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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-11-29 01 c, SELECTMEN'S MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 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, Custance, Gilcreast, Ferguson and O'Connell were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. At 7:30 P.M. hearing was called on the complaint of William Hannam of 23 Lincoln Street relative to the dogs of Hubert C. Grieves of Cr. Lincoln Street and Audubon Road, C. A. Hall of Audubon Road, W. H. Ballard, Hastings Road and E. A. Chadwick of Audubon Road. Mr. Hannamb stated that he wished the letter he had written to the Board would be read. This was read by the Chairman. He then stated that he did not mean to complain about the Ballard, Chadwick or Hall dogs only insofar as they contributed to the disturbance by visiting the dogs owned and kept by Mr. Grieves inasmuch as these dogs are kept in a dog house. Their main grievance was of the Grieves dogs and he did not want the other persons to feel concerned. Mr. Grieves was asked that the proposition was from his point of view. Mr. Grieves stated that he was willing to remedy the situation and would ]ave done so had he been approached in a decent mannerbut all he had heard was from the back intention He had no to keep a nuisance and never has. There had been plenty of opportunity for Mr. Hannam to come to him and tell him such a story, but it has never been done. He felt that it would be impossible to keep dogs from Complaint barking when other dogs are around. He questioned whether re any dog barks for ninety minutes at a time, however. He dogs. heard the dogs barking occasionally but he was not disturbed by them at night. Mr. Ballard stated that the reason he suggested having a hearing was that the complaint had been made formally and that so many of the persons involved bad lived in the neigh- borhood for a long time, it was felt it could be settled by the Selectmen. He stated that his wife had had two complaints within the last month, and before the telephone conversation was over the complaints were withdrawn. He stated that he had always kept a dog and he felt that dogs came from all over the town to that neighborhood so that he did not believe his dog could cause as much disturbance as might be thought. However, he would be willing to pay his share of putting up a fence along his property and the Hannam property to keep his dog from going on to the Hamman property. Mr. Ballard stated that he was not awakened at night by the noise of the dogs. Mr. Elmer A. Chadwick stated that he had not heard anything about the complaint until he received the letter. Saturday afternoon, however, Robert Hannam came over to him and asked him to keep his dog in the house,that it was 77 disturbing his mother. The dog naturally would bark when chasing the children on bicycles. He stated that the Grieves dogs have not disturbed him. Mr. Phinney stated that he always keeps his dogs locked up and he did not believe that they were of any disturbance to anyone. Mr. Hammen, Jr. , felt that the Board should take cognizance of the facts of the case. He stated that the dog house owned by Mr. Grievds was situated so that it would not annoy anyone except themselves inasmuch as the dog house is diivated on the opposite side of the Grieves house from where the bedrooms are locatdd, but that their bedrooms are situated on the back of their house directly facing the dog house. The dogs bark, whine and are particularly annoying at the present tine because during the cold of the night they thump on the f lbor so that they are disturbed three or four nights a week. Previous to this complaint, he mentioned the complaint which was taken care of by the Board felative to the dog on the former Aldrich estate. He stated that his mother approgOh Mr. Grieves at one time and he told her to go as far as she "damned pleased". Complaint Mr. Hannam, Sr. stated that the times when he was dis- re turbed were times when it would not be well to call Mr. dogs. Grieves to disturb him. He statdd that his wife had been in the hospital at one time and she complained to the neighbors that the Grieves dogs bo -hared her. Neighborhood gossip had it that Mr. Grieves stated that if they did not keep quiet, he would have more dogs to bother them. His wife is under care of the Lahey clinic and is ordered to rest, and the dogs bothee her so that she cannot get her rest. He asked therefore that Mr. Grieves do something by the way of moving his dogs under his own bedroom at least during the Xmas rush and give him and his family a rest. He felt also that the dogs being closely confined tended to cause the disturbance. Mrs. Hannam stated that she felt that Mr. Phinney's