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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1932-12-211 1 101 SELECTMEN I S MEETING DECEMBER 21, 1932. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building at 7:30 P.M. Messrs, Trask, Custance, Gilereast, Ferguson and O'Connell were present. The Supt. of Public Works and the Clerk were also present. Bids were received from the printing of the Annual Town Town Report for the year 1932 as follows:. Report Bids* Active Printing Co. $2.25 per page. Garden City Press 2.53 " $2.00 pr hr for correct - Mercury Printing Cool- 1.70 to " ions. Melrose Free Press Inc. 1.75 to "" $2. pr hr for corrections Somerville Printing Co. 1.58 to " Minute -Man Pub. Co. 1.65 to " The Devonshire Co. 1.62 to to Cover to count as two pages. Lexington Townsman, Inc. 2.25 to to Shrman Prin#ing Co. 2.15 to " It was voted to award the bid to the Somerville Printing Co. at their price of $1.58 pet page. Hearing was declared open upon the application of Arthur Yaker of 104 Church Street, Milton requesting permission to maintain a one car garage at lot #22 Colony Road, Lexington. Mr. Judkins appeared in interest of Mr. Yaker and presented the plans of the garage which had already been approved by the building inspector. It was therefore voted to grant the permit. At 8:05 P.M. hearing was declared pen upon the application of Chester G. Peck for permission to maintain a garage for four cars. Mr. Peck appeared and presented plan showing a three car garage on one side of his house and a one car garage on the other side. The Chairman explained that there was some question in the Zoning Law whether or not he could have a garage of over three cars, but from the plans presented it was evident that the garage was not to be a four car garage as applied for. Mr. Peck therefore changed the application to request for a three car and a one car garage. He explained that he needed storage and would probably only keep three cars for his own use in the garages. The plans appeared to be satisfactory, and it was voted to grant the permit subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. ' In the Warrant for payment of bills incurred during the previous month appeared a bill of $5. for membership of Russell I. Prentiss in the International Milk Inspectors Association. The question as to whether it was customary to pay bills of this kind was brought up. Yaker garage. Peck Garage, 1.02 endn �c Bill. The Supt. of Public Works was to furnish any information he -could about the matter. It was in the meantime voted to ' lay the matter upon the table. Notice was received from the Civil Service Dept. of the Police State that an examination would be held for the position of Exam. police officer in the town. It was decided to insert notice in the paper and to also see that notices were posted. Letter was received from James E. Doughty, Atty, 502 Pemberton Bldg., Boston, in which he stated that he had been consulted by Mrs. Bessie L. Chapman of 958 Mass, Avenue, Chapman Lexington, relative to injuries said to have been the result case, of a defect in the sidewalk causing a fall on Sept. 3, 1932. It was decided to request Mr. Doughty to come before the Board on Tuesday evening next and present his claim to the Board. It was voted to grant Agent's Licenses as follows: Agent's Class 1 - Calvin W. Childs - 409 Mass. Avenue Licenses " 1 - Colonial Garage, Inc. - 1668 Mass. Ave. " 1 - F. K. Johnson - 33-35 Bedford Street. List of Outstanding Water Rates of Section II was viewed by the Board. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in reference to the case of John Devine. He stated that he had brought Devine suit and attached his real estate, and found no other property. attachment on the property. The action was defaulted. Senator Cotton, who is acting for his sister in Ireland, thinks that he can get the sister to sign a deed if a purchaser for the dwelling can be obtained, He thought that an•offer of $750 had been made, but that is not sufficient. Mr. O'Connell stated that he would be willing to offer $1200 for the property, and authorized the Chairman to forward that information to the Town Counsel and to Mr. Cotton. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he Gorman enclosed. bill of $28.08 for stenographic services in taking -Deposition. the deposition of Daniel A. Gorman. It was voted to approve the bill. Sometime ago the Board informed Mr. Viano that he would have to have a separate alcohol license for each location of business rather than have the license made out for both locations. Alcohol Mr. Viano complained that Mr. Childs had two separtte License. locations and only one license and that he felt if one is required to do it the other should. It was therefore decided to notify Mr. Childs to make another application for his secgnd location. It was voted to grant a license to the Colonial Garage, Inc. for 1668 Mass. Avenue. 1 103 Letter was received from Edwin B. Worthen, Treasurer, Cemetery ' Savings Bank, in which he stated that the Trustees of Public Trust Trusts Cemetery Funds, totaled $19,935, represented by Funds. 