Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1933-03-28213 - SELECTMEN'S MEETING ' MARCH 280 193x. A regular meeting of the Board of'Selectmen was held in the Selectments Room, Town Office Building, at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, O'Connell and Lyons were present. The Supt. of Public works and the Clerk were also present. John Valentine appeared before the Board and asked if anything would be done about the illuminated sign recently erected by Mr. Viano on the garage property adjoining the Valentine property. He stated that the sign is a nuisance Viano said keeps the family awake at night. He felt that if it Sign were moved back to where the Socony sign was that he did not believe it would be objectionable. Mr, O'Connell stated that he had occasion to look up the title of the property and found that there was a restriction and that the sign should not be placed within twenty feet of the Valentine property and he sent notice to Mr. Viano to that effect. .The Board discussed the matter and requested the Chairman to talk t6,Nr, Viano about moving the sign back so that it would bot be'objectionable, Commitment of miscellaneous water charges amounting to Commit - ' $144.39 was signed by the Board, Commitment of sewer service charges amounting to $277.58 meats was also sigbad by the Board, Report of the Milk Inspector on milk sold in the Town Milk was placed on file. Report It was voted to grant the following licenses: Lioensei Ernest W, Martin - Liquor License Lex, Auto Co, - 2nd Class Agents license Manual Chaves - Transportation of Garbagd Lexington Lumber Co,- Alcohol License. It was voted to allow the use of Cary Memorial Hall to the Boy Scouts an April 26th for the minimum fee of $15, It was voted to appoint the following as Special Police Officers of the Town of Lexington for the year ending April Special 10 1934: Police Mr. Arthur J, Rocque 41 urant St. Mr, Edward J, Rogan Camb. water Basin,Lincoln 1;:George A. Knight MiddlesexCo. Sanatorium Frank Peters Mr, John Ford Mr, Horace A. Howard Cary Library Mr, John J. Collins Woburn Street Mr. Alex Vholson 88 Bedfod Street (Continued) 214 Special Poliod. Slaughter Insp. Bonds Gravel. Special Police Mr. John J. G;)rrlty Mr. John Campbell Mr. Ralph H, Marshall Mr. Dennis H. Collins Mr. Mark Dodd Mr. Charles A. Manley Mr. Jacob Haid Mr. John G. Fitzgerald Mr. Charles M. Blake Mr. John Fopiano Mr. Leonard Jellis Mr. Edward W. Taylor Charles E. Moloy Edward L. Meany Robert P, Trask John E. Gilcreast Daniel J. O'Connell Charles E. Ferguson John A. Lyons (Cont.) 9 Hancock St. E.E.I. Company 1844 Mass, Avenue Cottage Street Sherman Street 67 Woburn Street Pleasant St. & Concord 20 Bedford St. York Street 6j Muzzey Street Ward Street 49 No, Hancock St, Webb Street Metropolitan State Hb 2118 Mass. Avenue 55 Waltham Street 1536 Mass. Avenue 28 Highland Avenue 1314 Mass, Avenue Ave. apt. Statement of the appointment of the Slaughter Inspector was signed by the Board. The bonds of the Building Ins 01000.,the Supt. of Public Works i and the Plumbing Inspector'in the placed through the office of Johri He being a government employee, it not be placed through him. It wa through Jaspar A. Lane, pecto.r in the amount n the amooht of $1000. amount of $500. have G. Fitzgerald up to n was felt that they s a voted to place the of been ow. hould bonds Bids were submitted on sand and gravel as follows: - Pine screened sand Coarse serdened sand Clean washed pea stone #1 washed crushed " "2 " " a Crushed Bank gravel Rough Bank Gravel All bids Der ton. R,H.---hex. .30 1.25 Stevens.Sand & land 1.15 Gravel Sand & 1.75 Co. Gravel .90 1.10 1.10 .90 1.00 1.10 1.40 1.60 1.30 1.45 1.30 1.45 1.00 1.15 1.50 .50 .60 1.25 Clematis Boston J,H.Mc- Brook Sand & Namara Sand & Gravel Ines Gravel CoCo, 1.20 .30 1.25 1.10 1.20 1.15 1.60 1.65 1.75 1.50 1.60 1.60 1.50 1.60 1.60 1.25 1.30 .70 .75 It was voted to award the bid to 'R. H. Stevens, the lowest bidder. 1 1 215 The Chief of Police was present and asked if the Board. ' had made a request for an additional patrolman inasmuch as he felt it was necessary for his department to have another man. Mr. O'Connell, who was to report a schedule of duties for the polieb department, stated that he did have a schedule planned, but he would not object to the appointment of another man if the Chief sees fit. Police The Chief reported that there are only three men on Officer night duty. After discussing the matter,'it was voted to request the Civil Service Commission to furnish a list of those eligible for appointment of patrolman. It was voted to appoint the following April 19th Committee:- Apr, James J. Carroll, Chairman, George M. Davis, Frederick H. Tullar, 19 John A. Lyons and Eugene H. Partridge. Com. The Chief of Police came before the Board and reported in regard to the Board's request that he investigate relative to gambling machines in the pool room, that he had taken the proprietor, Mr. Barnard, to Court for having the gambling machine and Mr. Barnard was fined $50. He also took Mr. Gambling Trani to Court, and he was not fined inasmuch as he stAted Machines that the machine was not in use inasmuch as it was covered with bananas. ' The Chief stated that in cases of thin kind, you must find the gambling machine being used. He also instructed the officers to make investigations in regard to any gambling machine that might be found around town. The Board voted to abate the Highway Betterment Assessment on the property of Louis and Hattie A. Vanderwoude in the Abatement amount of 8120. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he explained that Chapter 63 of the Acts of 1933 called for a Betterment change in the manner of handling betterment assessments so that the Board of Assessors now commit the betterments to the Collector of Taxes. He also called attention to the fact that the Board of Selectmen now must certify to the Secretary of State in Town accordance with Chapter 70 of the Acts of 1933. -the election Clerk of the Town Clerk, The Board considered their decision relative to smoking in Estabrook Hall by the American Legion while holding 'their meetings, and Mr. Lyons explained that he felt that inasmuch Smoking as the floor in Estabrook Hall was cement, the Legion members in should be allowed to smoke during the meetings. Estabro The Board therefore reversed smoking in Esthbrook Hall during the their decidion and allowed meetings of the American Hall, Legion. 216 c� The following appointments were made by the Board:- Measurer of Grain ' Albert Bieren Measurer of Wood, Bark and Manure John E. Kelley Pumps they have not. Sometimes the pulips are in use and other Harold I. Wellington Supt. of Streets Robert H. White Asstt. Supt. of Streets William Co Paxton, Jr. Weighers (Public) William E. Mulliken and the Supt. of Public Works was instructed to notify the John E. A. Mulliken Appointments Letter was redeived from the Dass. Civic League, 3 Joy Jacob Bierenbroodspot Street, Boston, relative to House Bill #230 in which it was #230, Harold I. Wellington recommendations of the Special Commission established to William Bieren investigate the County Training Schools. Albert Bieren and decided to notify the representatives and the Senator Peter Stevens ' to that effect. Rupert H. Stevens John E. Kelley Edward F. Smith Miss Lillian McClure. The above appointments were to be for one year from April lst, 1933. The Chairman reported that Mr. White, at the and of this year, will round out fifty years of service to the Town, .aild it was felt that rather than place him on half pay this year, he should be allowed to finish his record of fifty years. IE was therefore voted to appoint him on full time as ' Supt. of Streets. Letter was received from the T}ept. of Labor and Industries calling attention to the legal requirements relkting to work of children under the age of 15. The Chairman brought up the matter of the use of Town property by individuals, and stated that the Water Dept. has some pumps which are borrowed by various individuals to pump their cellars and sometimes they have paid and sometimes Pumps they have not. Sometimes the pulips are in use and other persons desire to borrow them and they are upset to think they cannot have the pumps. The matter was discussed and it was felt that none of theTown property should be loaned to any person or individual and the Supt. of Public Works was instructed to notify the departments to that effect. Hbuse Letter was redeived from the Dass. Civic League, 3 Joy Bill Street, Boston, relative to House Bill #230 in which it was #230, stated that a real saving could be effected by adopting the recommendations of the Special Commission established to investigate the County Training Schools. The Board voted to go on record as favoring the Bill and decided to notify the representatives and the Senator ' to that effect. Bids were presented by the Town Treasurer on a temporary ' loan of $175,000, as follows: Second Nabional Bank - 4.15 Lexington Trust Co. - 3.47,,. It was voted to award the bid to the Lexington Trust Co. Mr. Edward B. 01Connor came before the Board to apply for the position of Wire Inspector. He stated that he was single and had been in business in Lexington. He had also worked for.a:,man,named Saunders, who did a greater part of the work in the Lexington Manor development, and he alar worked for Pichette and Ahern. Inasmuch as he did more business outside of the town than he did in it, he felt that he could be in a position to take the job. He was informed that the salary would be $500. rather than $750. as it was previously. Mr. John E. Cumming came before the Board relative to the position of Wire Inspector and stated that he is married and has three children. He is 39 years old and worked for 10 years for the E. C. Lewis Co., at which time he worked on both large and small buildings. He also was acquainted with the Inspectors in Boston and he felt that they would assist him in the duties. He also worked for Mr. Custa nde and more recently was working for Mr. Judkins on Colony Road. He worked also with the Western Electric Co. He has had no ' steady employment for a year and a half and inasmuch as most of his work is done out of Town, he felt that he could take the position at the rate of $500. a year. 217 Wire Inspector Letter was received from Mr. Alexander Quinn, employee of the Highway Dept* for the past twenty-one years, inwhich