dog was the one that has bothered her for one and one half years. The hearing was declared closed and the Board informed Mr. Hamman that they would notify him what would be done about the situation. In discussing the matter, the Board felt that they should request Mr. Grieves to cooperate, and then if further complaints were received, that they would inform Mr. Hannam that he would have to resort to the law. Letter was received from the Board of Public Works of Arlington in which they stated that their Town Counsel advised them that they would have to submit the question of removing , Old the bld public works building to a town meeting for authority Public to remove the building. Works The Selectmen decided to request them to insert an artiole Bldg. in the warrant for a town meeting asking permission to remove the building. 7$ 0.4 The Chairman reported that Mr. Hamlin of the Lexington Flag Staff Company was very much disturb4d that he was not Flag awarded the contract for the flag pole for the playground and Pole he would rather give the town a flag pole than to lose the contract. He also had done many things for the town without charge and was willing to reduce his price. The Board considered the matter and decided to award him the contract for the flag pole at $175. Letter was received from Mrs. V. T. Hall criticising the Board for the arrest of her son when he appeared in Geo. reference to the position of Police Officer. Hall, Report was received from the Chief of Police in which Police. he stated that George Hall was placed on probation for six years on a bastardy charge. It was decided to send this report to the Civil Service Commissioner. Mr. John J. Garrity came before the Board in reference to the Parker School playground. He. presented a map showing the location where he proposed to put in the fireplace and sand boxes. He suggested that the tennis courts should not be split up. They should be constructed closely together and this would save one-half the cost of construction. The maintenance also would be cut down one-third. Part of this land now is on tax title. He suggested that the brook be dropped five feet and that the boulders be taken out . This would drop Parker the water table two feet . He stated that the fireplace School could be built by the unemployed and the brush and shrubs Play- cleaned out . There also were about forty trees that could ground. be pruned. On one section of the land about three feet of loam could be removed and put in the lower part of the land for fill. Eventually a skating rink could be out in and the brook could be dammed for this purpose. The Board felt that Mr. Garrity should give them the information in writing and requested him to give them the statement of what could be done at the next meeting. A meeting of the Committee on Fire Sites was held at 8:30. Messrs. Blake, Burnham, Taylor and Devine were present. Mr. Blake presented to the Board the tentative purchase prices received by him for various pieces of property as follows:- Dr. Barnes ' property, 145 ft. frontage off Mass. Avenue, back to the railroad. (House to be reserved and moved toanother lot ) $35,000. Dr. Valentine 's property. Asking price 40,000. Russell's property 35,000. ' Phelps' property 7,500. Mr. Blake read the letter received from Dr. Barnes in which the doctor stated more clearly that he did not care to 79 sell his property but that he would offer it to the Town first. He also did not care to sell more than 145 feet frontage which is not quite enough for the fire station, but with the extra land now owned by the Town, it would be sufficient. Mr. Taylor felt that 180 feet frontage should be the least number of feet for the fire station. He also read the letter in regard to the Phelps and Valentine properties and stated that he had not heard any definite word from Mrs . Leary. The offer of the Phelps property did not include any improvements such as the miniature golf course which is now located on the property. Mr. Blake felt that the Russell House property could probably be obtained for less than $35,000. He felt that this would be an excellent site for a station. He felt that the back land could probably be used for a Fire Site playground for the School Department. Committee Discussion was then had in regard to whether or not if the Russell House property is purchased for a fire station, the Barnes property might then be sold for business purposes and the unit of town office buildings might then be spoiled. It was felt by the Committee that the Barres property therefore would be the most desirable and therefore Mr. Blake was requested to consult with Dr. Barnes to see whether or not he would consider the proposition of selling to the Town, the Town to hold theeproperty