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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1933-12-19 446 11111 SELECTMEN'S MEETING DECEMBER 19, 1933 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen Was held at the Selectmen' s Office, Town Office Building, on Tuesday December 19, 1933 at 7:30 P.M. Messrs. Trask, Gilcreast, Ferguson, O'Connell and Lyons were present . The Clerk was also present. Commitment of water 'liens which were recorded on Nov- ember 29, 1933, in the1 `of $501.19 were signed by the Board. Water and Commitrent of sewer rentals for the first section in Sewer the amount of $600.01, also commitment of water rates for Commit- the first sectirn in the amount of $7056.45 were signed by ments the Board. Disabled Letterwas received from the Disabled Veterans Remem- Veterans brance Committee in which they requested that an appeal be inserted in the local paper asking for assistance for the veterans. The Board agreed to have the enclosure sent by them inserte] in the Lexington Minute-man. Bus Petition was received from the residents of Waltham St. Stop. Marrett Road, and other sections of the town, protesting against the change in the bus stop from near Waltham Street on Mass. Avenue to the front of Martin's Drug Store, and re- questing that the stop be changed back. The Board of Trade are working on the matter of re- questing the Board to change this stop back, and it was therefore decided to wait until word is received from that body. Summit Rd. Hearing was declared open upon the petition of the Edison Electric I11 Co. of Boston for permission to locate one pole on Summit Road opposite Pinewood Street and to at- tach to the New England Tel. & Tel . o. poles. Donaldson Hearing was declared open upon the application of David Garage. L. Donaldson of So. Lincoln for permission to erect a one car garage of cement block construction. Mr. Donaldson appeared and presented his plan. No per- sons appeared against the application, and it was voted to grant the permit subject to the approval of the Building In- spector Burr Hearing was declared open upon the petition of Joseph Garage. L Burr of 118 Blake Road for permission to maintain a two car garage of brick veneer construction. Mr. Burr appeared and presented a plan of the proposed construction. No persons appeared against the application 447 and it was therefore voted to grant the permit subject to the approval of the Building Inspector. The Board certified to the Sidewalk betterment assess- Sidewalk ments amounting to $307.57, for sidewalks constructed at the Assess- property of Fred Bailey,. 03 Waltham St. 4125 03 Ronald D. ment. Brown, 27 Edgewood Road, 0117.57 and George E Smith, 14 Grant St. $64.97 Letter was received from Ella Boone Coffee, Chief Con- Nurses sultant of Public Health Nursing, informing the Board of under Health that as yet none of the registered nurses in Lex- Civil ington have applied for reemployment under the Civil Works Works. and therefore they enclosed a news release calling atten- tion to registration of nurses . They also enclosed form of application to be used for regustration for the work to be done by the nurses in the community, which is to solicit immunization of diphtheria of pre-school children. Mr William G Potter came before the Board at the Assessor. Board' s request to explain the deficiency in the Assessors Appro- Dept. He explained several items and expenditures in the priation, Assessors Dept . where they had saved money, namely printing of the poll tax books, clerical hire,- and the items showed a difference in amount of $40.83 which would be over the original estimates made for the Dent for 1933. He explained however, that owing to the drastic cut that was given in the Dept. by the Appropriation Committee, that it would not be possible forthem to go through the year, and he felt that with this cut, the Board had done very well to keep their allowance down as much as they had Realizing that the Appropriation Committee had made a cut to the Board of Assessors appropriation of $6-40 from the original request , the Board of Selectmen felt therefore that funds should be transferred from the Reserve Fund to take care of the bills in the Assessors Dept . amounting to 3193.58. In regard to the agreement received from Washington Agreement relative to the trunk line sewer, the Board voted to pass the following resolution: - RESOLVED That the Board of Selectmen approve the agreement submitted by the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works for the United States of America relative to the construction of a trunk line sewer in the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, under the National Industrial Re- covery Act, and authorize the Chairman of the Board of Sel- ectmen of Lexington, Massachusetts, to execute and deliver said agreement on behalf of the Town of Lexington, Mass . Mr. Walter Allen of Bedford Street name before the Board and requested that he be financed for a ton of coke . 