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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-10-25Haynes dra in. SETS CTMEN I S MEETING OCTOBER 250 1932. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Office, Town Office Building on October 250 1932 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. Letter was received from stated that he had leased the Hill Street and requested that street be diverted because it property. He also stated that factory. The Board voted survey the conditions meeting. Alfred E. Haynes in which he lots of land fronting on the water coming from the is causing damage to this the sidewalk job was unsatis- to request the Supt. of Public Works to and report to the Board at the next Wood Statement was received from the State Department of Street. Public Works in which it was stated that they would allot $6,000. for the construction of Wood Street. State State Aid pay roll for the month of September in the Aid. amount of $6.00 was signed by the Board. Brounds- Bill of Edward B. Ballard of $50. for professional Public services inRng;ng plan for planting around the Dept. of Works. Public Works as received. The Board approved the bill. Bill of the Town Counsel of $55.25 for services in the Bridge Bridge Street Water guarantee case was approved by the Board. Streets. Mr. Jones against whom suit was brought agreed to settle the case rather than go toCourt for a decision. Police Dept. vacancy. Letter was received from the Dept. of Civil Service stating that they would send the certification of the two persons eligible for the vacancy in the Police Department to the Board. The Chairmanstated that he endeavored to make an appointment with the Civil Service Commissioner but was unable to do so. He wanted to explain the situation to him. Mr. O'Connell stated that Mr. Pierce, who was eligible on the list, had gone to California, and there was a police record against Mr. Hall, the other person eligible. He would endeavor later to see the Commissioner to talk the matter over. It was decided to request the Building Inspector to see Garages. that plans are presented to the Board of all garages for which applications are made at the time of the hearing. 1 1 1 A C 1 hr' Permit was received from the Mate Dept. of Public Works Cross for the painting of cross walks on Bedford Street opposite the Walks. Parker School. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in which he gave the information relative to the average wages of the Water Dept. employees for the years 1930, 1931, and 19322, and the Highway Dept.. for the years 1931 and 1932. The average for the Water Dept. for 1932 was Yearly ,x`980.72, weekly $18.86; the Highway Dept., - Yearly $980.20, weekly, $18.85. Letter was received from the Town Accountant giving the status of the Excess and Deficiency Account, the balance being $27,110.91. Report was received from Mr. O'Connell and from the Clerk in regard to the Estate of Mr. James Callahan who is ill with Tuberculosis. The estate was left in Trust in the hands of Johnson and Johnson of Woburn. The balance Dec. 31, 1931 was $3900. of which only the income is to be paid to Mr. Callahan, Mr. Johson agreed over the telephone to pay $7: per week for his care oilt of the principal if he was sent to Rutland. If he had to pay $12.25 per week he would feel' that he would havd to get permission from the Probate Court. Margaret was also left $1000. about five year agg; this she stated is about gone. The gets $18. per week salary. The Cle3tk explained to her how she could o about getting him into Rutland as a private patient at 4'7. per week. At present there are no men on the list for admittance to Rutland and there are 18 on the list at Middlesex County Sanatorium. Average wages. Callahan, T.B.case. Letter was received from the Trustees of the Massachusetts General. Hospital in which they enclosed copy of vote of the Trustees passed at their meeting on Oct. 14 in reference to Chiro- the proposed legislation requested by chiropractors for practic special privileges, and asked that copy of their vote be bill. published in the local papers. Communication was also received from the Boston Better Business Buerea relative to the manner of voting on the subject. Hearing was declared open upon the application of Helen and Agnes E. Harvie of'12 Payson Road, Belmont for permission to maintain a garage of wooden construction for one car on Garage lot at 14 Plymouth Road. License, Mr. Custance spoke in favor of the granting of the permit. Ho persons appeared against and it was therefore voted to grant the permit subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. Mr. Gilereast stated that he would report on the application of John J. Mann for Old Age Assistance, and on Old Age the request of C. W. Johnson for additional money at the Assistance next meeting. 