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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1933-11-21418 n SELECTMEN'S MEETING ' NOVEMBER 21, 1933 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Building on Tuesday, November 21, 1933 at 7:30 P. M. Messrs. Trask, Ferguson, Gilpreast, O'Connell, and Lyons were present. The Clerk was also present. Past. The Board signed a license for the pasteurization of Pasteur - Milk. milk for the Oak Knoll Dairy on Adams Street. ization. of Ped- The Application to peddle butter and eggs of Frank N. Milk. dler's Champlin of 20 Bertwell Road was approved by the Board. License. Walter Rose, John E. Timothy and James McGann came before the Board to discuss the matter of taxi stands. Public The Board informed them that they now have established Taxi four stands and having had five.applications for permits Stands. to use stands, they did not feel like marking off any more space if it would not be used. Those present felt that there was now sufficient space for all of them to park and therefore the Board requested them to solicit business only in this location and requested them to do so. The Board also agreed to grant them permits to stand on the northerly side of Massachusetts Avenue near the southerly entrance to Ddpot Square. Hearing was declared open upon the application of John W. Wallen for permission to erect a two car garage of wooden construction at 31 Hancock Street. Mr. H. Tobiason of Arlington, the contractor, appeared before the Board in behalf of Mr. Wallen and presented the plans of the garage. No persons appeared to object and it was voted to grant the permit. The Town Treasurer, James J. Carroll, came before the Board in reference to the temporary loan of $175,000 which he requested bids on this evening and which had to be cut down to $50,000 owing to the fact that any larger sum would exceed the borrowing capacity of the town. The borrowing capacity for 1933 was $7,341000 And $675,000 has already been borrowed. He stated that if the loans had been pay- able in 1934 instead of 1933 the town would have money en- ough but as the notes have to be paid it leaves the town low on funds. Therefor the $175,000 due in December 5th will have to be extended and Mr. Fenton of the Division of Cor- porations, advised that a town meeting will have to be held to get authorization for the extension. His office prepared votes and articles to be inserted in the War,,ant to take care care of the extension and also of the refund. The Board 1 1 therefore voted to hold a town meeting take care of the matter and signed the The Town Treasurer presented the loan of $50,000: Faxon Gade New England Trust Washburn Frost Preston & Morse Lexington Trust Co. Whitney, Weeks, Knowles on December 55th to Warrant for the same. following bids on the $2.49 1.09 1.50 1.89 1.97 1.15 Dis. It was voted to award the bid to the New England Trust Company. Supt. of the Water and Sewer Dept. and Supt, of Pub- lic Works came before the Board and Mr. Ross presented a list of water extensions which he felt should be made. The Chairman explained that the Town of Lexington was to have an allotment of about 420,000 from the Civil Works aid which was to 'ne given out by Mr. Bartlettfs Committee, and the question arose as to which projects should be appr- oved by the Board to be done with these funds. He stated that there were about 101 men eligible to make application and he suggested that we offer a job to all of the men on the 1st and authorize the foreman that if they do not do the work to lay them off. With reference to the Hill Street water main, the application for Civil Works provides 4500 men hours and in addition to that they will approve a foreman at the rate of $20 per week and they will also provide supplies such as shovels and picks. The Town would have to supply the pipe at a cost of $3680. The Board felt that this project was very necessary and voted to approve this application to be submitted to the Civil Works Committee. The Board then discussed the project of the construction of Minter Street which called for an expenditure of $2880 with a total of 3080 man hours. The gravel for this project could be provided by the pits beyond the Town Buildings and this would finish up a job which was contemplated to be done last ,year when the Town accepted a pertion of Winter Street. The Board also voted to approve the Winter Street project to be submitted to the Civil Works Committee. The Board then considered the project of relocating Vine Brook on the Center Playground and the construction of two tennis courts which would provide 7400 man hours and a foreman at the cost of P900., and it was voted to approve this project to be sent to the Civil Works Committee. The Board also considered the construction of a gravel sidewalk on Waltham Street from Marrett Road to Allen Street a distance of 320 feet. This would provide 5340 Ivan hours with foreman at a cost of $2890. It was voted to approve this project to be sent to the Civil Works Committee. The Chairman reported that the men would now receive $3 a day for a six hour day, five days a week under the Civil Works projects. 419 Tempor- ary Loans. 