152 separate accounts. Notice was received from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in which they opposed any reduction in police salaries. Letter was received from the Planning Board in reference to the extension of High Street in Winchester to Lexington. They stated that there appeared to be no pressing demand for the extension of High Street and therefore they felt that it would be unwise to fix the definite location of the extension within the bounds of this town. The Selectmen felt that inasmuch as the Winchester Board of Selectmen had made this request more than once that the Board should know what led the Planning Board into such conclusion and decided to ask for this information. Police salaries. High Street Authorization for the expenditure of $5000. for Moth suppression of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths was received from Suppress - the State. ion. Letter was received from Harry Eastman of Winter Street expressing thanks for the work of cutting down wood on his Eastman ' land under the direction of Mr. Gorman. The Chairman stated wood for that about seven cords of wood were made availabe by the unemployed unemployed for their families in doing this work. Mr. 0►Connell reported that he did not have the bill Alsmhous of sale for the Almshouse barn to Mr. Curra ready to present, barn. It was voted to grant the N. E. Tel. & "_'el. Co. and the Edision Electric Ill. Co. joint location for poles on Smith Avenue westerly between Independence Avenue and Follen Road (9 poles); Independence Avenue westerly approximately 11.4 feet and 101.5 feet from Locust Avenue (2 poles); Tucker Ave. northeasterly side between Baker and Carville Avenues (5 poles). These poles were located in the private ways before their acceptance by the Town. Pole locations. Mr. Prentiss appeared before the Board with a physician, (Dr. Feamster) from the Mass. Dept. of Health who was prepared to answer any questions the Board might have in reference to the Health Regulations proposed. The Chairman explained that the Selectmen wanted the Health recommendation of the whole committee that was Chairmaned by Regulatims Dr. Shannon. Mr. Prentiss explained that the committee were all through with the regulations and had passed them to him to complete and include the suggestions made by Mr. Wrightington. ' The Doctor explained that the State Department of Health has only certain delegated functions which it can carry out, and these pertain to the superintending of health matters in connection with public water supplies and public sewers. The 104 Movie Film, Boards of Health have the authority to make regulations and they can only advise or approve. If the Board of Health did not have regulations there would be none to govern the health conditions in the town. They make suggestions to Board of Health but they are not called upon to accept the suggestions. They do follow up work on typhoid cases to assist the Boards of Health. He mentioned two sections in the regulations that did not agree with what the State Department of Health and Mass. Associations of Boards of Health recommended in regard to quarantine. He stated that he felt that certain matters may have come up that changed the minds of the local doctor and the committee so that they recommended a change in these particular items. He stated that the State Department of Health felt that the children in the family should be sent back to school as soon as possible. Mr, Prentiss stated that Dr. Barnes felt that the children should be kept out of school until all possible chance of contagion was past, It was suggested that the opinion of other physicians might be obtained on the quarantine of other children from school after whooping cough. Also on the subject of exclusion from school after exposui°e;,, to Scarlet Fever of 14 days instead of 7 days as recommended by the State. These to being the only changes in the local regulation from that recommended by the State, The Chairman agreed to talk with Dr, Shannon in reference to reviewing the Regulations by the entire committee, In reference to the matter of movie fill, Mr. Prentiss stated thatone film that the pictures of the swimming pool was on was already taken, and the other he intended to take pictures of the production of milk showing all stages and prepare a lecture for use in the Lexington schools for•the purpose of educating the use of milk. Mr. Ross was to take the pictures and they had not had a day when they could get together. The Board informed him that since last August , it should appear that he would have had time to take the pictures had he endeavored to, and they also,f elt that the children in the Lexington schools did not need that education as it is needed in schools in cities. They felt too that he had hardly had time to attend to his regular duties as Inspector without taking on something that was not necessary, Mr. Prentiss stated that he had always been within his appropriation and he had never been informed that he could not make purchases in his department. He stated that he already had some of the pictures taken to use in the proposed lecture. After discussing the matter on the suggestion of the Chairman, it was voted to inform Mr. Prantiss that one film that had been used would be paid for when he returned the other one. The Chairman reported conference with Mr. Pierce of the Engineering Association Bureau of Research, in reference to using the engineers employed by them. He stated that he informed Mr. Pierce that the Board would not be interested in employing Mr. Tinkham inasmuch as his wife had an independ- ent income and ran a fairly good car. Mr. Pierce, however, was not sure that the