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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-09-13 534 SELECTMEN' S MEETING SEPT. 13, 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, Ferguson and O 'Connell were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Mr. Custance arrived at 9:45 P.M. Letter was received from Mr. and Mrs. Scipione of Scipione 295 Bedford Street in regard to paying their water bill, water bill. They stated that they had nine in the family and two of the sons have been out of work all summer, and he had just statred to work. They asked for a little time and they would then pay the bill. The Board decided to allow one of the sons to work out the water bill. . Letter was received from Mrs. Arthur B. Field in which Dental she tendered her resignation as a member of the Dental ' Clinic Clinic Committee to take effect immediately. I Committee. The Board voted to appoint Mrs. William G. Potter of Walnut Street to fill the vacancy. 1 Letter was received from Russell I. Prentiss is which he called attention to the complaint from the proprietor of the Minute-Man Cafe relative to the water coming up Stores in through the ground at the rear of his restaurant. He had center. notmade his investigation. He stated, however, that he had made inspection of the stores in the canter of the Rown and bad the rubbish all cleaned up except what accumulates from day to day. Letter was received from the Health Inspector in regard to the complaint fie:a' Mft; Cheney .sig 18 ltekOri;Alie. Complaint about the odor of guinea pigs owned by Mr. MacDonald of re Banks Avenue. He stated that Mrs. -Cheney did not want guinea anything done about the complaint as conditions were pigs. satisfactory. Letter was received from the Health Inspector in regard to the complaint about August Young. He reported that he found twelve large hogs, 48 goats and some sheep on Mr. Young' s place. The garbage was fed from the ground. He also saw a new building being constructed for a sheep house. He also found a separate pen of 11 pigs in a small yard where the garbage was soted in an open box and spilled around on the ground. The odor from this pen was very objectionable. These hogs belonged to Mike Stack of Arlington. He told him he would have to get rid of the pigs and he recommended that a notice be sent to him to get rid of the pigs and clean up the premises. Mr. Trask reported that Mr. Stack came to him and asked that he be allowed to keep the pigs until the winter and then 585 he would get rid of them inasmuch as he was raising them for his own purpose. The Board agreed to allow him to keep the pigs temporarily. In regard to August Young, it was decided that he should be notified to apply for a permit to keep Pigs. Letter was received from the Health Inspector relative to the complaint of Mrs. Snee of the outdoor privy on property at 29 Cottage Street owned by Sebastian Colentropo Complaint of 31 Cottage Street . He recommended that Mr. Colentropo re privy be notified to connect with the sewer and discontinue the use of the outdoor privy. After considering the matter, the Board voted to instruct Mr. Colentropo that they would givd him until one month from date of notice to connect with the sewer and discontinue the use of the privy at 29 Cottage Street. _.The Health Inspector reported having investigated the complaint of Mrs. Clarence :j- son, 500 Marrett Road, who. Complaint objected to her neighbors burning refuse and stated that re he talked with Mrs. Lawson and finds that she has discoiitin- burning ued the practice of burning garbage. refuse. The Inspectof reported having investigated the conditions at the house renteclby Mrs . William Mason, 447 Mass. Ave., 111and owned by Joseph Busconi, 40 Quimby Street, Watertown, Mason and recommended that he be notified to clean up the cellar coinpilint and leave it in a sanitary condition. The Board decided to send a notice to that effect. 1 The matter of damages to the Vanderwoude property on Tucker Avenue was laid over for one week. Vanderwoude It was decided also to request the Town Engineer to claim. take some pictures of the situation. Petition was received from the residents of Locust Avenue and vicinity protesting against the condition of the street after heavy rain. They complained that the surface water from Locust Avenue, Robbins Road and the Tower Street development accumulates on the level stretch of Cachet Avenue and covers both the street and sidewalk and over- Locust flows on private property, and when the water subsides, Avenue the street and sidewalk are left dry and coated with mud, drainage. creating a nuisance. They requested that permanent drainage be installed to remedy this condition. Supt. of Public Works was requested to look into the situation and report to the Board. Letter was received from the Supt. of the Water Dept. in