420 c� It was also voted to approve application to the Civil ' Works Committee of the construction of two tennis courts at the Parker School Playground allowing 2600 man hours work at 1300 and a foreman at 6200., making a total of $150. Mr. Lyons felt that something should be done at Oak Street. He stated that he viewed the conditions there with the Supt. of Public Works and he felt that Mr. Neary and -he other persons in that vicinity were entitled to some cinsideration and he felt that the road could be widened out the width to which it was accepted at least so' that when the icy condition in the winter exists, there would be less danger. The Board informed him that the matter had been taken up previously with the residents in this vicinity andhe Board felt that it would be useless to spend $4000 or 95000 on the street inasmuch as if it were not constructed proper- ly it would wash down into Mass. Avenue and it would cost about 30,000. to construe# this street in the proper man- ner. Mr. Lyons then suggested that this project might be presented to the Town Meeting and the Chairman felt that unless the Board would back the proposition that the appro- priation might not go through. The Board decided not to approve any further projects until further opportunity was given for study. ' Suggestion was made of the construction of Fletcher Avenue and Grant Street and Follen Road, and 3t was there- fore decided to lay the matter over for one week. The Supt, of Public Works was requested to present the prbjects approved to the Civil,Works Committee. Lowell Mr. Horace S. Lowell came before the Board and called Claim attention to the fact that he received a betterment assess - for ment of $35. on a lot of land owned in the name of his wife Dam- abutting on the Boston and Maine Railroad on Bow Street. ages. He Stated that this piece of property was not sold to Mr. Viano when he sold the rest of what Was formerly the Alder- man property, and that he had room enough to construct a house on the lot but that inasmuch as the sewer is going through the middle of the _lot, he would lose the value of the entire lot. He felt that inasmuch as a sidewalk was constructed on Bow St. side of the house and settlement had been made with Viano for his property when the land waz taken on Bow Street, that he should reveive some consideration. The Board informed him that they did not believe he had any claim for damages and they could see nothing that they could do to assist him. He stated that he felt that the land was valued at about 15V a foot and he felt that he was entitled to that much for the lot. ' The Board informed him that inasmuch as the property had ' not been assessed to him for some time that maybe he owes the Town money for taxes. He asked that letter be written advising him what the decision of the Board was and the Chairman agreed to do so. The Board decided not to take any action in regard to granting any damages or waiving any betterment in this case. Mr. Gilcreast was requested to make recommendation in regard to a street light at the corner of Grant and East Streets and he stated that he would report at the next meeting. It was voted to insert an article in the Warrant re- questing a street light in Grant Street, Byron Avenue and Lockwood Road. The clerk reported that the Toomey shack, owned by Mary A. Toomey of Cambridge which had been ordered removed on or before Nov. 15th by a notice to Mrs. Toomey served by the Sheriff, still remains standing upon inspection of the Building Inspector. It was decided to request the Town Counsel to advise the Board as to what steps should be taken next in regard to ' the removal of the building. The vacancy of a teller in Precinct One was not filled. It was voted to allow the payment of water rates in the amount of $12 of the water used by Mrs. Mary Vidette at her house at 109 Bow Street to be paid out of the Public Welfare funds inasmuch as her son who is now the only one at home , and is unable to earn money to support his mother. Abatement of the sum of $4. for physician's fee not allowed by the State in the William Hadley case was signed by the Board. Letter was received from Edwin B. Worthen, Chairman of the Committee reviewing water rates, in reply to the Board's letter asking them whether or not they would approve the re- duction of income to the Water Dept. of $8450 so that the water rates might be reduced in accordance with the schedule they presented to the Committee. Mr. Worthen advised that tabulations be made after Jan. 1st, 1934 of the 1933 water rates to see whether or not the schedules worked out on the 1932 water rates would still be advisable to be adopted. The Board therefore voted to adopt Mr. Worthen's sug- gestion and lay the matter over until such time as schedules could be made. Letter of thanks was received from Helen W. Booker, President of the American Legion Auxiliary for the use of Estabrook Hall at reduced rates. 421 Street Light. Street Lights. Toomey Shack. Water Rates, Vidette. Abatement Water Rates. 