448 01 Allen, He stated that he had not been buying coal from the request Lexington Coal Co and therefore he did not feel he could for go to them for trust and he felt that they would fsefuse him coke, anyway. He was now on the Civil Works and one week re- ceived $9 and another $14. He expected to get $15 the coming week and he owes $5 on last weeks groceries. He has six children athe boy who did work at the Shell Station was laid off. He was getting $5 a week and with that he was getting along very nicely. The Board informed him that they would see whether or not they had funds out of which he could be financed if he would agree to pay back the bill in small amounts each week, and he so agreed. Mr. Mitchell was therefore requested to furnish to Mr. Allen with a ton of coke with the proposition that Mr. Allen would pay $3 back each week on the bill. Informal A delegation headed by Frank Haynes came before the Hearing, Board and presented a petition requesting the acceptance Fletcher of Fletcher Avenue Avenue Mr Haynes stated that Fletcher Avenue was one of the oldest streets in the Town and the abuttors felt that there may be something that could be done now with the Civil Works labor whereby they would not have to pay 100% of the cost. He stated that the figures that were presented in the past were impossible they were so large and he felt that either a grant under the Federal Aid or the Civil Works could be ex- tended to the residents of this street. The Chairman explained to him that they might use Civil Works labor but they would have to apply for a loan under the Federal Works under which they would be granted only 30% of the cost of the entire construction Under Civil Works aid, the Town would get the benefit of all the labor if the Town supplied the material. He stated that there might be a proposition whereby the residents would pay fifty per cent of the cost of construction, but of course that was entirely out of line with the manner in which streets have been constructed in Lexington and if it were done in this case there might be requests in other cases . Mr Moulton inquired whether or not the street would be constructed to a width of more than 40 feet. Mr. Freeman, of the Jefferson Union, stated that if the price was reasonable that the Jefferson Union would be glad to come in on it. The Chairman explained that this was an informal hearing and that a definite hearing would not be held until the fig- ures were received from the Town Engineer, but as an approxi- mate figure, he would inform them that he thought it would be around $4 per running foot, and all those present seemed to think that that was a reasonable amount. The Board agreed to inform the residents of Fletcher Avenue when the hearing would be held. 449 , Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he Bill- enclosed a draft of an Act relating to zoning billboards. boards. This act was the same as the Act that he had filed last year and the reason that he advised the Board to file ano- ther similar petition for the acceptance of the Act was that he could not get any satisfaction from the Donnelly Billboard Co, that the billboard question would remain status quo. The Board authorized the Chairman to sign the petition in duplicate, the same to be sent to Senator Cotton to file. Applic tion to peddle was signed for John Tocio of 166 Peddlers Crescent Hill Avenue providing recommendation could be re- License. ceived as to his character The Board voted to request the audit of the 1933 accounts Audit. by the State Accountants . Letter was received from the Old Age Assistance Bureau Rudd, in which they recommended that the Old Age Assistance of Old Age John Rudd be reduced from $8 to $6 per week owing to the Assist- fact that he had two sons whom they felt could contribute ance to his support . It was voted to reduce the assistance in accordance with the recommendation .df the State and Mr. Gilcreast stated that he would communicate with Mr. Rudd in regard to the matter. Mr. Ferguson reported that the specifications for the Stand- standpipe were ready to be typed to be sent to J R . Worcester pipe. & Co. for checking. Bill in the amount of $60 was approved for the Town Ryder Counsel for his services in the Ryder Tax Appeal cases . Tax cases It was voted to grant an overhanging sign permit to Edward L. Child to have a sign on the Building at 1775 Mass . Avenue provided he takes down the sign that is there now. The Chairman presented a letter that he had written to Whelan the Chief of Police for the approval of the Board inasmuch as Victua- recently when the case of Mary Whelan of Bedford Street was llers. brought into Court for the sale of liquor on the premises, License she stated that she was carrying on a Common Victualler's business with the knowledge of the Board of Selectmen. The Board therefore directed the letter to be sent to the Chief of Police authorizing him to stop any violations that might be carried on on thes.e premises of serving food to the public inasmuch as the Board have not granted any IICommon Victualler' s License to Mrs . Whelan. Mr. Mitchell came before the Board and stated that he 450 Lynch had received an application from Mr. John M. Lynch of 132 case. Vine Street, who had been working for Mr. Shannon where he got $12 a week. He had furnished him with groceries and one-half ton of coal on account of the fact that the man had been ill. The family consists of four children and a wife. Mr. Mitchell stated that he understood Mr. Lynch did not pay any rent anywhere he lived, and that he owed a great many people in town. It was voted to leave the matter of rendering aid to Mr. Mitchell. Hoffman Application was again received from Edward Hoffman of case Hibbert Street who was injured in an accident recently when he was struck by an Illinois car. He has therefore been unable to use his own truck and was injured in the held an spine. He found out that the automobile is over in Brighh n but that the people that own the car have no insurance applied for food and coal and the Public Health Assoc. hav been assisting the