and he to live on the property without paying taxes until such time as the Town is ready to take the land to use for a fire station. Mr. Taylor reported that he was working on three difference schemes and plans endeavoring to shrink them down to iminmum requirements and 'that he would have something ready to submit at the next meeting. He was also visiting the new fire stations getting ideas to incorporate in the plans. Hearing was declared open on the application of Annie R. MacDougall for permission to maintain a one car garage Garage of cement block construction at 35 Parker Street. Hearing. Mr. T. A. Custance appeared representing Mrs. Ma5Dougall MadDougall. As no other persons appeared to object,' it was voted to grant the permit. Hearing was declared open on the application of Frances M. Caverly for permission to maintain a two car Caverly garage of brick veneer construction at 5 Goodwin Road. garage Mr. Francis MacNeil appeared on behalf of Frances hearing. M. Caverly and presented a new plan meeting the require- ments of the Board on a 1/8 inch scale and the Board Therefore voted to grant the permit. ' It was voted to grant Alcohol Licenses to the following: Richard Whittemore (Five Forks Filling Station) Alcohol Cormer of Lincoln St. and Marrett Road; licenses L. H. Faulkingham (Falukingham Nash Co. ) 3 Bow St; M. Boyler (Socony Gas Station) 1515 Mass. Ave. 81 0-c The Town Engineer came before the Board and presented the plan of lots of the Cuchinotta property on Lincoln Cuchinotta Street. He stated that the Planning Board agreed to the plan, plan suggested by him for a different layout of Lincoln Lincoln Street than what was formerly suggested by the State Engineer. Street. The Board therefore voted to approve the lotting plan for Mr. Cuchinotta and signed the same. Mr. Custance urged that the Planning Board send to the Selectmen their approval in writing so that this may be put on record. Mr. Ross came before the Board and presented information relative to the persons who take water from the Town that consume betwee 10,000 and 50,000 cubic feet a year and also those that consume over 50,000 cubic feet a year. He stated that he discussed with other departments the advisability of the ten per cent cash discount and he was informed by Arlington that they formerly had a discount but-they did away with that practice, owing to the fact that it makes extra clerical work. He also talked to Mr. Kilham of the Water Metropolitan Water Division and he informed him that he did Rates. not know of any Town that had a cash discount basis . It might bejpossible that some towns with a privately awned company have a cash discount and he stated that he would inform Mr. Ross if he found any, but not having heard from him he assn med that there were not any of the privately owned companies that had discounts. The only place where the 15 per cent rate now applies is to the Middlesex County Sanatorium. Mr. Ferguson felt that all the rates in the Town should be reduced. Mr. O'Connell felt that the cost to produce the water should be cut first before the rates. Supt. of Public Works reported that the Plant was worth $674,000. January 1, 1932 according to his figures. Going back twenty years, he figured it on a rate of 2i per sent depreciation. Whether or not certain charges for installations should be charged to Maintenance or Construction was also discussed. Mr. Ross was asked to bring in a report showing how he could eli*inate some of his operating expenses. The utter was therefore laid upon the table for the present. Fred Sgrosso, who lives with the DeFelice family, had been before the Board some time ago and wanted to see the Board this evening and had again made application to Mr. Sgrosso Mitchell for employment, awaited an answer from the Board case. in the corridor. It was felt that whatevermoney he earned from Mr. Custeace and which he did not account for as to expenditure, was now probably expended and therefore the Board decided to give him two days a week work. Mr. Mitchell reported application received from Arnold Hardaeker of Spring Street, 20 years old. There are six in 81 the family and his father is working two days a week. He stated that the father built his house and owns it. Hardacker The Board felt that application should come from the Case. head of the family and decided not to give him any work at present. Mr. Mitchell reported in regard to William Aquaro that he had paid for the furniture and piano, but that he had a mortgage of $350. at 8 per cent on the furniture and car. His son receives $3. from Mr. Ferri and his daughter Aquaro was now laid off on Saturday night from employment. They requested coal and wood. In regard to Mr. Aquaro's employ- ment, it was decided to give him