422 Cmdn 04 Commitment. Miscellaneous water charges in the amount of $296.59 , were signed by the Board, also sewer commitment in the amount of $547.84 was signed by the Board. The Health Inspector reported to the office that Mr. Cesspool Steeves had not fixed the cesspool on Hilltop Avenue after Hilltop the rocks had been given to him that he requested at the Avenue. meeting of the Foard on October 31st, and that the cesspool was still running down on Hilltop Avenue. The Health In- spector stated that they had dug a hold in the ground and did not do anything further. The Board decided that they should notify Mr. Steeves that he must have this work done within one week. Other- wise the Board would have to take action against him. Trunk A letter was received from the Federal Emergency Admin - Line istration in which they stated that the grant of $11,000 was Sewer. approved for the construction of the trunk line sewer. Letter was received from J. R. Worcester & Co. in which they stated that they thought that the Board misunderstood their letter of Nov. 10th, inasmuch as they claimed that they were entitled to an additional $100. for the time ex- pended in investigating before adopting the specifications for the standpipe and they requested that the verbal agree- ' ment be confirmed and a written order for $100 -be given for drawing up the specifications for the steel work. The Board felt that this was entibdl-k not in accordance with the bid submitted by them for the work on the standpipe and decided to so advise them. Traffic Letter was received from Sheldon A. Robinson calling hazard, attention to the dangerous traffic condition existing at the intersection of Meriam Street and Mass. Avenue, and suggesting parallel parking. The Board discussed the matter and felt that even para- llel parking would be dangerous in this particular location. It was suggested that one of the parking spaces might be taken away near the corner of Meriam Street although the first parking space now is fifteen feet from the corner and this might help conditions at this location, but it was further felt that conditions of the same kind exist all through the center of the Town. Change Letter Avas received from Sheldon A. Robinson, Clerk of in the Planning Board in which he called attention to the fact Zoning. that the Planning Board held a duly advertised public hearing on November 17th, relative to changing the area on both sides of the street on Mass. Avenue extending from Fletcher Avenue to Vine Brook and from Winthrop Road to Wallis Court, from a C. I. district to an R. I. district. The Planning Board requested an expression of opinion ' from the Board of Selectmen in regard to the matter. The Chairman reported that he and Mr. Ferguson atten- ded the hearing, and after discussing the matter it was decided to notify the Planning Board that the Selectmen would be in favor of anything that would safeguard the interests of the Town, but they would not be in favor until it could be done without expense to the Town for damages. Several estimates were received from the Supt. of Public Works for the 19.74 budget. These were laid over until the next meeting of the Board. . Letter was received from the Board of Assessors in which they asked if the men on the Welfare Dept. could be allowed to work out their poll tax bills. The Board in- formed them that with the Civil Works aid, the men will receive $3. a day for a five day week and therefore will have more income than they have been getting without any assistance. Letter was received from George P. Morey of 90 No. Hancock Street complaining that Miss Goldie Powell was keeping pigs. Investigation bf the Health Inspector showed that ' Miss Powell was keeping two pigs which she would be per- mitted to do under the Board of Health Regulations without a special permit. 423 Budget. Poll Tax Bills. Pigs. Mr. Gilcreast reported in regard to the cases of Old Old Age Age Assistance now receiving coal that he felt that no fuel Assistanci should be given but the cash increased in the following cases: Marciano Cardillo from $5.00 to 7.00 till May lst. Mr. Henry Walker from $6.00 to 88.00 till May 1st. Mrs. Sarah Makechnie from $6. to $8. till May lst. and also to increase Alanson A. Barker from $6.00 to $7.00 to pay his board. It was also voted that no further aid of fuel or any other kind, except medical aid or medicine should be furn- ished to Old Age Recipients. It was also voted to request the Town Treasurer to re- port each month all of the outstanding checks in the Old Age Assistance Dept. Town Treasurer Report. Circular letter was received from the State Depart- ment of Health advising that several cases of amebic dys- entery have appeared among members of the American Legion who attended the recent convention at Chicago, and requesting that the Board notify the physicians in the community to be on the lookout for them. It was decided to notify the physicians in regard to the matter. 424 �c Mr. Mitchell came before the Boa -d and stated that he re- ' celved application from James H. Foster for aid. Mr. Mit- chell recommended three days in this case. The Chairman stated that he felt that all new cases should apply for unemployment relief under the civil works and that no new cases should be taken on except in emergency. It was therefore voted that all persons now applying for unemployment relief or welfare aid be told to apply to the unemployment service, and that aid be given only in em- ergency cases and then grocery orders should be given and the party to whom the order is given should work it out. . Mr. Mitchell reported granting aid to Miss Catherine Hoy of Earl Street to fuel and groceries. He also reported granting aid to Mr. & Mrs. Vozella of Bow Street inasmuch as Mrs. Vozella had a shock and is in need of assistance. Meeting adjourned at 10:40 P. M. A true record, Attest: Clerk, Selectmen. u