Alex he offered his resignation to the Board. Quinn The Board voted to accept the resignation and requested the Chairman to acknowledge with appreciation his past service to the Town. The Town Engineer and the Supt, of the Water and Sewer Dept. came before the Board to discuss matters pertaining to their departments. The matter of employment of George Harrington at the salary of $32, a week was discussed. Plans are being made by Mr. Harrington of all the sewer connections to houses so that the Department will have a complete record of all sewer connections from the street to the house. George The Town Engineer felt that this was important so that Harrington if it were necessary to make an repairs they would not have employment to dig up the lines of the property owners. The Town Engineer felt that there would be five or six mopths more work getting all the sewers tied in so that this work could be completed. ' '-After discussing the matter, the Board decided to transfer George Harrington from the Water Department to the Engineering Department after April 1st at a salary at the rate of $25, per week. He is to be available for world in the Water Dept. if his services are needed. X18 cn 3 }-C The Town Engineer explained that in his office, Mr. Harrington could work on two maps, the zoning and precinct map on a 400 scale and on an 800 scale map which he was anxious to have completed. Mr. Ross presented the bill of $1295.27 which was for High- rental of various items of equipment and materials to the way Dept. Highway Dept. for which they had not received pay. He bill, stated that Mr. Worthen in going through the accounts, questioned why the bill had not been paid and he felt that it was a matter that the Board should decide upon. After discussing tete matter, it waw vo6ea tnattne highway Dept, pay the bill of $1295.27 to the Water Dept. The Supt. of Public Works explained that many times the Highway Dept, did patching for the Water Dept. for which no charge was made. The matter of drainage on Waltham Street was discussed with the Town Engineer and he stated that 500 feet of pipe should be laid on Waltham Street on the level stretch beyond Brookside AVenue. There are five places where the water Drainage goes away from the roadway by running from the bank to the meadow land. He suggested also that three or four catch basins could be put in connected with 10 inch pipe to carry the water away and not be drained down into the meadow and the brook. It was felt that owing to the fact ' that considerable complaints had been made about water being dumped into this brook, that the suggestion of the Town Engineer of building three or four catch basins should be followed rather than laying 500 feet of pipe. The Town Engineer stated that there was no need of any drainage on Bedford Street, John Wood, who had been laid off on the Highway Dept* recently, came before the Board and explained that he was married and had three children and is twenty-seven years John old. He stated that his wife has been sick for the past Wood three reeks, and that he had been up all night the night before with her in one of her spells, and that while he had some drinks that morning, he would not say that he was intoxicated and that he handled the ashes without any trouble. He promised that if he were given another chance, he would not cause any further trouble or be found under the influence of liquor on the job. In view of his promises, the Board voted to give him another chance and told him to return to work in the morning. The Chairman reported that he replied to the letter from Dump. Arthur E. Nunan, 309 Marrett Road, complaining of a lot next to his property owned by Sarah Grieves of Newtonville 10 and asking that the lot be cleaned up. The Board discussed the matter of the change in the Engineering Department and the suggestion was made and voted that Albert Miller, being a non-resident, be dismissed from the employ of the Town and given two weeks notice. It was also voted that George Harrington receive $25o a week and be ' in the employ of the Engineering Department. It was also voted to ask the Appropriation Committee to approve $800: additional for the Engineering Department. It was felt that there should be a foreman placed over the unemployed, and it was decided to try Mr. James W. Denney as foreman temporarily on the Bedford Street sidewalk job and the work was to be started right +away. Attention was called to the fact that the unemployed men do not appear at the job on time in the morning. It was felt that the only way to stop them from continuing this practice would be to orddr the foremen to send the men home when they report late for duty. Mr. Ferguson inquired as to how much it would cost to have the Street Railway Co. furnish a bus to take the men back and forth to work.. He felt that there was a liability on the part of the Togn if any of the men got injured while riding on the Town trucks. It takes the Town trucks one hour each morning and there are about 60 men who ride in the truck. 