family. Mr. O 'Connell suggested that the matter of aid be lef with Mr. Mitchell and that he would report to the Board in regard to the cost of his needs at the next meeting. Parker The Agent reported that Russell Parker applied for case. assistance owing to the fact that his car was not in running order and had loaned him $5 to pay his board and he was supposed to be boarding with Mr. William G. Robinson, but finally found that he had a room with Ralph Tebbetts and that he had paid him $4 out of the $5 Mr. Mitchell put through a voucher so that he would be reimbursed for the aid given to Russell Parker and also allowed $5 additional for next week' s board. The Clerk felt that some endeavor should be made to have the mother become legally responsible for this boy and that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children should handle the case . The matter was therefore left with the Chairman of the Board to see what could be done. McDonnell Application for coal had been received from Patrick H. case. McDonnell of Woburn Street on the Soldiers Relief aocouaht. He is now working on the Civil Works and does not receive sufficient to care for his family and buy his fuel. Pre- viously when he was working on the Welfare, he was also re- deiving $12 per month compensation and has now been reduced. The Board therefore agreed to allow to him coal from the Soldier ' s Relief Fund. Trunk Letter was received from the Boston & Maine R. R. in line which they enclosed a copy of the license giving permission Sewer. to the Town to use a section of the right of way of the Bos- ton & Maine R.R. along the Arlington branch in connection with the proposed sewer which the Town is building. 4 5 1 Letter was received from the Town Counsel in which he advised that the sewer taking made in East Lexington is suf- ficient without making any further taking over the Boston & Maine property. He stated also that he would receive the consent of the Boston & Maine R R . to the taking and he would record the same at the Registry of Deeds . Letter was received from the Town Accountant in which he called attention to the shortage in the Moth Dept Moth amounting to $22.60,` also in the Fire Dept . of $303.61 with- Dept. out including the December bil] s of the department The Board voted to request transfers from the Reserve Fund to take care of the deficiency in the Board of Assessors Account, $2.90 in the Wire Inspectors Account which should have been included in the $12 50 requested last week and also $22.60 for the Moth Dept. There remains in the Reserve Fund the sum of $436. to be transferred. The Elections and Registration Account would also be short inasmuch as the Town Clerk purchased a cabinet amounting to $116.25 It was therefore voted to instruct the Town Accountant to charge this cabinet , which is an unusual ex- pense, to the Unclassified Account and therefore there would be sufficient funds in the Election and Registration Accounts to care for their bills. Notice was received from Mr. Maguire in which he had Maguire an estimate to retint the ceilings in the house of $66.60 by Ceilings Mr. Mara and also a bid of $241 for fixing the ceilings in the house by Mr. Dacey. Mr. Maguire, however, felt that only certain of the ceilings needed to be done, namely the kit- chen, pantry, dining roon, back stairs walls and parlor closet ceiling, making a total of $94.00 The Board agreed toapprove these estimates for the work to be done provided it checked with the engineer's re- port of the condition of the houses in that section on account of blasting. Letter was received from Mr. P1 J. Keary of Oak Street Oak in which he called attention to what he called a death trap Street on Oak Street near Mass. Avenue Mr. Seamman was requested to look into the matter to see what causes Mr. Keary to complain about a death trap inasmuch as he stated that he did not know of any condition down there that could be called such. Chief Edward W. Taylor came before the Board, and the Fire Board inquired of him why the Fire Dept . overran their account Dept and informed him that there was not sufficient funds to pay Budget the engineers and the chief' s salaries for the balance of the year, and not enough to take care of the December bills. The Chief stated that he would withhold the December bills. Mr Taylor went over the proposed budget for the Fire 452 Cmi C., Fire Dept for 1934 He explained that the valves of the whistle Dept freeze in the winter time and that hefelt money should be provided io that they could install a new whistle instead of using the old one which is in back of the old Town Hall. He stated that it w ould cost very little to move the new whistle to a new location if they decided to build a new buidling. He stated that the whistle would be in the hose tower and would be much more effective than the old type of whistle. In regard to the Fire Alarm Boxes, he stated that they would cost approximately $125. each. The Chairman called attention to the program of the Committee on Investigation of the Fire Dept four years ago and stated that the plan at that time was to install 10 new boxes e.adh year and if the plan had been continued, the Dept. would be practically com- pleted with the new boxes at this time. The Chief called attention to the overloaded cables that call for 15 and that have 37 on the district and there- fore the town has not the protection they are entitled to. He stated that the cables should be put in He stated that it would not be well to put in overhead wires inasmuch as they