which he stated that Mr. Joseph Merreno applied for an extension of 140 feet of 6" pipe in Avon Street from Myrtle Street in a westerly direction. He estimated the coat at Water 110. Extension Supt. of Public Works presented a plan showing the proposed extension, and after considering the matter, the Board voted to authorize the extension of this water main. 536 The Chairman reported that William F. Morang of Highland Avenue has not paid his water rates for five quar- ters. It was felt that the family operated two• automobiles Morang and although they may be in needy circumstances, it was water felt- that they should pay the water bill or have it shut bill. off. The Board therefor voted to have the water shut off. In regard to the claim of W. Benjamin C. Meady versus the Town of Lexington, it was decided to instruct Meady the Town Counsel to proceed to protect the interests of claim. the Town and also to file interrogatories so that the Board may know the specific claim of the plaintiff and when he receives the answer to communicate with the• Board. The Chairman reported that Mr. Custance called him in regard to the condition of the cesspool at the cement house at 59 Bedford Street owned by Florence M. Edwards. Mr. Custance informed him that he had pumped out the cesspool three or four times and it has backed up into the plumbing and there seems to be no relief except to connect with the sewer. Sewer, Letter was received from Mr.Ross in which he stated Edwards that the estimated cost of extending the 8" sewer in property. Bedford- Street a distance of 300- feet to provide the sewer for the Edwards property would be $2400. He stated that there was a balance in the sewer construction account of $2600.20 and that this work could be done out of that fund. Mr. Ross and Mr. Cosgrove also appeared before the Board to discuss the matter. Mr. Ross stated that the land in back of the Edwards house was low and wet and they would not- be able to take care of the sewage by a cesspool and the house was so near the street there was no other place to build a cesspool in the front of the house. Mr. Cosgrove advised that a 10" pipe be put in to connect with the ten inch pipe that is there now rather than the eight inch. He also stated that he estimated the cost of the sewer in the Shirley Street district as $16.500. although it might be done for much less. He stated that there would have to be some sort of a pumping arrangement that would make the cost of this construction high. At the present time with the estimate of $2400, four connections could be taken care of. It was under- stood that Mr. McCarthy was ready to make the connection and that his fixtures were connected as far as the street. The Board considered the condition at the property of Florence M. Edwards a health menace and voted that the condition was an emergency and under authority of Chap. 83, Section l.;and Statute 1895, Chapter 54 and Acts in amendment thereof of the General Laws, voted to pass the following order to construct the sewer in Bedford Street: 5 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX, ss. TOWN OF LEXINGTON The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Lexington, acting as a Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners under the authority conferred upon them by General Laws, Chapter 83, Sec. 1 and by Statute 1897, Chapter 504 and Acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto and by virtue of every other power them thereunto enabling, do hereby lay out a main drain and common sewer in Bedford Street, Lexington, beginning at the present end of the sewer in Bedford Street, said end being northwesterly and distant about 1510 feet from the northwesterly line of Elm Avenue, thence northwesterly distant about 300 feet, substantially in accordance with a plan made by John T. Cosgrove, Town Engineer, dated September 14, 1932 and entitled "Plan of Proposed Sewer in Bedford Street, Lexington, Mass., Scale 1 in - 40 ft. , September 14, 1932, John T. Cosgrove, Town Engineer," and order that the same be constructed of 10" Vitrified Clay Pipe for a distance of 300 feet. Betterments will be assessed for this improvement in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 221 of the Acts of 1926 The area which it is expected will receive benefit or advantage other than the general advantage to the community from such improvement is described as follows: That portion of those properties on each side of Bedford Street. The said area comprises the several lots shown upon the plan hereinbefore referred to which are designated in the sehedale hereto annexed and made a part hereof. We estimate the betterments that will be assessed upon each parcel of land to be as shown in the schedule which is hereto annexed and made a part hereof. Witness our hands at Lexington aforesaid this thirteenth play of September, 1932. Robert P. Trask, Selectmen Theodore A. Custance og John E. Gilcreast Town Charles E. Ferguson of Daniel J. O'Connell. Lexington. Middlesex, es. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Town of Lexington September 13, 1932. Then personally appeared the above named Robert P. 538 1 Trask, Theodore A. Custance, John E. Gilcreast, Charles E. Ferguson and Daniel J. O'Connelland severally acknow- ledged the foregoing instrument and statement by them subscribed to be their free set and deed and the free act and deed of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the Town of Lexington; Before me, William S. Seaman, Notary Public A true copy of the records, Attest: Helen C. Whittemore Clerk, Selectmen. BEDFORD STREET SEWER Owner as of Apr.1,1932 Lot No. Sq. Ft. Assessment Theodore A. & Howard E. Custance A 7500 $115.00 Theodore A. & Howard E. Custance B 7500 $115.00 Alice T. McCarthy C 24120 $365.00 Florence E. Edwards D 7250 $110.00 Euphemia Brown E 7490 $115.00 The Board voted to instruct the Supt . of the Water and Sewer Dept. to make a survey and bring in a report arse week from tonight of the conditions in regard to cesspools and the necessity of a sewer in the Shirley Street section, including also the Hill Street section. In regard to the Board' s inquiry relative to ad- vertising applications for garage licenses, letter was received from the State Fire Marshall in which he stated Garage that in accordance with Chapter 399 of the Acts of 1930, licenses. no building or other structure shall be used as a garage unless the local licensing authority shall have granted a license therefer after a public hearing. This also requires publication in the newspaper and notice to the abutting property owners before the hearing is held. Commitment of street betterment charges for Smith Ave., Commitment Independence Ave. Tnuker Ave. , and Crescent Hill Ave. , in the amount of $10,436.33 was signed by the Board. r 539 The Chairman reported that he talked with Mr. Earle Collect- in regard to keeping his office open noon hour and arranged or 's with him to keep the collectors ' office open at that time, Office. Mr. Lawrence G. Mitchell came before the Board, and also Mr. Geore Stygies of Oak Street who asked that his son be given three days work on the Town. The Board informed him that they did not have any Town employment, but if he would make application for Unemployment Relief, the Board would then consider sending his son to work. He stated that he had seven children and he was only working three days a week himself. He has not paid last years taxes as yet. Mr. Mitchell reported that he had received application from Maurice Sears of Arlington for Soldiers Relief. He had been gran ted Soldiers Relief in the amount of $163. in the past. He purchased a truck from the Somerville Sales Service Station and while working on this truck he was injured, and his wife is also to be confined. There- for, he being unable to work, he was in need of assistance. Mr. OtConnell stated that Mr. Sears had been to him and he thought from his condition that be appeared to be able to work. After considering the matter, the Board informed Mr. Mitchell that if Mr. Sears wanted aid he should work. In regard to Alexius Smith who was given temporary Unemploy- work, Mr. Mitchell was asked to get more information in ment regard to the truck said to be owned by Mr. Smith1s relief brother-in-law, and how much income he received from his and cleansing business. Welfare. In regard to Mr. J, Ernest Armstrongts daughter living with him, it was felt that this case should be treated as a separate case. It was decided therefor to take two days from Mr. Armstrong and give two days work to Gordon W. Jacobsen, son-in-law, and notify the City of Boston. Mr. Mitchell reported having received application from Warren Grant, Farmcrest Avenue. No action was taken on the application. He also had application from Mrs. Pasquale Moretti for more work for her husband to work out the water bill. No action was taken on this request. Request was received from Mr. George J. Balduf for four days work. .It *as reported that the bank intended to take over the Balduf house on Monday and other arrangements would have to be made in this case. It was therefor decided hot to give him any additional assistance. 