Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1933-04-11 230 cs, emi imc SJ T1 CTMEN'S MEETING APRIL 11, 1933. A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building, on Tuesday, April 11, 1933, at 7:3O' P.M. Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, O'Connell and Lyons were present. The Clerk was also present. The bonds of Constables John C. Russell and Patrick J. Maguire were approved by the Board. Mr. John Lamont of Cary Avenue came before the Board to inquire if the Board would allow him to carry on one or two parties that were scheduled by Mr. Arthur Mulvey and upon which a deposit had been made before Mr. Mulvey's death. He stated that Mrs. Mulvey did not have the money to pay back to the persons who rented the place, and if they could carry on these parties it would give them some revenue, until such time as the Board of Appeals could take action on their application to operate the Old Cary House, which it-is to be called rather than the Mohawk Club. He stated that he would guarantee that the parties would be quiet and would also invite a m3,ice off icer to be present. Mr. Trask formerly gave the decision that the Club should be closed after the night that a woman stated that she was assualted Mohawk there. He later gave permission for one or two gatherings Club. that could not be arranged for elsewhere and Mr. Lamont was seeking further leniency of this order. The Chairman stated that he had had no complaints about the Club until after the night that Mr. Mulvey died, during which evening a private party was held at the Club and one man was temporarily held awaiting the investigation of Mr. Mulvey's death. After that he had complaints of the affairs held there, and he understood that the Club had a worse name in Boston than in Lexington. The Board discussed the matter after Mr. Lamont retired, and decided not to grant any further favors to hold any other parties than those already arranged for by the Chairman. It was voted to grant the following licenses: H. B. Hubley - Auctioneer Licenses Lexington Inn - Innholder's License Smith Bell Farm - Common Victualler's License Battle Green Tea Room- " William Potter - Garbage License George Holman I Letter was received from the American Legion Stanley Hill Post No.38 in which they request thatpreference be A 231 given to veterans of the Town on all improvements on Town property. Hearing was declared open upon the application of Roy MacLaggan for permission to maintain a one car wood construction garage at lots No. 42 and 43 Gleason Road. Mr. MacLaggan presented plans bearing the approval of Garage the Building Inspector, and it was therefor voted to grant Permit. the permit. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he enclosed cheek of $86 in settlement of the claim of Danc.6, Olsen Olsen. This was a claim for a broken hydrant. The bill settlement of $15. for services of the Town Counsel was also approved. Letter was received from the Chief of Police in,which he stated that the City of Cambridge pay for all uniforms Police for the police. Belmont and Arlington allow thirty-five uniforms dollars a year. Watertown, Waltham and Somerville men pay for their own. The Chairman stated that he discussed with the men about withdrawing their contribution of 10% from now until July let and they felt that with a 15% cut they should be given some consideration about their uniforms. After discussing the matter the Board voted to grant an allowance of $25. a year for uniforms of the members of the Police Department until further notice from the Board. Invitation was received from James J. Carroll, Chairman of April 19th Committee inviting the Board to review the April 19t] parade from the CaryMemorial Building site on April 19th. The Board voteto accept the invitation. Letter was received from the Chairman of the Board of Assessors Assessors expressing appreciation of the employees of the salaries Assessors department for the consideration given them in not reducing their pay to 15% on July let. Letter was received from Dr. Wm. L. Barnes, School Diphtheria Physician, in which he inquired if the Board would approve Immunization of the immunization for Diphtheria as carried on previously in the schools. The Board voted to authorize the School Physician to take charge of the work this fall at an expenditure of not more than $100. Notice of the rating received by the three highest applicatts for the position of police officer was received from the Civil Service Commission as follows: McIntosh, Ronald W. 24 Meriam St. 88.01 Police Day, Benjamin W. 13 Maple St. 86.70 Officer. Russell, John A. 337 Mass. Ave. 85.93 It was voted to appoint Benjamin W. Day of 13 Maple Street as police officer of the Town. 6 232 *c Letter was received from Car1.F. Jones of 440 Mass._ Avenue in which he .stated that last fall when the Water Department made reprs in front of his home the boiler in Jones the house collapsed and later sprung a leak. He felt that Boiler the Town was responsible. There being no liability on Collapse. the part of the Town if a valse was not provided or if the valve las provided and defective, it was decided to so notify Mr. Jones that the Town was not liable. Mr. Trask reported having had complaint of a shack )Shack on located on Lake Street next to the home of Joseph Walsh, Lake St. that is in danger of railling down .and possibly injuring someone. Mr. O'Connell stated that he was the owner and he would have the building removed. Jackson The Supt. of Public Works was requested to see that Court cinders were put in on Jackson Court. The Board considered the matter of appointment of Wire 'Wire Inspector and after consideration of the applications of Inspector Edward O'Connor and John E. Cumming, it was toted to re- appoint Louis W. Bills as Wire Inspector for the year ending March 31, 1934. Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he Salary stated that when any reduction in salary of the firemen acid Police and policemen is made, or of anyone else under civil service Firemen. rating, it will be necessary to have a hearing in accordance with the statutory requirements. The requirements are that if application is received for a hearing one must be held. No application having been received it will not be necessary to have the hearings. Civil Seng Notice was received from the Civil Service Department rules of amendments to the civil service rules. Water The By-Law proposed by the Town Counsel, which was Main accepted by the Town, was approved by the Attorney General Liens on March 28, 1933. The By-law will be published and will be effective about May 1st, at which time the Board may proceed to establish liens upon property where water mains are installed, as provided by the by-law. The Supt. of Public Works reported a petition having Water been received from Mr. Paul Brooks of 25 Puritan Road, Somerville, for the extension of 275 feet of six inch pipe Main Extension in Fair Oaks Drive and 300 feet of six inch pipe in Fair Oaks Terrace. Be stated that Mr. McIntosh has not signed the guarantee, and therefore the extension should not be madd. It was decided to await Mr. McIntosh's action,and if he does not sign, the extension might be laid under the by-law providing for a lien upon the property. 233 Letter was received from the Health Inspector in which he explained the conditions at the home of Mr. James Meehan, rear 20 Woburn Street. The conditions showed the bathroom opened into the hall without any partition. Mr. Stevenson Meehan felt that the complaint has nothing to do with health complaint conditions. Mr. Ferguson felt that the state law called for a partition or at least that the toilet be separate from the other rooms. It was therefore decided that the Building Inspector should obtain the advice of the Town Counsel on the matter. Letter was received from the Health Inspector in which he gave an accounting of his activities as Health Inspector. Health He stated that he had succeeded in getting the back yards Inspector of the stores cleaned up and had received comments on the conditions. He also stated that the piggeries were cleaning up and mentioned that Mr. Fogg had done a very good job cleaning up. Mr. Giicreast and Mr. O'Connell stated that they would examine the Fogg piggery next Thursday morning. Report of the first three months of slaughtering in the Slaughter Town was received from the Slaughter Inspector. Inapt. Letter was received from the Supt. of Public Works of the condition of the flagpole of the Common and stating that Flagpole it would not be safe to raise the top mast until repairs II were made. Part of the pole underground has rotted to the depth of eight inches and must be fixed. He estimated that the work could be done for $175.00. The Supt. was requested to have the work done before the 19th of April. The Board signed orders for the installation of sewer Sewer in Summit Road from the present end a distance of approximately Orders. 460 feet; and in Eustis Street from the present end a distance of approximately 115 feet. Mr. Albert A. Ross, Supt. of the Water and Sewer Depart- ment, came before the Board to discuss the matter of his offitr to a better position with the Warren Pipe Foundry Co. Salary, which is one of the largest manufacturing concerns in their Water and line. He would start at a salary of $3600. He would, Sewer Dept however, have to be away from home a great deal and he would much prefer to remain here but he felt that he could not stand a 15% cut in salary if he did remain here. He felt that he had made considerable improvement in the departments over which he was superintendent since he became in charge. He stated also that in most towns the Supt. of the Water Dept. was a different person than the Supt. of the Sewer Department and the salaries for each job compared similarly the the salary he received for the one job. He also called attention to the fact that he was promised an increase in pay of $500. which he never received. 234 Ci, CoiC) Mr. Rosa reported that the Dupont Co. were to give an Blasting. exhibit of work done by dynamite in blasting ditches at one o'clock tomorrow on land east of Paul Bowser's on Grant Street. They +would show three different methods of blasting. Mr. Hoyt, representing the Governor's Committee on Street and Highway Safety, came before the Board to solicit the entrance of the Town in the National Traffic Safety Highway Contest. He explained that there would be no cost to the Safety town except to mail in the report of the accidents each month. Contest. The report will not give the names of persons injured, and will only give ,the number of accidents, the condtions surrounding, etc. and he felt that some of the Welfare men could be put on things like that. He stated that entering this contest did not constitute any membership drive, and that it was not work for any insurance company. It simply showed conditions of hazards in towns, and then the conditions causing the accidents would be studied and remedied by cutting back corners and shrubs or whatever would help the situation. he stated that they have now eliminated having towns of less than 7500 population enter the contest, because some of the smaller towns did not have any traffic hazards. After considering the matter the Board voted to enter the contest. Nliot Hadley came before the B ca rd and presented a letter from