are a matter of expense to maintain. He also stated that if he installedthe cables he would have to install a repeater. He stated that in installing the cables , approxi- mately $700 was estimated for crude labor that might be taken care of by the unemployed. He also called attention to the fact that the tappers that are now used in the Dept. are capable of putting the alarm out of order if someone tampers with the tapper in the houses in which they are in- stalled. He stated that he would like to install a Turtle Gong Tapper. In regard to having additional regular men on the Dept . he stated that he hoped to have two additional regular men on owing to the fact that ordinarily there should be either 8 or 10 men to a company and he has only 11 permanent men and thirty-three call men, and with Engine #1, #2 , Hose Company #1 and Hose Company #2, ladder #1, and the Rescue Squad, he did not have sufficient men. He stated also that he has placed the call men now on an attendance basis where- by they get paid if they attend the fire and the attendance at fires jumped up from 60 to 85 per cent under the new arrangement. He stated that the increase in the appropriation this year was necess=ary on account of the call for three addi- tional permanent men He stated that the increase in main- tenance of the fire alarm system was that sometimes the Telephone Co change their poles and it costs $50. or $60 for the job, and the Telephone Co will not touch the fire alarm wires . He also called attention to the fact that the East Lexington Station needs painting and it will cost $250 to do the job. After Mr. Taylor retired, the Board discussed the matter of approving the appropriation of 842,672.20 which 453 called for three additional firemen Mr. Lyons cast a dis- senting vote. It was voted to approve $2500 for the installation of fire alarm boxes, and discussion arose as to whether or not the whistle or the construction of the cables on Mass . Ave. were the most important and it was decided to lay this mat- ter over to give an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Taylor the details of this matter. Letter was received from the Supt of Public Works in Pelham which he stated that the town owns at the corner of Mass. Rd & Avenue and Pelham Road, six feet thatruns out to nothing Mass. each way for a distance of 135 feet from the corner of Mass. Avenue Avenue and Pelham Road. He stated that it would hardly be worth while to take down the wall and set it back. The Board viewed the sketch presented by the Supt. and Mr. Lyons agreed to see Mr. Holt, representing the Munroe heirs, relative to the taking of further land for the Town Mr. Lyons stated that he had an option on the land and doubted somewhat whether or not they would give any of the land to the Town. A comprehensive report was received from Edwin B. Town Worthen in which he pave suggestions for changes in the Town Reports , Accountant' s Report in the Town Report and giving extracts from Town reports of other Towns , which to his mind gave a more concise record of the expenditures and receipts of the Town. He also criticised the report of the Selectmen for not giving sufficient detail in their report in the Town Re- port. The Chairman stated that the new Town Accountant was agreeable to the plan of setting up the Town Accountant' s report in a different manner. Letter was received from the Planning Board in which PlanninE they stated that they were considering various amendments Board. to the Zoning By-Law and requesting that the Committee ap- pointed on non-conforming uses report to the Planning Board Mr. O 'Connell, being on this Committee, was requested to make the report to the Selectmen. Letter was received from Mrs . Louis B. Rantoul in which Civil she stated that no work could be provided for women applicants Works for clerical work at the present time inasmuch as a woman director had not been appointed in Lexington. She suggested however, that a woman director be appointed providing further funds were obtained for Civil Works Mr. Scamman reported that he had been to the Civil Civil Works office at the State House and was informed by them works. that they expected to receive more funds for Civil Works and requested him to keep in touch with their office. 454 C.71 C *c The Board authorized another letter to he written in reference to House Bill #695 which was before the Ways and Means Committee last year on the change in the method of apportioning the Metropolitan Water Assessment. This change would make a saving of $8500 to the Town of Lexington The Board discussed the liquor question, which was to be voted upon Friday, Dec. 32nd, and decided to have a special meeting at that time to discuss to whom licenses shall be granted provided the Town votes wet. Applications have been received from the following - John J. Rudd, 1845 Mass. Ave Adolph Labes, 17 Woburn St. A. Thomas Ferry 3 Columbia St Edward Berman 12 Mass. Ave. Lexington Fruit Co , Mass . Ave. Melvin L Downing, 1786 Mass. Ave. Mary G. Mullen & Mary A Welsh, Lexington Inn. Edgar J Thivierge, 1752 Mass . Ave. Ernest C Martin 1793 Mass . Ave . Joseph Trani , Mass . Avenue The Chairman stated that 11 licenses could be granted under the law, that to include package goods , but not to include druggists Fees established in various towns were placed before the Board for their information. It was decided to secure a copy of the bond required before the next meeting, also. The Meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M. A true record , Attest Clerk.