40 M coon In regard to Miss Catherine Hoy of Ward Street, applicant for Old Age Assistance, Mr. Gilcreast reported that he talked with her about deeding her property or willing ' it to the town to the extent that they aid her. She seemed Hoy to be unwilling to do this. She stated that she had a Old Age neice in California who is her only heir. Assistance She stated bhat if she were given assistance for a short time, she would be willing to get some work and take care of herself. The Board felt that if she were willing to deed her property that she perhaps would devise other means of getting aid, and decided not to take any action at the present time. Pleasant St Petition to the County Commissioners asking for the relocation and specific repairs of Pleasant Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Watertown Street and Watertown Street to the Belmont line, was signed by the Board. Pleasant St. Request was directed to the County Commissioners for & county aid on Pleasm t Street and Watertown Street to the Wood St, Belmont Line in the amount of $16,000, and on Wood Street in the amount of $3000. It was decided that the bond of the Plumbing Inspector Plumbing in the amount of $1000. be not renewed for the two months 'Inspector remaining owing to the fact that the Board considered making a different appointment and withheld the appointment of Mr. Bain to that office. ' Dog Report of the Dog Officer., Patrick J. Maguire was Officers received and accepted, and it was voted to approve his bill of 5,900 Mr. Bartlett J. Harrington came before the Board in reference to the construction of the wall on Follen Road. He stated that he felt quite hurt that the Board did not allow him to finish the wall and he understood now that it was intended to put Dominic Modoona on the job to finish the wall. At first he was not given to understand that he had any authority over the men, and he worked very hard to Follen Rd, put the wall up in the proper manner so that it would last Wall. for years, and he felt that the neighbors were very much pleased with the looks of the wall. After he had been given charge of the men they worked very well. The Chairman explained that the Board had no fault to find with the work that was being done, but they did feel that the job was being done too well and costing too much for the town to stand the expense. Mr. Harrington had account of the time on the job, but the Chairman informed 'hig� that the Board had a hearing and would be unable to go into the matter any further at this time. The Board, 4owever, agreed to view the wall with Mr. Harrington, inasmuch as Mr. Harrington complained about the grades that were given ' him by the Engineers. The Board discussed the request of Domonic Modoona for more pay for his services. He is now getting $3.00 41 per day from Unemployment Relief and is working five days per week. Modoona The Board agreed that he was worth more money but pay, considered whether it would be good judgment to pay him any more out of this fund. No definite action was taken. Tile Chairman reported that the Chairman of the Registrars of Voters informed him that the appointments of the Election Officers were not in accordance with the provisions of section 30 of Chapter 54 of the (Y.L. providing that the Warden and Deputy should be of one party and the clerk of another party. It was therefore decided to make the following changes: Precinct One: Mary A. Rowland to serve as Election Deputy Warden and Roland Garmon as Clerk; Precinct Two:- Officers Ezra F. Breed to serve as Deputy Warden and John H. Dacey as Clerk; Precinct Three:- Bessie G. Davis as Deputy Warden and James M. Ahearn as Inspedtor; Precinct Four:- Howard Custance as Deputy Warden and Frank Maguire as Clerk. Mrs. Bridget Leary came before the Board and asked that the Board take some action in regard to the rent of the houses that were occupied by Messrs. Dalrymple, OfRourke, McGinnis and Burgess. She stated that she was not satisfied with the letter of the Board -fallowing the rent. At the present time Mr. O'Rourke is the only one who is living in her house. The Board agreed to hold out $5. a week for the rent. ' The Board informed her that they felt she should look into the reputation of the applicants for rental of her houses before renting them. The Board informed her that they would consider the matter. No action was taken, however. Joint hearing of the Board of Appeals and the Board of Selectmen was declared open on the application of Ashley W. Partridge for permission to allow a six car garage on Waltham Street. Notices of the hearing were read. No one appeared to object. Mr. Partridge was present and presented plans showing the building proposed. The building would be entirely within the business area of the Zoning Laws. He explained that he intended, when the demand is made. for stores, that each of the places where he now intends to keep his cars, will be fixed for stores. The Board voted to grant the