Mr. Scheibe, the Chairman of the Committee on Town Forest, in which the Committee recommended the area around the Old Lexington Reservoir and Bowman Park which would approximate ten acres of land. Mr. Hadley stated that he Town did not know whether or not Mr. Scheibe looked up the dded Forest of Bowman to see whether there were any restrictions that would interfere with planting the area. Mr. Hadley stated that they would like some action inasmuch as the State Nurseries are closed, but they would furnish enough for the town if the order could be placed right away. It was decided to notify the Committee that areas to be used for a town forest must be set aside by vote of the Town, and that the Park property cannot be used for this purpoe unless specifically votdd for that use by the town. Trunk ' Letter was received from the Supt. of the Water and Line Sewer Dept. in which he gave revised figures of the cost of Sewer conatulct ing Mill Brook from the Arlington Line to Bow Street a distance of approximat ly 1150 feet as $13,048.50. Letter was received from the Massachusetts Safety Highway Council at 6 Beacon Street, Boston, in which was enclosed Safety. the program of the Massachusetts Safety Conference to be held at the Hotel Statler. . . Mr. Gilcreast agreed to represent the Board at the conference. The Board voted in favor of having safety on the main routes. 235 Mr. Oticreast stated that he would bring in his recommendation for another member of the Committee on street Street lighting at the next meeting of the Board. Lighting The Board considered the matter of Mr. Ross's request Ross for consideration of the 15% reduction in salary, and voted Salary to lay the matter on the table for one week. Copy of the vote passed by the Town of Arlington author- Arling- izing them to dispose of the old Arlington Water Works building ton on the Nast Lexington Meadows was received from the Town of Pub.Wks. Arlington. Building. The matter was left to the Supt. of Public Works to tkke up with the Town of Arlington to find out what they propose to do about the building. It was voted that the salary of the watcb11an at the public works department be reduced 15% from July let. Salary. The Supt. of Public Works requested the Board to approve Dynamite the charge of $3.50 for film to take pictures of the dynamite pictures exhibit to be held, and the same was authorized. The Board discussed the matter of issuing licenses to sell Beer and light wines, and decided to hold a special Beer meeting on Thursday evening at which time the opinion of the Licenses Town Counsel on the proper method of issuing the licenses would be sought. Letter was received from the County Commissioners relative to the distribution of the gasoline tax bet/aeon cities and Oas.fundi towns.. The Board expressed the opinion that they felt that for the distribution should be left with the State. The matter, highways. however, was left with the Chairman. =rtieticreast called attention to the fact that cars are left parked without lights and recently one accident was Lights caused by a car being parked without 1*pba. He felt that the Chief should have the matter called to his attention. Edson A. Pero applied for a Special Police Commission. Special Mr. O'Connell felt that there had been a conviction for the Police sale of liquor against Mr. Pero and therefor the Commission was not granted. It was voted to appoint George Morse as Assistant Asst. Assessor. Assessor. It was voted to appoint Edward W. Taylor, Norman Hooper Rire and Edward F. Buttrick as Fire Engineers until May let, 1934, Engineers or until others are appointed in their stead. It was voted to allow the use of Cary Hallto the Sacred Cary Heart Church on April 18th at the reduced rate of $25. Hall 236 A delegation of Milk Dealers who were unaware of the hearing held last week came before the Board. Those present were Mr. John Sellars, Haskell Reed, and Mr. Swenson. Chester Lidberg, who was present at the last meeting, was also present. Mr. Sellars stated that any one of the three dealers were able to sell raw milk if they so desired to sell it, but they felt that it was not for the best interests of the Town to sell it. He also stated that there is no reason why outside dealers cannot bring in raw milk and sell it in the town as long as it is from TB tested cows, and he knew of outside interests offering raw milk for sale in the Town. Haskell Reed stated that raw milk TB tested did not mean that the cows did not have TB because sometimes it developed very quickly. The teat requires three consecutive tests in six months and could rapidly be developed after the test. It was also stated that the test is not 100%. Mr. Sellars stated that he sold raw milk up to two years ago and then felt that he should advocate the sale of pasteurized milk. Mr. Reed stated that 99% of his milk business is in Milk - Arlington and by giving up the raw milk he did not believe Health he lost any trade. Regulations. Mr. Swenson stated that he did not have any complaint about the sale of pasteurized milk. Mr. Sellars offered the suggestion to overcome Mr. Lidbergts objection that he could get his milk pasteurized at borne other, plant, and still keep it separate from other milk. Mr. Sellars presented pamphlets from the State giving information favoring pasteurized milk over raw milk on account of the danger of disease carried by raw milk. Mr. Sellars felt that the fact that he could advertise fresh pasteurized milk, he could demand the extra one or two cents over the chain store prices. Mr. Lidberg still protested against the proposed regulation requiring pasteurized milk and felt that he had sufficient information to back up his arguments. The