other two men, namely Alfred Hayward n [i 105 and Frank Friend were capable of handling a crew of men, but if they were not, he would furnish a man that could Engineering ' and the only charge would be for the car fare. It was suggested also that Roger Williams might complete the crew. Mr. Ferguson did not believe but that these men could handle a crew in the field. Mr. Ferguson called attention to the fact that some of the slips for materials on Wood Street were not signed. Wood Mr. Scamman was instructed to have some one on the job Street that would be authorized to sign for all materials and keep account of the same. Under the pres nt system it was not known whether the town received the material or not. The Chairman reported conference with Dr. Harcastle in reference to increasing his compensation as Town Physician. He was very much pleased that attention was given to the amount of work being done. He stated that Town the patients on the care of the town were getting the same Physician care as his private patients. He stated that he was willing to accept a straight salary and did not want to be bothered with special rates for maternity cases, and he agreed to take $500.00. It was therefor decided to recommend to the Appropriation Committee this amount. Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which he requested the transfer of $21.33 from the Reserve Fund to Reserve ' cover additional expenses incurred in his department. The Fund. Board agreed to recommend this transfer to the Appropriation Committee. The Board also approved of a transfer of $350. to take care of the overdraft in the Police Department; also of $75 " for the overdraft in the Soldier's Relief Dept. It was voted to approve of a bill ofi $50. for burial of Mr. Sigurd Valentine, and also the bill of $30. for the burial Burial of the child of Mr. Kenney. These bills were incurred through Bills. the office of A. A. Marshall and Son. It was voted to approve the request of the Town Accountant's Dept. of 3175; also the request of the Building Inspector of $1250; also 1150 for the Plumbing Inspector; $3500 for the Moth Dept; 48000 for the H1 hwa Maintenance, Budgets including $1000 toward the cost of a tractor; 18950 for the approved. Town Offices and Cary Memorial Building; $5200 for the Public Works Building and $35650 for the Police Dept. to include the cost of purchasing a new car to replace the use of a car by the Chief for which the town pays him for use. A very comprehensive report was received in writing from ' Mr. Gilereast relative to the gasoline used at the Public Works Building. He reported in detail the gasoline used out of the 500^gallon tank in the Water Dept. side of tha building which is accounted for by Mr. Mullaney, He st6ted,however, that the record of the gasoline used by the Highway Department was h6t kept and the Supt. of Public Works was therefore directed 106 01 �c to make arrangements to have this gasoline accounted for. In reference to the gasoline used by the Police Dept. , the report is as follows: Police Dept, car averages 151 gallons a day. Chiefts car, 4j gallons a day Deputy Chief's car - 16 gallons per week. It appeared therefore that with the $200. paid to Gasoline the Chief and the gasoline he received that it cost approximate - report. ly $418 to run the Chiefts car. In view of this facts Mr. O'Connell felt that a car should be purchased for the Police Department next year and that the Chief should be Y notified that his gasoline supply would be out off right away. The Board discussed the matter and felt that it would be hardly fair to out off the gasoline before Jan. 1st. The matter was left with the Chairman to communicate with the Chief and report back to the Board next week. The Chairman reported that Mr. Garrity spoke of including in the Park Department budget, the cost of a filtering machine. The regular payrolls of the Park Department will amount to $8000, and he figured the machine would cost $2400. The matter of whether or not this should be included in the Park Department appropriation or as a separate article in the Warrant was discussed. It was decided to include it in the appropriation for the Park Department and to approve , $2400 for a filtering system. Attention was called to the rough bottom of the swimming Poole The Supt. of Public Works advised that the men be put on an eight hour day basis. The Board felt therefore that they should go to work at 8 A.M. and get through at 4:30 P.M. with one half hour for dinner. The Supt, was authorized to put this into eff ct, this change of hours, on Jan. 1, 1933. The Chairman agrabd to take-up the matter of painting the Cary Memorial Building with the Trustees. Petition was received from several residents of Bloomfield Street and Eustis Street section relative to warning signs for traffic so that the children may coast on Eustis Street in safety. The matter of coasting was discussed and the Chairs= reported that a great many were coasting on Ward Street, but he felt that there would not be need for signs there; they were also coasting on Simonds Road and Locust Ave. On Highland Avenue, the childredr:had moved the signs around in various locations, and although the Board thought Eustis , Street dangerous, the parents evidently thought it safe for the children if posted. It was decided, however, to alift 107 coasting on Eustis Street instead of Highland Avenue and to Coasting ' sand,the bottom of the street where it intersects with Bloomfield Street and -to warn the children about moving the signs through their paretts. Mr. Gilereast felt that it might be possible to reduce the valuations on the town buildings in the insurance schedule and save some money. Mr. Custance stated that he felt with the rate the town Insur- is now getting that there would be very little saved, in fact ance he.discussed the matter when the last appraisal was made and rate. the appraisal company advised against it at that time. The Supt. of Public Works was requested to investigate and report in reference to the complaint of James Truran Truran of plaster cracked by blasting when the sewer was put in complaint. Tower Street, Mr. Mitchell reported on the following eases: Application received from Christopher H. Bullock of Hill Street. More information was to be obtained. Application from John Rose, Jr. 119 Bedford Street who lives in Mr.'White's house and owes 6 months rent. Mrs. Carl Nelson and children also live there with her brother. ' Rose gets $125. a year from the fire department for services of call man. He did get some work helping shingle a barn for Mr. Spidel. No action was taken on the application. Mr. Mitchell was to report on the conditions at the home. No action was taken on the application of Perdy Walker for work in addition to working out his poll tax. No'action was taken on the application of Carl Ohlson of 20 Woburn Street who rooms with Mrs. Kelley; he is 63 years of age, born in Sweden. No action was taken on the application of Frederick Wilson of 8 Grant P]a ce. Donato Pierro, 42 Rawson Avenue, was given a reduction in payments at the Cambridge Cooperhtive Bank. He reported the house in a clean condition the three daughters working part time pgying from $10. to 414. into the house. One works at Hood Rubber, one at Arlington Dye Works and the other in a candy factory. There are eight children. Mr. Ferguson reported that he checked with the electrical company where the man worked for 26 years and they gavd him an excellent recommendation and said he would be employed as soon as they had work for him. It was decided to give him three days. Bullock Rose Wal ker 16)is W%1 Wilson Pierro 108 cn 3 s -r �C Application was received from Louis Vozella of 89 Bow ,Street, The man worked on the Water Dept. for quire a few ' Vozellla years, In recent years since he became crippled he has been unable to work and they have been helped by the Sons of Italy, but they have only assisted to about $25, this year, The suggestion was made that he might obtain a mortgage 'on the property or if they expected the town to take care of them, they should agree to deed the property to the town. Santos- In reference to the application of Benjamin Santossuosso suosso who asked for another day, it was decided not to grant.it, In regard to the application of Elmer B. Mason, Brandon Street, the Merchants Cooperative Bank agreed to suspend Mason payments for three or four months. He has not worked for about one month, has no money in the bank. He was in town looking for work yesterday and from all appearances was a worthy case, It was decided to give him three days, In regard to the application of Leonard Meek, Mr, Leaf's Meek son-in-law, it was decided to let Mr. Leaf take care of him and allow him to keep the 10% of his salary rather than contribute. No action was taken on the application of George Freeman, or on the application of Anthony Waters for his son. ' In regard to the application of Daniel McInnis it was McInnis decided to give him three days, he having been on the unemploy- ed and welfare departments before. It was decided to request Mr. Mitchell to find out about the Trust Fund established for his wife's daughter and whether or not she is contributing to the support of the family by paying board. In regard to the application of -Frederick J, Walcott it was decided not to give any employment inasmuch as Old Age Walcott Assistance is being granted to his grandfather and his brother is in the sign painting business in Arlington, In regard to the case of Salvatore Casselli, who had an Casselli automobile accident and lost his job as a result, more information was requested. Mr, Mitchell reported having had conference with Mr. Mara in regard to the rent, and Mr. Mara statdd that he would be Fuller- satisfied with $35. per month rent. Upon investigation it ton was found that the rent was paid up to December, and a balance of $44, was all that was due, One of the boarders, Mr. Capron, also applied for work. It was decided not to give him any. It was decided to give Mr. Fullerton five days work ' and to take care of the rent of $35. Mr. J. Ernest Armstrong of Homestead Street is expected home from the hospital for Xmas. The house was taken over by his wife and the rent to the Bank is now $27* per month which it was decided to pay. William Dalrymple of Hayes Lane reported that his daughter has now returned home and he needed more assistance. It was decided to have him work four days and give him the assistance in groceries. Mr. O'Connell called attention to an error in the records of last week in reference to the use of gasoline in the car of the Deputy Chief.. He stated that he felt that the Deputy Chief should have gasoline inasmuch as he was not paid for the use of his car. The meeting dissolved at 12:25 A.M. A true record, Attest: 1 D Clerk, 109