1 540 kr. Joseph Corselli, Ward Street, also applied for more time. He now receives two days. It was decided not to give him any more time . In regard to Constantino Alberto50 Harding Road, Mr. Mitchell stated that he had sent him to Somerville for Soldiers Relief and he had not heard anything further from him. William Dalrymple, Hayes Lane, after working for Mr. Custanee, reported back for work. The Board decided not to give him any at the present time. In regard to the application of George Forbes of 123* Crescent Hill Ave., Mr. Mitchell reported that he has a little money in the bank and his taxes are paid mad he did not believe they needed help just at present. No assistance was granted. Mr. J. J. Hurley of Vine Brook Road applied for Unemp).oy- employment . His son is contributing $10. a week and he ment would like a janitor 's position if possible. No action Relief was taken on this application. and Welfare. In regard to the application of Thomas Robinson of Hamblen Street, Mr. Mitchell rero'rted that he worked 9* hours for Mr. Hubbell and he asked for employment from the Town inasmuch as he could not get any other work oustide. The Board voted to allow him two days a week. In regard to Sebastiano Iodice, the Board stated that he would return to work on the Water Department tomorrow and there would be no need of assistance for him immediately. Mr. Mitchell reported that Mrs. John Hawley stated that her husband had not been turning in his money to support his family. Mr. Mitchell was to talk with Mr. Hawley and inform him that no further aid would be given him unless he used the money to support his family. Application was received from Guy Franceschelli of Grapevine Avenue who has ten children. Mr. Franceschelli worked for the Shaw estate in Belmont for 22 years. He was unable to work, and his soh was allowed to work in his place but was only paid $10. a week. He had a mortgage of $4000. and a second mortgage of $1000. on his property. He ownes a truck that he uses to go back and forth to work with. He had to drop his insurance and only one of his children is working a day or two at the Hood Rubber Co. in addition to the $10. a week. He therefor endeavored to sell some vegetables from his garden, but was unable to do so. From the record it appeared to be a Belmont case, and it was suggested that Mr. Mitchell take the matter up with the Town of Belmont. 5 41 ! In regard to the Charles A. Stevens family, Mr. Mitchell reported that after considerable work endeavoring to make arrangements, he arranged to have them move into a house in back of Gus Young 's place on Laconia Street, and the rent would be $28. per month. The State Dept. authorized the payment of rent up to $30. a month and the Canadian Club agreed to furnish light, fuel and clothing and agreed to send a statement confirming this to him. Mr. Mitchell also stated that he visited Mr. Scott of the Ice Co. and Mr. Scott told him that his wife and himself boarded with the Stevens ' for two weeks and paid them $10, a week. He also reported that he asked Mrs. Stevens whether or not she had ever thought of taking any boarders Welfare and she said she had not. cases. In regard to the case of Mrs. Henry J. Atkins, Mr. Mitchell reported that Mr. Robinson who has Mr. Atkins in charge under parole, talked with him about the case and Mrs. Atkins had been examined at the Middlesex County Hospital and had a Tubercular condition although the hospital did not advise treatment immediately. The Child Guardianship Fivision still have some supervision over her child and Dr. Hardcastle felt that the woman was exposing the child to her condition and that she should receive sanatorium treatment. Mr. Mitchell was to urge that the woman go to a sanatorium for treatment and the man and boy could then be taken care of after she had gone. Mrs. Margaret Jackson came before the Board to outline her project. She stated that about three years ago she took some girls down to a dancing party at the high school and she found that 85% of the girls were wallflowers and she felt there must be something wrong about the situation. When she became President of the Parent- Mrs. Jack- Teachers Association, she endeavored to interest boys son re and girls in music . She later started the group chorus young and she felt that if she continued her ideas that she people. might interest and uplift young men and women of the Town. In her duties, she found in talking with the teachers that the situation in the schools was serious and that the young girls and boys after the school dances stay out until two and five o'clock in the morning. She had heard from outsiders that the moral standard of the Town was poor andher purpose was to do this work, join in with other organizations and perhaps take up where the Recreation Committee work stops and bring the young people together for the winter months. She stated that she has worked with youngmen to find out what their possibilities were and tried to place them in the right position to develope 111 their possibilities. The Chairman suggested she communicate with the Lexington Community Recreation Association to get their ideas along these lines and perhaps she could get cooperation from this organization. 542 The Board also assured her of their cooperation with her in her efforts. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 P.M. A true record, attest: Clerk. I 1