Board voted to include in the Health Regulations the following paragraph relative to cows and poultry: Health "No person shall keep within the limits of this Town, Regulations. in any building or on any premises of which he may be the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant, any cows or poultry without a permit from the Board of Health. Buildings yards, enclosures for cows and poultry must at all times be kept clean and free from filth, dirt and stagnant water. All such permits expire annually on April 30, and may be revoked by the Board of Health at any time for cause. Mr. Mitchell, Public Welfare Agents, came before the Board. Mr. Frank Winn of 26 Bedford Street also came before the Board inasmuch as he had received notice from Mr. Mitchell that he understood he purchased a car and therefore 237 he would not be allowed to get assistance from the Welfare Department. He explained thathis son worked last summer and saved $55. and he allowed him to purchase the car. His son, being only eighteen years old, could not sign the contract, and therefore he had to sign the contract for him although the car does not belong to him. The Board informed him that they did not feel that the Winn public should be asked to support him when he allowed his case. son who was under age and under his control to purchase a car, and the rule was that they did not allow anybody in the family to have a car and be aided. Mr. Winn stated that the car is not registered inasmuch as he did not have the money to register it. The Board felt, however, that as long as he had purchased a car, he should not receive any further aid from the Town. Mr. Mitchell stated that Mr. Winn formerly informed him that the car was given to the boy by his uncle. Mr. John Lyons came before the Board and asked that he be given some assistance on his rent. He stated that his rent is $15. a month and he was now in the employ of the State working one week at $24. and being laid off the second week. They have now given a ten per cent cut, however, and he was not able to pay his rent. He stated that his wife has to go to the hospital and that she spends Lyons a great deal of money for medicine and for that reason he was not able .to meet his rent. The Board considered the matter and felt that he was getting as much if not more than some of the other persons being aided, and did not feel that they could grant additional assistance to him. Mr. Mitehell reported that he had made an error in the statement that Mr. Fisher informed him that his car belonged to his father-in-law, it belonged to his step-father, Mr. Fisher Harris of Needham, and he only had it long enough to move from Mass. Avenue to Bow Street. Mr. Mitchell reported having given him groceries inasmuch as the man had no food. The Board felt that if he were to receive aid, he should work for it and they also felt that he should not get any further aid at the present time. Mr. Mitchell reported that Mr. Earle Johnson of Carville Avenue, whom he reported had disappeared a week ago last Friday, had not shown up. He had given some groceries to the family, and his wife had an idea that he would return and therefore she did not want to swear out a Warrant as yet. Johnson The Board informed him that anyone of the police officers could swear out a warrant for desertion if the wife did not, and therefore left the matter with Mr. Mitchell. Application was received from Mr. Victor Erickson of Winter Street, who lives alone. He is thirty-five years Erickson of age, and a baker by profession. He has been out of 238 }c work six weeks since the bakery went out of business. Be has a mortgage on the house of X700. , interest payment of $21. due this month. He had one dollar cash on hand. Mr. Mitchell recommended that he be given one day only so that he would have food, and he felt that he could take care of the interest at a later date. Robert Nelson of 110 Woburn Street, whose wife is the daughter of Alden MacLean who had been placed on the Welfare, applied for assistance. He has one daughter; settlement in Woburn and was formerly employed in the leather factory. He has been out of work three months and Mr. Mitchell under- Nelson stood that he was one of the strikers, and the strikers were refused aid in Woburn at that time He therefore came to Lexington last week to live. Ir. Mitchell checked up with the Public Welfare Dept. of Woburn and found at first they did refuse aid to persons who struck, but now they are giving aid. It was voted not to take any action on this case. Letter was received from Mrs. Sadie Langley in which she stated that she had taken care of the children for Langley Mrs. Jones and she felt that inasmuch as she was in need of clothing for herself and her daughter, she should be allowed $15.00 for clothing . No action was taken on the matter. It was reported that Leonard Meek, who formerly lived Meek with his father-in-law, Phillip Leaf at 30 Cottage Street, has taken a house by himself at Bow Street at $25. a month rent and asked that he be given assistance to pay the rent. No action was taken. The father of Jesse Sousa, who last week applied for employment, made application for employment. He is now working for the Boston and Maine R.R. three days a week at $4. per day. Sousa The Board feat that Mr. Mitchell should find out whether or not re received any compensation inasmuch as they were of the opinion that he was injured while working for the Boston and Maine and received compensation. Arthur Lee of Ward Street applied for assistance, but Lee until he disposes of his car no work will be given to him. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 P.M. A true record, Attest Clerk.