change of the location Pole of a pole of the Edison Electric Ill. Co. on Hillcreast location. Avenue. The Supt. of Public Works reported that the Boston & Maine Railroad Co. have patched the tracks at Hancock Railroad Street and Meriam Street but that they will not remove tracks the section of the track. The Chairman reported that Mr. Harry Williams of Cedar Street has been asking him about fixing the stucco on the outside of his house which was alleged to be caused by the blasting while the sewer was being installed in Cedar Street. Williams Mr. Custance reported that the job probably would claim. cost about $20. It was suggested that a release be obtained from Mr. Williams and it was agreed that this work be done. Attention was called to the dumping in the rear of the First National Stores and Mr. Prentiss was to be Dumping. requested to order the condition in the rear of the stores cleaned up. Mr. Custance called attention to the roadside stand to be erected on the Bean property on Bedford Street and stated that the setback was not called for in this Roadside amendment to the Zoning Law, but he felt the Building stand. Inspector should insist that the set back be made of 20 feet. The Chairman reported that he had given instructions to Peter Carpenter, who was taking the place of William O'Connor while he is on his vacation, was to be sent out to shut off the water in all cases where the bills have Water. not been paid. He stated that he would give a reasonable time for the persons to pay up the bills, otherwise the water would be shut off. Mr. Custance reported that Mr. Norman A. Downs decided to grade off his property and put in a sidewalk. There being no funds in the Sidewalk Account to do this Sidewalk. work, it was voted to allow him to put in the sidewalk and the Town would reimburse him for one-half the cost when the appropriation is made. Helen C. Whittemore brought up the matter of sewer assessment on Cedar Street on her property, she having been assessed on Mass. Avenue for a depth of 125 feet and did not believe there was any benefit to the back end of the lot inasmuch as the lot hac 'iben divided so that only 500TAO, two houses could be built upon it. The Town Engineer was present and stated that if the lines of the property Betterment were changed over taking from one lot upon which the Assessment house now stands, that there could be two lots made of the corner lot to comply with the Zoning Law. The Town Counsel felt that the sewer Assessment bill could be argued both ways and to clear up the matter that an amendment should be made and taker up with the Leg- islature amendingthe law so that there would be no question of betterment of corner lots. After considering the matter, the Board voted not to allow an abatement inasmuch as they felt that in many instances on Mass. Avenue the same circumstances existed and that the assessments were paid. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Worlts was received. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 P.M. A true record, Attest:- Clerk. 1 .1