three days a week work. In regard to the car, it was decided to inform him that he could not register his ear After the first of January if he desired to be employed by the Town. John Litchenberg moved to Lexington on account of the City of Waltham not having any funds to support welfare Litchenberg cases. The family consists of a wife. They obtained rooms in Mr. Modoono's house on Woburn Street, 4 rooms heated for $18. a month. It was decided togive him four days a week cash to be allowed for food and rent paid direct. Pasquale Terrazzano had not reported to him so that he Terra- could not find out the information relative to union zzano payments. In reference to Ralph Pomposo, he stated that he took Pomposo up to the Graham place and be showed him the lawn Pomposo and barn that he took care of and he was informed that Mrs. Graham went away in June and Pomposo stated that he did not work after that date. It was decided to give him three days a week. In regard to Charles R. Maloney, 93 Baker Avenue, he was informed by Mr. Gleason of the Industrial Accident Board that Mr. Maloney was allowed $250.settlement of Maloney his claim, and out of that lawyer's fee of $35. and Doctor's fee of $25. was to be paid by Maloney. It was decided to give him two days a week work. It was decided not to give Percy Walker of Waltham Street any work. Walker In regard to the case of Bert Dalrymple, he reported that the landlady stated that she could not board him for less than $9. a week. He would therefore have to find some Dalrymple other place fo Board. The Board did not take any action other than the two days work allowed last week. Application was received from Michael A. Pero of Bedford Street, who lived with his sister Mrs. Chas. G. Pero Richards, for employment. He stated that he contracted to pay $10.a week board, but has not paid any for five months. It was decided not to give him any work. 82 cr Camilo Appollonio of Kendall Road applied for work. He served in the army in Pennsylvania. He has a home mortgaged in the Merchatns Co-operative Bank and there Appollonio are three children in the family. He has t truck that he used to sell his garden produce with. Mr. Mitchell advised him to go to the Co-operative Bank and to report whether or not he could have the payments reduced. Application was received from Edward Ferry who now Ferry works for Montague 's Taxi. He being now employed, the Board did not take any action. Manuel Silva of Waltham Street, father of the blind boy, applied for aid for himself. He is fivd months back on rent and two months back on insurance. He has one boy who turns in $10. a •week. The girls are not Silva working. The Board felt that there must be some additional income into this house inasmuch as they were of the opinion that one of the girls works in the Ten Cent Store. Mr. Mitchell was therefore requested to get further information. In regard to the application of Frank Winn of 26 Bedford Street, Mr. Mitchell reported that he talked with Winn Mr. Booth, his next door neighbor, in regard to the parties and Mr. Booth informed him that at one time the parties parked their cars in his driveway and he objected to it. The condition was remedied and a few parties were run but there was nothing to disturb him. Mrs. Winn works one day a week. It was decided to give him two days a week and have him turn in the registration of his car. Mr. Mitchell reported that Arthur Forsythe hurt his Forsythe hand and was attended by Dr. Hardeastle. It was not known exactly how he hurt his hand, however. Mrs. Anthony Rochette had fallen downstairs in her Rochette sleep and was now in the hospital. In regard to the case of Frederick McMillen, 151 Cliffe Avenue, it was decided to give him five days a week work, McMillen but to give him the cash fofj three days, he to work out the Co-operative Bank payments of $20. a month which are to be paid up to date. Mrs. Frank Williams of Terbell Avnnue was also asking Williams. further aid. The Board felt that her son, Ernest Williams, was now getting employment and no further aid should be necessary In regard to Frank Parker, who lives off Cedar Street, in informed Mr. Mitchell that he had hired his place from a woman in Roxbury and that he had paid the rent up to date. 83 The Board felt that his money should still be withheld Parker and pay the rent when the landlady appears. In regard to William Odell, Mr. Mitchell had a physician's report in regard to the man's condition which would prove that he was unable to work. Mr. Ross also checked up with 0Dell the Veteran's Bureau and found out that Mr. Odell's story in regard to having lost his position on account of falling asleep was true and they had no reason to fire him other than this. In regard to George Stygles, it