permit. At 8:15 P.M. hearing was held on the application of Mildred K. DeWitt for permission to maintain a two car garage Bf frame construction on Wood Street. Mrs. DeWitt and Mr. Swain came before the Board. They were asked to make a sketch showing the proposed location of the building on the lot. It was voted to grant the permit subject to the approval ' of the Building Inspector. Mr. Custance suggested in regard to the planting plan of the Public Works Dept. that another location near the railroad be used for dumping on this property other than the Leary rent. Partridge Garage Hearing DeWitt Garage Hearing one which is now being used for dumping so that this part of the property will be filled up and available for planting at a later date. The Appropriation Committee and the School Committee having been invited to come before the Board to discuss the matter of salaries, appeardd at the meeting. Mr. Trask explained that in order to reduce the taxes next year, there would have to be some means provided to cut the appropriations and it was felt that reducing the salaries 10 per cent would probably meet the requirements so that there would not be any increase in the taxes. In 1933 the income to the Town will be reduced inasmuch as the State income will be deareaded from seventeen million to twelve million and there will be less money available for the gasoline tax and a decrease of the income tax, and there will be $9000, more bonds to pay off than there were last year, and if the Town is obliged to borrow for Sewer and Water, that will increase the cost of bond issues. There willalso be a slight increase in the interest and insurance, that are fixed charges, and there are also $30,000. in Tax Titles, which is more than in normal years, and there will probably be at least that many tax titles next year. Mr. Rowse, Chaitman of the Appropriation Committee, requested Mr. Lawrence Mitchell, Clerk of that Committee, to read the following vote *hick set forth the action of that Committee in reference to salaries "Voted: That all salaries be reduced 15% beginning Jan. 14, 1933, excluding day laborers and further that any male employee who is receiving $20.00 or less per week and any female employee receiving $16.00 per week or less is not to be affected by this reduction." Mr. James Stuart Smith of the School Committee stated that he was prepared to come before the meeting to talk about the 10% reduction and he did not know of the proposal of a 15% reduction. He proposed a 10% reduction in the form of contribution and he felt that it would not make any difference to the Town if this were done. He felt that the teachers had been very generous in giving to the unemployed and he felt that the reduction of pay had an affect on the retirement inasmuch as a teacher who is getting $2000, would then only get $1800. and 11800. would be the basis for retirement. He presented a list of the Towns that were contributing and where red-dctions in salaries have been made qs follows: SALARY QUESTIONAIRE OF CI^IES AND TOWNS IN METROPOLITAN BOSTON. 1 J Sept. 30, 1932. Town or City Salary Reduction Cofitnibution - Amount 1. Arlington No Yea 2. Belmont No Yes 1 day only. 3. Concord No Yes 1� 4. Winchester Yes - 10% 1 J ER City or Town Salary Reduction - Contribution - Amount. 5. Wellesley No No ' 6. Needham No Yes 5% 7. lilton No No 8, Swampscott No Yes Fund raised 9. Reading No Yes 10% 10. Stoneham No Yes 11. Lexington No Yes 8% 12. Woburn No Yes 13, Wakefield Yes 14. Saugus No No 15. Melrose No Yes 2% 16. Watertown. No Yes 5% & 10% according, to salary. 17. Newton No -? 18. Brookline No No 19. Linco&n No No 20, Weston No No 21. Dedham No Yes $2,000. 22. Medford No 5 & 10% 23. Somerville No No 24. Malden No ? 25. Cambridge No Yes 26. Wal t ham No Yes 5% This list shows that Lexington was more generous than any ' of the other towns about. Mr. Rowse explained that the Appropriation Committee feel that this is more or less of a permanent nature; also that there was an increase of income to the teachers of 20 per cent owing to the reduction of the cost of living. Mr. Smith felt, however, that this did not help the teachers any inasmuch as most of them do not live in their own homes, that they board or rent rooms and as far as he was aware there had been no reduction in the cost of living in this manner. He felt that it would be a great harm to the Town inasmuch as the Town of Lexington would have to compete with other towns around in the selection of teachers and the teachers r, will not remain if they cannot get the salary. Mr. Rowse felt that times were different now, but Mr. Smith felt that inasmuch as other towns had not made a reduction that we should wait until such time as it is done and Lexington would not then have to compete with the other towns. He stated that the teachers could always get a job. Mr. Rowse stated that he understood that they had no trouble ih