219 Unemploy- ed. The matter was discussed, and it was felt that there was no lihbility on the part of the Town when they are furnish- ing assistance in the form of Unemployment Relief to the men and their families. ' The suggestion was made that the construction of granolithie sidewalks, where the abuttors pay one-half the cost, is being handled in a different manner in some places. The abuttors pay for the material and the Town furnishes the labor from the unemployed. It was felt that this was something the Supt, should look into. The Chairman reported that he had spent one evening with the Planning Board going over the matter of the proposed new road which would start at the junction of Bowman Street, cutting across lands to Masse Avenue and thence toward Lowell Street, possibly connecting up with the road to come from Winchester. He also discussed the Vine Brook project_ The Planning Board were in sympathy with the proposition of constructing the road from Bowman Street to Mass, Avenue under Chapter 90 and they asked that the Town Engineer make a lay out aiid'e6nsult with the County relative to the best lay out of this street. They were not certain as to the proper lay out of the lower end of the street and they are not entirely in accord with Mr. Custancest project to connect with High Street. In regard to the Vine Brook project, the Chairman reported that the Planning Board discussed what would be ' done to meet Mr. Burnham's supply of water for use on his property in the summer if the stream is lowered. It is their belief that the unemployed should be put to work on the lower end and they agreed that he should see Mr. Burnham relative to the matter. Granolith- ic sidewalks. Proposed Street Vine Brook 220 Suggestions were made that a dam be placed beyond Mr. , Vine Burnham's property. They also felt that something should Brook. be done to take the land on the sides of the brook. They also raised the question of rebuilding the culvert in North Street and also discussed the project of Adams and North Street, In regard to John T. KenedLlly, there was some question about his driving a car and it was found that he works for Keneally George Smith receiving J4. a day delivering papers on Sunday. He also worked last summer for Miss Stone. It was felt that Miss Stone was returning to her home very soon and theman would probably be employed. It was decided to allow George Rudd two days for the Rudd rest of this month. Mr. Mitchell reported having give Irgroceries to Mrs. Wilson Rosa A. Wilson of Ward Street on account of injury of her daughter. Mr. Mitchell stated that he would revise the aid given ' Green to Arthur Green on Lincoln Street. The Chairman reported also -that he had a conference with Mr. Allen, representative of the State Highway Engineers, Concord relative to damages on Concord Avenue. He reported that Avenue they have settled with three people. The house on the Hutchinson property will have to be moved, and they also have the problem of the golf course, for which permission has been given by the Board of Appeals. Pero Mm Charles G. Richards came before the Board relative case* to her brother, Michael Pero, who had been living with her for some time and who has only received four days work from the Town in one year. She asked that he be given employment. It was de6ided to allow two days to Michael Pero. It was reported that Mr. Fisher was still running his Fisher car under some other person's name although he reported to Mr. Mitchell the car was sold. William O'Neil, a soldier, applied for unemployment O'Neil ' relief. Mr. Mitchell stated that he worked for two days. He is rooming with Mrs. Fullerton, paying $3, a week for a room. He has a residence in Lexington. It was voted to allow him Ewo days. Application was received from Frank E. Hart, 1847 Mass. Avenue, who has been working with Mr. Burke, the plumber. Hart He does not live with his wife, and has two children in care of institutions. It was voted to allow him two days a week. In regard to John T. KenedLlly, there was some question about his driving a car and it was found that he works for Keneally George Smith receiving J4. a day delivering papers on Sunday. He also worked last summer for Miss Stone. It was felt that Miss Stone was returning to her home very soon and theman would probably be employed. It was decided to allow George Rudd two days for the Rudd rest of this month. Mr. Mitchell reported having give Irgroceries to Mrs. Wilson Rosa A. Wilson of Ward Street on account of injury of her daughter. Mr. Mitchell stated that he would revise the aid given ' Green to Arthur Green on Lincoln Street. 221 Mr. Mitchell reported that eight unemployed men were List ' taken over by the State. There were fourteen cases off the list. In regard to Tony Waters, it was decided to allow two days for Stephbns and three for the other son. Waters The Board met with the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee and discussed the -matter of salaries and whether Salaries or not they would take a stand on the cut of ten or fifteen per cent of the present salaries at the next Town Meeting. The Board decided to make various changes in the salaries of several of thetown employees. Used car Dealers License was granted to the Lexington License Automobile Company. The weekly report of the Supt. of Public Works was received. A true record, Attest: 1 J Clerk.