was decided not to give Stygles any employment. In regard to the John Yodwish case, Mr. Mitchell reported having received a letter from Boston authorizing Yodwish groceries and fuel in this case temporarily. They also are to have Mrs. Yodwish examined at the Boston City Hospital to see whether or not she has any illness as she claims which would prevent her living in Boston. Letter was received from the Chief of Police relative Speeding, to the speeding on Mass. Avenue at Concord Hill. He stated Concord that he would give a warning, or Court action if necessary- Hill. to cut down the speed at that location. Information concerning the salaries paid to Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks of various Towns was placed Salary, before the Board and after considering ,the request of the Clerk, Chairman of the Board of Registrars that the Town Clerk be Reg. of given a salary for his services, the Board voted to give Voters. him a salary of $50. a year beginning January 1, 1933. In 1931 the matter of study of a highway from Rd. from Winchester to Lexington was referred to the Planning Board. Winchester As yet no information had been received from them in regard to the matter, and it was therefore decided to write a letter to the Planning Board asking them whether or not they approve of the proposed layout of this street as studied by the Town Engineer. Letter was received from F. L. Emery in which he stated that he would like to have Mr. Scamman arrange to cut down Tree an the tree on the Flores property near the corner of Mass. Flores Avenue. and Maple Street. The Supt. was instructed to property carry out the request. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works in regard to the accident to Mr. Spencer 's car on East Bill for Street. He found that it was caused by a depression in accident. the highway and the Board therefore voted to pay the bill of *12. 1 84 Cod Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works 1•4 in which he stated that he looked over a situation regard- ing a ditch which was dug through the land of Mr. Luigi Ferrazzanni and which Mr. Ferrazzanni claims injured his farm and that it was never there prior to the time the Claim for town dug this ditch. drainage. The Supt. reported that the water previously must have spread over all his land and gradually soaked into the ground. The land, however, is covered with trees and brush and is not cultivated. Mr. Ferrazzanni felt that the Selectmen should see that the taxes were abated. No action was taken on the matter. The Chairman presented a list of several names of persons whom he decided to notify of the meeting at Meeting on Cary Memorial Hall to discuss the matter of whether or not Unemploy- a Committee to campaign for funds for the Unemployment ment Relief would be formed. He decided to hold the meeting on situation. Wednesday, December 7th, and he also decided to put a notice in the local paper requesting all persons who desire to attend the meeting to appear. Connors It was decided to request the Health Inspector to Piggery. bring in a report on the Connors piggery. The matter of consideration of the purchase of a Tractor. tractor was to be placed upon the list for consideration in two weeks. In regard to the request of the American Legion to put a banner across Mass. Avenue, the Board decidedtthat they were not in favor of this practice. They expressed the Legion opinion that they felt a small sign in front of the Town Fair. Hall would not be objectionable, although this would establish a precedent that might be requested by all others having affairs in the Cary Memorial Building. The matter was left with the Chairman to notify the Legion that the Board was not in favor of the banner. Mr. Custance brought up the matter of the Zoning Map which is included in the Zoning By-law not being consistent with the By-law itself. After discussing the matter, it Zoning was felt that if the amendments were shown on a map filed Map. in the office of the Town Clerk, that that would cover any liability on the part of the Town furnishing a bood with a map which is not correct. It was decided to hare the Town Engineer file these amendments if he had not already done so. The Chairman also stated that he would take the matter up with Mr. Emery. The Supt. of Public Works was instructed to have Signs. signs made to be placed over the toilets in the Town Office Building. 85 Mr. O'Connell was requested to look up the facts pertaining to the Denham property in the rear of the Cary Liabrary inasmuch as Mr. Wm. Casey of 9 Maple Street was desirous of having a repair shop at that location. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received. The meeting adjourned at 12005 . A true record, Attest: - Clerk. i