Winchester and they have had a 10 per cent reduction there. Mrs. Glynn explained that Winchester had been paying higher salaries than Lexington. Mr. Smith explained that the minimum wage for school teachers was $900. but it all depended upon the position ' for which they hire a teacher as to the salary she will receive. The average salary of the Junior High and High School Teachers was $1600. Mr. Burke stated that he talked with Mr. Waddell, and he informed him that the Town has no right to vote on the 44 general reduction of salaries, that it was up to the heads ham, of the departments to fix the compensation of the employees appointed by them, but the Town only voted on the salary of Elected Officers. ' Mr. Smith stated that the salaries of the School Dept, were absolutely,in the control of the School Committee, but the Committee intended to cooperate and if the Town voted a reduction, they would stand by the vote of the Town. Mr. Smith stated that he had printed in the new contracts, the condition that there might be a 10 per cent reduction. He did not see how the new contracts could be affected if a 15% reduction were voted. He explained that the teachers were on contract for the first three years and after that they become permanent teachers under the tenure of office and cannot be removed without cause. Mr. Smith suggested that they wait until the April meeting and at that time it would then be known what other towns intend to do before taking any action on the salaries of the teachers. Mr. Rowse stated that 20 per cent of the towns in Massachusettw have taken a reduction in salaries. Mr. Grindle stated that these reductions were only from September, however. Mr. Fischer did not see any reason why we should wait until we find out what other towns are going to do. Mr. Rowee felt that the teachers were able to buy more, from twenty to fifty per cent, and he did not know why a body of educated people would be disgruntled in a reduction of pay when their money would buy more for them than it would a while ago. ' Mr. Smith felt that the teachers now;.were underpaid and he felt that the School Committee were endeavoring in every way to cut down expenses and that the Appropriation Committee should wait until they were able to present to them the figures and he felt that they would be able to show a saving which would mean as much as the loss of income from income taxes. Mr. Philip Clark felt that reductions in salaries were in orddr and there was no reason why the issue should be ducked. He also felt that Mr. Smith blocked the issue at a previous town meeting and felt that he should not block it at this Town Meeting. Mr. Rame felt that it was not good business to continue on the contribution plan. He also felt that there were not many companies today who had not made reductions in salaries of their employees and he felt that it was also the Towns business to do likewise. He inquired also, whether Mr. Smith felt that the contributions should continue indefinitely and Mr. Smith stated that as long as the reductions in other towns are as they are at present, he would continue the contributions, but when other towns make their reductions he felt that it was time enough for Lexington to do so. Mr. Grindle explained that although there are a great many applications for positions of teachers, he felt that the members of the Appropriation Committee would not like to see some of them employed to teach their children. ' Mr. Clarence Walker felt that Lexington had a good reputation and they could afford to take the initiative step. Mr. Roy Fertguson felt that there had been reductions in the cost of clothing. 45 C1 erk. u Mr. Francis Burke asked whether or not the money that was contributed by the employees had been voted for the Welfare Department. The Chairman informed him that the money did not go into the hands of the Town but it was simply put into the hands of the Town Treasurer and expended by him to pay the pay rolls. After the Appropriation Committee adjourned, the Board of Selectmen discussed the matter of salaries and Mr. Custance felt that it was an endless chain to decrease salaries as a person is then not able to spend as much money and thereby everyone is cut dcpW in the income they will receive. Mr. Gilcreast expressed the view that he would rather decrease the expenditures than salaries. W. Gilcreast and Mr. OtConnell were requested to bring in information as to how to decrease the expenditures of the Town other than salaries for the next meeting. The.Board however, decided to offer the vote as it stands prepared for a salary reduction of 10 per cent at the Town Meeting. Mr. Rowse appeared again before the Board and reported that the appropriation Committee had agreed to change their vote to a ten per cent reduction rather than a fifteen per cent as originally presented. The meeting adjourned at 12 o'clock. A true record, Attest: - C1 erk. u